Posted on 06/30/2014 6:23:36 PM PDT by walkinginthedesert
History of Head Covering and Scripture
For over 2000 years Christian women have covered their heads during Mass, sacred rites, as well as prayer and adoration. In most instances this was done by wearing a veil, as it tended to be the most convenient way. It was not until recently that many women stopped wearing the veil or any head covering for that manner. This is true especially during the post Vatican II epoch and during the women’s lib movement during the 1960s and 1970s.
Old Testament
In the book of Genesis 24 when Rebecca meats Isaac she veils herself. “Rebecca too looked up, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from the camel, and asked the servant, “Who is the man coming through the field toward us?” The servant said, “’it is my master.” Then she covered herself with her veil. (Gen 24:64-65)
Fr Haydock explains the significance of this:
Rebecca does this out of modesty. She prefigures the Gentiles, whom Jesus calls by his servants laden with his gifts, to become his spouse, or his Church, (Calmet) at the fountain of baptism. He adorns her with the ear-rings of obedience, and the bracelets of good works. (Du Hamel)1Throughout scripture, specifically in the Old Testament we can see that for a women being uncovered or “unveiled” was usually not a good thing. Rather it was usually a sign of humiliation and as a means of punishment for crimes such as adultery as we can see in the book of Numbers 5:16-18
“The priest shall first have the woman come forward and stand before the Lord. In an earthen vessel he shall meanwhile put some holy water, as well as some dust that he has taken from the floor of the Dwelling. Then as the woman stands before the Lord, the priest shall uncover her head. (Num 5:16-18)This was done as a means of reminding the woman that everyone is naked before the lord. In the Hebrew “uncovering the head” can also imply shaving the head. Thus this specifically shows that for a women having the hair uncovered was not a positive thing.
New Testament
This then leads us to the New Testament which also leads us to the significance of women covering their heads during Mass and any similar occasion such as praying and adoration. In 1 Corinthians Chapter 11, Saint Paul is very clear about the necessity of women to cover their head during specific occasions.
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. [4] Every man praying or prophesying with his head covered, disgraceth his head. [5] But every woman praying or prophesying with her head not covered, disgraceth her head: for it is all one as if she were shaven.[6] For if a woman be not covered, let her be shorn. But if it be a shame to a woman to be shorn or made bald, let her cover her head. [7] The man indeed ought not to cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of the man. [8] For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. [9] For the man was not created for the woman, but the woman for the man. [10] Therefore ought the woman to have a power over her head, because of the angels.[11] But yet neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man, in the Lord. [12] For as the woman is of the man, so also is the man by the woman: but all things of God [13] You yourselves judge: doth it become a woman, to pray unto God uncovered? [14] Doth not even nature itself teach you, that a man indeed, if he nourish his hair, it is a shame unto him? [15] But if a woman nourish her hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. (1 Corinth 11:3-15)Significance of Women Veiling
Basing ourselves on the previous scriptural passages, specifically in regards to Saint Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians explains that there are theological and philosophical significances to women covering and veiling their heads. The most evident of this is in regards to submission.
Naturally in the hierarchy of creation men is above women. This is a concept that would be rejected by feminism. However “Saint Paul is in no way misogynistic (someone with a strong prejudice against women). He assures us that , while women is made for the glory of man even as man is made for the glory of God, yet neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man. So also is the man by the woman; but all things of God. Men need women, women need men, but we have different roles, each however equal in dignity and all for the glory of God.2
As stated above the matter of the fact is that women and men though equal in dignity in the eyes of God have different functions. For example, “men were created to be focused more in the exterior, while women in the interior, men tend to look more on the physical, women more in the human person, men are mostly the provider, women the nurturer of the family, men are paternal, women tend to be maternal”3
We noted how in the Old Testament and in scripture in general for a women being stripped away from her veil, or head covering in general was generally a negative and bad thing. It usually meant that a women was unfaithful towards her husband or that she was impure. It is for this reason an honor to wear the veil. It shows the feminine beauty of the women which is a sign of female subjection. “Women don’t veil themselves because of some “primordial” sense of feminine shame; they cover themselves because they are holy and because feminine beauty is incredibly powerful”.4 A military officer is dishonored when he is stripped of his decorations and uniform, a police officer is dishonored when he is stripped of his badge, so how much more so is this true of a women stripped of her veil?
It is not only as a sign of subjection that women should cover their head when in the presence of God in Mass or in adoration. As Catholics we believe that Jesus Christ is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist, body blood, soul, and divinity at Mass and in the tabernacle. It is not some mere symbolism but a Divine reality. This is most true in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in what Pope Saint John Paul II called “Mass as Heaven on Earth”, were we are uplifted to God, and were God comes down to meet man. Would you then wear shorts and a t-shirt at someone’s wedding or funeral? I sure would not. Now mind you that there is a huge difference between a poor person or even someone such as a beggar who is simply wearing the best he can (his Sunday’s best), than someone who like most living here in the United States are blessed to be able to dress quite elegantly and decently.
Lastly Saint Paul mentions that women veil or cover themselves because of the angels. “This is why a woman ought to have a sign of authority over her head, because of the angels” (1 Corinth 11:10). This is out of respect for the angels who are present at the Mass offering with us the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is thus written in scripture “And another angel came and stood before the altar having a golden censor, and there was given to him much incense that he might offer it with the prayers of all before the throne.” (Apoc 8:3)
Profoundly the best example of covering the head is the Blessed Virgin Mary herself who was the most humble after our Lord. She who did not wish to attract attention to herself and who no doubt dressed in a most modest manner.
Practical Advantages of Wearing the Veil
There is no doubt that for women who cover their head with a veil, it helps or rather prevents women from being distracted from the sides, and forces women to look only at Christ in the tabernacle in front of her, as well as the celebration of Mass.
Similarly “veiling” to be more precise helps men themselves not to get distracted with women’s physical beauty specifically in regards to her face and hair which are natural aspects of women.
Lastly this can do nothing but bring about a good and healthy fashionable trend in regards to women’s fashion. If you have young women covering their head and veiling for example, this would inspire others to do likewise. This modestly in dress is profoundly better than the modern and very immoral fashions that exist within our time, and which no doubt is most likely causing women to commit grave sins against God and her neighbor.
Objections to head covering
Various people including those that are influenced by false notions of modernity claim that head covering and veiling are purely cultural. They claim that Saint Paul was simply talking to a particular culture, at a particular time. They further claim that head covering is unnecessary.
However this is simply false as Saint Paul clearly tells the Corinthians and further generations that head covering is applicable to everyone at all times when he states “ Now I praise you brethren, because in all things you are mindful of me and hold fast my traditions as I have given them to you. But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ…” (1 Corinth 11:2-3) It is pretty evident that it was only in Corinth that Paul needed to remind the women to cover their head, for he is speaking about traditions and adds the word “but” signifying that Paul needed to remind the women of Corinth to cover their head and tell them the reasons why, namely the reasons stated above.
Another objection made amongst Catholics is that the code of Canon Law 1983 abrogated the code of Canon Law of 1917 and thus that women do not have to wear a head covering. Similarly they state that when the Novus Ordo was promulgated by Pope Paul VI that there was no mention about the issue of head covering. Now it is true that at this moment the church does not require women to cover their head for mass, and for that reason it is not binding under pain of sin. However we should understand that perhaps the main reason why there was no mention of covering the head in the 1983 Code of Canon Law, as well as in the promulgation of the New Mass is that women covering their head was quite the established norm.
Conclusion
At the end Catholics are exhorted through sacred scripture and tradition to cover their heads, because of the natural hierarchy of creation, as well as the reverence due to God, specifically in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in which Christ is truly and substantially present. The Blessed Virgin Mary always in modestly and which no doubt covered her head as a symbol of humility and modesty is enough reason for women covering their head for Mass.
Notes:
1) Fr George Leo Haydock: Haydock's Catholic bible commentary 2) Fish Eaters: Veiling http://www.fisheaters.com/theveil.html 3) Venerable Fulton Sheen" Life Is Worth Living" 4) Fish Eaters, op. cit
Respect for God? God GAVE women their hair and now he insists they hide it? The fact that a folded tissue or a handkerchief does not hide one's hair or that it "protects a woman or girl from being distracted in church" is addled reasoning.
Men are not immune from diversion but do we believe they must wear some headgear to deprive them of peripheral vision? It ain't gonna happen!
There are way more problems in our world that a hanky on the head won't solve.
That's why they should keep their hats on
or the nit-picking really get's going
They start when they are still young...
I remembered that, I lived it. Scarves, mantillas, kleenex if you were without
Paul explained that a woman`s hair is her covering. if she hacks it off she has no covering and should use an artificial covering.
“There was no one church after Christs Resurrection,”
There was ONE Church. There were just different congregations of that ONE Church.
We had chapel veils, but with five girls, it wasn’t unusual for one to go missing. Then, the kleenex was drafted. :)
Because in one of St. Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, it specifies that women should cover their heads, men shouldn’t. Why Paul made that choice, I don’t know.
good for a chuckle....:O)
“there was no consensus throughout the 7 churches. Some were praised, some not. But the difference of opinion is what makes a horse race...”
The Church is not a horse race. Apostolic Succession and the same sacraments show that the “7 churches” were ONE Church albeit with some members falling away.
At the diocesan Latin Mass I attend most women/girls do wear head coverings; not all. It is not considered mandatory. Sometimes a supply of veils in the entryway.
I understand what you’re saying but this isn’t a difference of opinion. The seven Churches were all part of one Church. They shared one baptism and originally shared one faith. They were part of one body. That fact that not all ended up that way doesn’t change the fact that Christ founded One Church.
There was no christian church immediately after Christs Resurrection. They were considered an offshoot of the Jewish religion. A jewish sect if you prefer.. Paul was sent to the gentiles, the apostles were only sent to the Jews of the day...they went to temple as they did before Christs Resurrection., just as Jesus did.I am not sure how long after Christ when they started to call themselves Christians. They were followers of Christ, just as today there are people that convert and call themselves Jews for Jesus....I use to watch Zola Levitt’s program He has passed on but his program was informative he talked about what Jesus life was like as a Jew, explained what Seder was and how he came to believe in the Messiah..Used the bible to prove Jesus divinity via the bible...
“There was no christian church immediately after Christs Resurrection.”
Yes, there was - it just wasn’t revealed to the world until Pentecost.
“They were considered an offshoot of the Jewish religion.”
It only matters what the Church was not what people considered it to be. Christ made the Church not Jewish opinion.
“A jewish sect if you prefer..”
Again, what the Church was considered to be is not important compared to what it was.
“Paul was sent to the gentiles, the apostles were only sent to the Jews of the day...”
Close enough. In actuality Peter had interactions with Gentiles as well and other Apostles did as well naturally.
“they went to temple as they did before Christs Resurrection., just as Jesus did.I am not sure how long after Christ when they started to call themselves Christians. They were followers of Christ, just as today there are people that convert and call themselves Jews for Jesus....I use to watch Zola Levitt’s program He has passed on but his program was informative he talked about what Jesus life was like as a Jew, explained what Seder was and how he came to believe in the Messiah..Used the bible to prove Jesus divinity via the bible...”
Okay, but I don’t know what that proves about what we were talking about. I watched Zola Levitt’s programs as well in the 90s. Sometimes he was way off base - more recent Christian history was not his strong suit that’s for sure.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.