[ottbmare]

I agree that the mantilla is a graceful thing to wear, in both senses of the word. But the comparison to a tie isn't quite accurate, is it? In church almost all middle-class men wear ties for Sunday mass, and those who are stopping at church for daily mass on their way to work are also usually wearing a tie. But a mantilla seems to say, "I'm the only one here who is holy enough to wear a veil. I'm such a good little girl." There is only one other woman in our parish who wears a veil, and she is a homeschool Catholic mother of six who comes to mass every morning with her children. There are so many, many, many women in our parish who are truly devout, truly godly, and make their whole lives revolve around the Church, while I am just a noob and a very weak, inadequate vessel. There would be an element of grandiosity, you see? Like a pharisee praying on a street corner.

[netmilsmom]

When I was praying for my husband to convert, I covered my head out of respect. I believed this was subservient to God, so I didn’t want anything to make me stand out.

I got a chapel cap in black and wore it until he converted. Few people noticed.
(Thank you St. Monica for your intercession!)

[fidelis]

Where I live (in the Southwest) it is very unusual for men to wear a tie to Sunday Mass, even in middle class areas. Our suburban parish sanctuary holds about 1000 people and on a good day you’ll see a dozen ties. They really stand out here.
.
I’ve often thought that the fear of looking holier than thou in Church as somewhat overblown—most people are much too self-absorbed to give much thought to how others are coming across (I admit this may be a bigger problem in smaller parishes. All of the parishes I’ve belonged to have been on the large size).