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About Chapel Veils

The chapel veil, mantilla, or head covering finds its roots in the Old Testament. The women of that time period wore veils both in Temple and outside the home. Our Blessed Lady wore a veil in keeping with the tradition of the society and culture in which she lived.

In the Apostolic days of the Church, St. Paul wrote in his Epistle to the Corinthians, “but every woman praying or prophesying with her head not covered, disgraceth her head,” (Corinthians 11:5). Certainly The Mother of God is pleased that her daughters would increase their respectful devotion during the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass by wearing a Chapel Veil out of respect for the Eucharistic Banquet.

Throughout the entire history of the Church this has been a custom that has always been observed; though over the course of the last fifty years chapel veils have all but disappeared from some places. However, it is a custom still held dear by those who, as Traditional Catholics, attend the Latin Tridentine Mass as well as other traditionally minded Catholics in the wider Church. An article appeared in The Atlanta Journal (June 21, 1969) entitled, "Women Required to Cover Head, Vatican Insists", it appears that Pope Paul VI instructed one of his officials to clarify the Church's unchanged discipline regarding head coverings for women: "A Vatican official says there has been no change, as reported, in the Roman Catholic rule that women cover their head in church. The Rev. Annibale Bugnini, secretary of the New Congregation for Divine Worship, said the reports stemmed from a misunderstanding of a statement he made at a news conference in May. 'The rule has not been changed,' he said. 'It is a matter of general discipline.'"

This article further testifies to the dignity and honor shown to the Godhead when women wear a simple head covering and it clearly shows that the chapel veil is not something that was abolished; in fact when His Holiness meets with the President of the United States and the First Lady, the First Lady is seen to wear a veil as is the custom for all women having an audience with the Holy Father. If one goes veiled before the Holy Father, then it only follows that one should go veiled before Our Lord.

Therefore ladies, let us humbly and willingly go before Our Dear Savior with heads covered, to imitate the Most Holy Virgin and for His Honor and Glory!