Ijournal entry 111714 #46 Veiling Part II. Courses 12- 16 of a 21 course meal, plus a little lagniappe. November, the month of the Holy Souls. GO SAINTS! lagniappe Amuse= Church attire testimony by Siena. 12.Wild mushrooms =My 2cents. 13.Beef=Quote from St. Jerome on veiling. 14.Green salad=Linda's veiling testimony. 15.Puffed pastry=Darlene's and Mary's video veiling testimony. 16.Cheese=Article: "YOUR WIFE IS WEARING WHAT? MEN, VEILS, AND THE MYSTERY OF FEMININITY", by Tyler Blanski.
November, the month of the Holy Souls
Missal prayer: "Grant to Thy servant departed, O Lord, we beseech Thee, this favour, that he who desired to do Thy will may not receive punishment for his deeds; and that even as here on earth the true faith joined him to the ranks of the faithful, so in heaven by Thy mercy he may have fellowship with the choirs of Angels."
SAINTS 10 BENGALS 27
🏉 Losing this game, only scoring 10 and the Bengals 27 🏉
😥 Lord have mercy, we badly need some help from heaven 🙏
a new veil baby, praise The Lord. And...
It's a girl, given the
Maria. Thanks be to God for her embracing a beautiful devotion in imitation of our Blessed Immaculata, in honor of Our Eucharistic Lord. Yes, following in the footsteps of our heavenly mother, may your footprints always be on the straight and narrow path. Wishing abundant blessings to you, Maria.
that spiritually have it going on!
Hopefully more to come, who's next?
Here is Mary testing the waters with one of my veils. A beautiful soul in love with The Lord, and with her new husband of two days, Doug. Please keep them in prayers that they might be another "model couple" for The Lord. Her concern is for them to experience a sacramental marriage to the fullest. So very proud of them, and spiritually encouraged by their behavior. They inspire me to be truly dedicated to my vocation. They courted in a dignified fashion, loyal to Christ Jesus and His church, and will practice NFP. Also in lieu of gifts, we were asked to donate to this charity: Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged Inc.
A shout out to last month's newly weds, Jodi & Beau. Check this out, Beau's bachelor party consisted of a weekend fishing trip away from it all with the guys. What fine examples these couples showcase. Keep the newlyweds in your prayers, and all married couples in general. Keep our priests in your prayers too, for they are married to the church, "the bride of Christ". A shout out to the Msgr. and all the priests on the list (past, present, and those gone home to be with The Lord): Fathers: Joseph, Leo, Quentin, Bob, Peter, Simeon, Lowell, Anton, Gerry, Rodgers, Mark, JohnPaul, Michael, Tedoro, and Fr. Thomas.
A shout out to last month's newly weds, Jodi & Beau. Check this out, Beau's bachelor party consisted of a weekend fishing trip away from it all with the guys. What fine examples these couples showcase. Keep the newlyweds in your prayers, and all married couples in general. Keep our priests in your prayers too, for they are married to the church, "the bride of Christ". A shout out to the Msgr. and all the priests on the list (past, present, and those gone home to be with The Lord): Fathers: Joseph, Leo, Quentin, Bob, Peter, Simeon, Lowell, Anton, Gerry, Rodgers, Mark, JohnPaul, Michael, Tedoro, and Fr. Thomas.
to Maria for beginning to veil. Preceding her to veil was babies number one and two, Cathy and Clara. Thanks to Katie for sending an article on veiling, Mary A.for trying on the blest veil, Linda for her veiling testimony, and Darlene and Mary for their video testimony.
12. Wild mushrooms = My 2 cents
It came to mind how my every step is ordered by God, one by one, down to the last one that will be ushering me into eternity. So it is for all, we follow the call, or we turn and go our own way.
📖 Romans 12:2 "Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect"
OK, we are in overtime. With a favorable coin toss win, the offense is on the field first. Pleasantly taking the offensive stance first:
Ask yourself these questions:
❔ 1. Is wearing the veil a bad thing to do?
Hope you have Holy Spirit help in answering the question. Move on to the next question🔛
❔ 2. Would wearing the veil be displeasing to God?
May your heart lead you to the right answer. This takes you to question 3 🔛
❔ 3. Shouldn't the decision to veil be based on the discerning of the perfect will of God for one's life, rather than the Un holy Trinity casting the final vote (me,myself, & I) 🔛
✔️ With all three questions answered, what is the verdict? ❔
Correct answers should produce veil wearers
2⃣ no's 1⃣ yes, a perfect score, move on.🔛
✔️ With a perfect score, 🔟 out of 🔟 should veil. That only happens in an ideal world, but how many will be touched in this age? God only knows, because His grace is sufficient,
📖 2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me'
and who is destined for veiling, will veil.
📖 Romans 9:18 "Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden"
No if's, and's, or but's.
📖 Isaiah 55:11 "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it"
So it's for me to scatter seeds, and God will do the rest, as He so wills.
📖 1 Corinthians 3:6 "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow"
Halftime, stand up and get crunk (theme song after we make touchdowns, GO SAINTS! (Both species)
Stand Up and Get Crunk YouTube video link: http://youtu.be/XOWfYsMTwLA
Going to court on the playing field. Now it's time for the defense to take the field and make a move.
The rest of this ijournal entry is the defense, hopefully hitting on all cylinders. Trying to present the best of the best. It's not about the old, the young, or even being a infant, it's about devotion, reverence, humility, and getting acclimated, and training the young.
📖 Proverbs 22:6 "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it"
None are too young or too old to respond to The Lord, or being immersed deeply into the things of God, for His glory and our good.
Web picts
John the Baptist responded from the womb, so it's never too early or never to late while a soul is still earth bound. Time only ceases to be when the angel of death comes a knocking, so with time at this moment on your side, rightly decide. Presented the case as best as possible, may the judge now rule!
✏️ My veiling testimony:
Wearing the veil given to me by Mae for the first occurred on the day of a First Friday. It was worn to Eucharistic Adoration the day before, the warm up event. Just driving to church it felt different. Having the veil present in the car, was like the prep phase for attending something special. The focus was on showing up to meet Jesus as His bride. After putting on the veil right before entering the church, when the church door was opened, my eyes were immediately drawn to the tabernacle. That was unusual. Being in my home town for the veiling ceremony, that tabernacle should have looked familiar. Never before was there any attention paid to details. For a trillion dollars (a million does not go as far as it once did 😊) it would not have been possible for me to tell you that an emblem of a cross is present on the tabernacle front. But on this day of veiling, my eyes were constantly on the tabernacle. The thought that came to mind again and again was this: "bride of Christ". After receiving communion, at the beginning of my throne room ceremony of ACP's (after Communion pleas, you will get more about that in a Ijournal entry one day, because The Lord have given me a new one to ask for after receiving Holy Eucharist: Lord Jesus Christ, please heal my sin sick soul. May it become healthier and healthier with the reception of every Holy Communion), it seems the Blessed Immaculata was saying "thank you". This is the scenario that unfolded: Jesus enters and greets Blessed Immaculata and St. Joseph who is at her side. He then sees me and kisses my hand. Afterwards He like a groom, intertwines His arm with mine, and He marches me like a bride over to Our Father. He does not say anything but just takes me by the arm. The Father sees us & He raises His hand of blessing and imparts upon me a blessing. The Holy Spirit is there waiting like a limo to transport me, so now it's possible to soar on His wings of His love. That is to live the day wedded to Jesus Christ. For each day of life is being granted to me by God, a day He has made, for all to rejoice and be glad in it. Do we rejoice and exhibit gladness of heart for the gift of the day, or do we allow ourselves to be plundered and robbed by circumstances? Working on this, working hard to take God at a His word.
📖 Psalm 118:24 "The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad"
Wearing the veil is summed up for me as an experience of being wedded anew each day to Jesus, to live with my bridegroom at my side. Each day is fresh, it's exciting, for it's not being a "wife", but experiencing the joy of being a "bride" everyday. It's about fresh love becoming stronger, and being more bonded at each Eucharistic meeting.
📖 Isaiah 62:5 "For as a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you;And as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you"
Veiling seems to make fresh the concept: "bride of Christ". It's presence constantly reminds me of that exalted status, and that I am not my own
📖 1 Corinthians 6(19-20) "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body"
Oh, how I need this reinforcement, for what can be more true?:
📖 Luke 5:34 Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests* fast while the bridegroom is with them?
📖 John 3(29-30)The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. 30 He must increase; I must decrease.”
So appropriate is verse 30, because wearing the veil was not something on my "to do" list. It was definitely not my choice of church apparel. (PIC #2 can definitely testify to that, and PIC 3 knows too). So it was about my will decreasing, and increasing my desire for God's, that made it possible for me to not do my will, but to do the will of God.
Here are two sources for nice veils, my orders were placed without any problems encountered. Of course there is always: "Amazon.com"😊. Lily's veils offers a very wide variety to select from, and many different colors are available.
1. Lilly's veils: http://www.veilsbylily.com
2. DIRECT FROM LOURDES: http://www.directfromlourdes.com/chapel_veil_and_mantillas
One day this came in Holy Hour: Not knowingly, but unknowingly, how often we may be doing the right thing, wrongly. Also that life is more fragile than a fresh laid egg. This led to me remembering what Pat, a former supervisor, a Cursilista, used to say. It was something on this order: "Go to God about man, before going to man about God". This means that being a person of prayer, and witnessing by actions, will be more effective than words preached.
If facts are properly considered and self-knowledge is flourishing, one will then be able to take appropriate spiritual action. To truly continue to try and understand, to work on knowing myself, and being aware that the sacred is always veiled, the only action to take was to veil, maybe it will be that way with someone else. But this never would have become a reality without grace. For me it was kind of like the "Judas morsel syndrome". Before going to Mass, a phone call was made to my PIC2 in order to get some info about veiling. She mentioned that veiling might be a call from God to me. Very adamant was my response: that it was my call for sure to journal about the issue, but veiling wasn't for me. Why? Because that it not to my linking, and please don't give me a veil, not buying one, and won't be wearing one. Well fast forward to Mass about an hour later, after receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, a change of heart occurred. He is so cute and know just how to bait the line for a big catch. It came to mind suddenly, something previously read about veiling, it was about how it is a devotion. Wanting to be a shrew spiritual business person, thought about how this could be a sure way to score points in pleasing God. The Rosary is a devotion that can be said, but it may be poorly prayed, and one can receive a letter grade of a "C". Attending Mass, and not truly focusing, may cause a grade of "C" or "D" to be assigned. But the devotion of wearing the veil, might merit an "A". How wrong can you wear a veil? Well, hook, line, and sinker, sold on the idea. The way we begin, should not be the way we end, there should always be a growth in spiritual maturity.
Later that day, the time for recanting was at hand. Had to let her know, yes a veil would soon be gracing my head. All the words were eaten: 1. Mae was the one to give me my first veil.
2. Must confess that shopping occurred for not just one veil, but now there are five veils in my collection.
Researching more, allowed me to value and treasure the privilege that wearing a veil is. The spiritual experience was priceless, and still very much love is in my heart for being veiled in the presence of The Lord.
Reading the article about veiling sent by Katie, really allowed me to see in a deeper way myself as a female truly being a sacred vessel. We have wombs that holds new life that is to be brought into the kingdom one day. It was impressed upon me how some vessels have lids. When something is contained in a vessel, you have to be careful that the contents doesn't spill. A covering helps, and it reminds us to be carefully when handling, and that a shields for protection of what is inside is very helpful. Thank you Lord for blessing me to reach this point, and working on this Ijournal about veiling was a delight.
✏️ My veiling testimony:
Wearing the veil given to me by Mae for the first occurred on the day of a First Friday. It was worn to Eucharistic Adoration the day before, the warm up event. Just driving to church it felt different. Having the veil present in the car, was like the prep phase for attending something special. The focus was on showing up to meet Jesus as His bride. After putting on the veil right before entering the church, when the church door was opened, my eyes were immediately drawn to the tabernacle. That was unusual. Being in my home town for the veiling ceremony, that tabernacle should have looked familiar. Never before was there any attention paid to details. For a trillion dollars (a million does not go as far as it once did 😊) it would not have been possible for me to tell you that an emblem of a cross is present on the tabernacle front. But on this day of veiling, my eyes were constantly on the tabernacle. The thought that came to mind again and again was this: "bride of Christ". After receiving communion, at the beginning of my throne room ceremony of ACP's (after Communion pleas, you will get more about that in a Ijournal entry one day, because The Lord have given me a new one to ask for after receiving Holy Eucharist: Lord Jesus Christ, please heal my sin sick soul. May it become healthier and healthier with the reception of every Holy Communion), it seems the Blessed Immaculata was saying "thank you". This is the scenario that unfolded: Jesus enters and greets Blessed Immaculata and St. Joseph who is at her side. He then sees me and kisses my hand. Afterwards He like a groom, intertwines His arm with mine, and He marches me like a bride over to Our Father. He does not say anything but just takes me by the arm. The Father sees us & He raises His hand of blessing and imparts upon me a blessing. The Holy Spirit is there waiting like a limo to transport me, so now it's possible to soar on His wings of His love. That is to live the day wedded to Jesus Christ. For each day of life is being granted to me by God, a day He has made, for all to rejoice and be glad in it. Do we rejoice and exhibit gladness of heart for the gift of the day, or do we allow ourselves to be plundered and robbed by circumstances? Working on this, working hard to take God at a His word.
📖 Psalm 118:24 "The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad"
Wearing the veil is summed up for me as an experience of being wedded anew each day to Jesus, to live with my bridegroom at my side. Each day is fresh, it's exciting, for it's not being a "wife", but experiencing the joy of being a "bride" everyday. It's about fresh love becoming stronger, and being more bonded at each Eucharistic meeting.
📖 Isaiah 62:5 "For as a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you;And as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you"
Veiling seems to make fresh the concept: "bride of Christ". It's presence constantly reminds me of that exalted status, and that I am not my own
📖 1 Corinthians 6(19-20) "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body"
Oh, how I need this reinforcement, for what can be more true?:
📖 Luke 5:34 Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests* fast while the bridegroom is with them?
📖 John 3(29-30)The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. 30 He must increase; I must decrease.”
So appropriate is verse 30, because wearing the veil was not something on my "to do" list. It was definitely not my choice of church apparel. (PIC #2 can definitely testify to that, and PIC 3 knows too). So it was about my will decreasing, and increasing my desire for God's, that made it possible for me to not do my will, but to do the will of God.
Here are two sources for nice veils, my orders were placed without any problems encountered. Of course there is always: "Amazon.com"😊. Lily's veils offers a very wide variety to select from, and many different colors are available.
1. Lilly's veils: http://www.veilsbylily.com
2. DIRECT FROM LOURDES: http://www.directfromlourdes.com/chapel_veil_and_mantillas
One day this came in Holy Hour: Not knowingly, but unknowingly, how often we may be doing the right thing, wrongly. Also that life is more fragile than a fresh laid egg. This led to me remembering what Pat, a former supervisor, a Cursilista, used to say. It was something on this order: "Go to God about man, before going to man about God". This means that being a person of prayer, and witnessing by actions, will be more effective than words preached.
If facts are properly considered and self-knowledge is flourishing, one will then be able to take appropriate spiritual action. To truly continue to try and understand, to work on knowing myself, and being aware that the sacred is always veiled, the only action to take was to veil, maybe it will be that way with someone else. But this never would have become a reality without grace. For me it was kind of like the "Judas morsel syndrome". Before going to Mass, a phone call was made to my PIC2 in order to get some info about veiling. She mentioned that veiling might be a call from God to me. Very adamant was my response: that it was my call for sure to journal about the issue, but veiling wasn't for me. Why? Because that it not to my linking, and please don't give me a veil, not buying one, and won't be wearing one. Well fast forward to Mass about an hour later, after receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, a change of heart occurred. He is so cute and know just how to bait the line for a big catch. It came to mind suddenly, something previously read about veiling, it was about how it is a devotion. Wanting to be a shrew spiritual business person, thought about how this could be a sure way to score points in pleasing God. The Rosary is a devotion that can be said, but it may be poorly prayed, and one can receive a letter grade of a "C". Attending Mass, and not truly focusing, may cause a grade of "C" or "D" to be assigned. But the devotion of wearing the veil, might merit an "A". How wrong can you wear a veil? Well, hook, line, and sinker, sold on the idea. The way we begin, should not be the way we end, there should always be a growth in spiritual maturity.
Later that day, the time for recanting was at hand. Had to let her know, yes a veil would soon be gracing my head. All the words were eaten: 1. Mae was the one to give me my first veil.
2. Must confess that shopping occurred for not just one veil, but now there are five veils in my collection.
Researching more, allowed me to value and treasure the privilege that wearing a veil is. The spiritual experience was priceless, and still very much love is in my heart for being veiled in the presence of The Lord.
Reading the article about veiling sent by Katie, really allowed me to see in a deeper way myself as a female truly being a sacred vessel. We have wombs that holds new life that is to be brought into the kingdom one day. It was impressed upon me how some vessels have lids. When something is contained in a vessel, you have to be careful that the contents doesn't spill. A covering helps, and it reminds us to be carefully when handling, and that a shields for protection of what is inside is very helpful. Thank you Lord for blessing me to reach this point, and working on this Ijournal about veiling was a delight.
13. Beef = St. Jerome on veiling
“How great is the dignity of souls to have from the time of their birth an Angel appointed to guard each one of them! And so we read in the Apocalypse of St. John, “Write this to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus”, and to the Angels of the rest of the churches. The Apostle, too, commands that woman should have their heads veiled in churches, because of the Angels.” By St. Jerome
1 Cor 11: 10. Taken from the Latin Breviary for the Feast of St. Michael The Archangel. Info from this site:http://www.traditionalcatholicpriest.com/2014/09/30/st-jerome-on-biblical-teaching-for-women-to-wear-veil-in-church/
14. Green salad = Linda's veiling testimony
Linda:
It all started for me when I began attending Latin Masses. I was at a stage where my soul was thirsting for more, so the Latin Masses served to bring a beauty and reverence into my life in a way that truly renewed my soul. To be fed by the Latin Mass, we would travel 25-30 miles to attend. At the masses it seemed like all of the women there had their head covered. It was a bit discomforting to me to attend without a veil, but it was really an article about vanity that was the "game changer. The article discussed how we should cover our hair because a woman's glory is her hair. That article was speaking to me, big time, so after a few months, the decision was made to cover my head with a veil.
After some years, the primary place for attending mass for me would be my parish church. That is were conflicting feelings began to rise up. Being the only person veiling, made me very self conscience. The thoughts that swirled around my mind were that people would think that I was trying to be "so holy". I was adamant that this was something I just had to get over. After a while, it took about three months or so, it became easier and easier to dismiss those uncomfortable feelings. My new attitude was "I don't care what they think". I know the reason I am veiling, and it is for The Lord, furthermore, holiness is not marked by a person wearing a veil.
That was almost 18 years ago. My oh my, time can really past by fast. If I don't wear the veil now, I feel guilty.
15. Puffed pastry filled with herbed mousse = Darlene's
and Mary's video veiling testimonies
16. Cheese = Article: "YOUR WIFE IS WEARING WHAT? MEN, VEILS, AND THE MYSTERY OF FEMININITY". By Tyler Blanski
Link to complete article:
http://www.catholicgentleman.net/2014/10/wife-wearing-men-veils-mystery-femininity/
Excerpts from the article:
"The strangest thing happened a few months ago. My wife covered her head during Mass. I’ll never forget the moment when I first glanced up to see her noble cranium veiled in a strange and beautiful cut of lace. Whoa. Years earlier, my good friend Sam (the man behind the wheel of this Catholic Gentleman rig) had the same experience. One day he looks up from his prayers and…whoa. His bride’s head—the land of the free, the home of the brave—is covered over in nothing less than that medieval throwback, the mantilla.
✏️ What should a Catholic man do when his wife starts wearing a chapel veil? What will people say? What if people in the neighboring pew think you’re a misogynist pig? What if the aging nuns, the ones who worked so hard to get out of the habit, throw you nasty glares during the passing of the peace? They know all about fellas like you. Head coverings can be as dangerous a subject for men as women, and so it’s a good idea to know what they’re all about. You’ve probably heard it before. Chapel veils are the sexist leftovers of a chauvinistic Church, St. Paul was blinded by his bigoted culture, yadda yadda. The women who cover their heads during worship probably have husbands who think they ought always to be pregnant, barefoot, and in the kitchen. No one will come out and say it straight, but the social bubble that will suddenly surround your family sends the message: you are a nasty, brutish caveman, and if your wife were not so submissive and weak she’d leave you faster than you can say “First Corinthians Eleven.”
But this is the thing that every Catholic husband and father needs to remember: being pregnant is awesome, and so is cooking—more awesome than your so-called “career.” Blessed are they who get to make a home in cities all too familiar with homelessness, who get to prepare delicious food in a nation of fast food, who get to bear little men and women made in the image of God, made to bring glory to the most adorable Trinity. How can you—a mere male who will never experience first-hand stretch marks or dizzy spells or how generally miserable and disturbing and awful pregnancy can be—claim that being pregnant is awesome? Because of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Because God sanctified a womb in Nazareth. Now, no one wants to belittle or disregard the difficulty of pregnancy with a tidy theological quip, but the reason why pregnancy is awesome is because the eternal Son of God became a Son of Adam, born of a daughter of Eve. Because Mary is the sign of the Church, the Bride of Christ, and because every single woman is also a sign.
Some signs are cheap and disposable, like the Banana Republic ads that suggest that a briefcase is power, that having a family is a threat to personhood, that you should look as thin and edible as a Slim Jim. But other signs are woven into the very fabric of the universe, inviolate and inviolable, and a woman is such a sign. The Blessed Virgin Mary reminds us that a mother does not “make” a home. A mother is home. Eve is the height of creation because she is a prophecy of the New Eve, the Mother of the Church, the Virgin Mary—and in all her statues and icons, Mary is wearing a veil. And you need to know why. Because when the angry accusations get hurtled at you or your better half, as important as it is to be gentle, it’s also important to speak the truth in love. When it comes to chapel veils, it’s only too easy to forget the forest for the trees. But head coverings only make sense in light of the big picture of sin and clothing and the dignity of the human person.
✏️Sexual object or sacred vessel?
You see, Satan wants to strip us of our humanity, and he uses nakedness to do it. A naked Jewish woman is surrounded by countless other naked Jewish women, all dehumanized in universal nakedness, all standing at attention in an open square surrounded by low sheds. Soldiers smirk, dehumanized in uniforms, and point at the new arrivals. When you affirm the dignity of a woman or a man you keep their clothes on. If you wish to honor a woman, especially, you give her something to put on, a necklace or earrings, cozy slippers or a cardigan. You do not strip her naked. God was the first fashion designer. In the beginning, we were naked and not ashamed; but in this fallen world, nakedness is a twisted version of what it was meant to be. So in his mercy “God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them” (Gen. 3:21). Clothing is a reminder of our dignity, our nobility. And head coverings are the supreme adornment, the finest raiment, the boldest testimony to why God made us clothes in the first place.
Some forms of feminism have seen children and commitment as a kind of bondage. Birth control, no-fault divorce, and a pornographic attitude about sex have freed women from the captivity of children and commitment. They have freed not only women, but also men. In fact, mostly men. The modern man moves from one woman to the next, from one one-night stand to another, a new body in his bed for every new phase of life. All are kissed in the same way, stroked in the same way. There is no division between one body and every other body. But when you line up a thousand naked bodies, the bodies become identical and meaningless. They become just one of the many in line. The women he beds do not have the right to shame (to be “naked and not ashamed” and “having the right to shame” are not the same thing). Your naked body is just like every other naked body. But a woman is not an appliance. The fruitfulness of her body reminds us that she ought not to be used and then discarded. Her breasts and womb remind us that human life—not robotic or aquatic or alien life—but human life means children and commitment. In Catholic marriage, all naked bodies are not equal. Man and wife come to each other to make their bodies extraordinary, irreplaceable, fruitful. In Catholic marriage, we give the gift of positive shame (that is, we guard or cover what is worthy of honor and respect), the gift of priceless-ness, one-of-a-kind-ness. We recognize that we are made in the image of God, made to bring glory to the Trinity.
God wants to reclaim our humanity, and he’s using clothes to do it. Ever since the Fall, clothes have reminded us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made; and ever since the Cross, veils have reminded us that we have been re-made and washed in the blood of the Lamb. Satan hates veils. He hates everything for which they stand. For head coverings are the supreme expression of our dignity, our nobility. Just read Revelation 19:7. The Church is getting ready for a wedding! Christ has adorned his Bride in beautiful raiment beyond all reckoning! So when St. Paul talks about head coverings having something to do with the angels, and the head of a woman being the man, and the head of a man being Christ, do not pull out some “emperor’s new clothes” feminist theory. In the name of freedom, countless women have been swindled into walking around naked, or nearly naked, thinking they are dressed. They parade past the noisy throng, consisting mostly of men (who aren’t exactly complaining), while somewhere in the crowd the Christ-child tugs on his Mother’s sleeve: “But they aren’t wearing anything at all!”
✏️ I was naked, and you clothed me
It’s a big mistake to think that the number one reason the mighty women of yore adorned their heads with lace was to prevent men from lust. Chapel veils, or mantillas (manta means “mantle” or “cloak”), are beautiful pieces of black or white lace draped over a woman’s head as a reminder to the world that God was born of a woman, that God has betrothed himself to his Church, and the Church is a sacred vessel. God can touch a woman in a way he cannot touch a man. He can fill her with life. The number one reason why head coverings are awesome is because only sacred vessels are veiled, and women are sacred.
In the Old Testament the Ark of the Covenant is veiled behind the curtain because it is holy. In the New Testament, as I have illustrated before, the Virgin Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant to the umpteenth degree. Like the old golden chest, she is a sacred place where the Lord’s presence dwells intimately with his people. Except now, it’s God in the flesh. The God who is everywhere was in Mary, his divine presence radiating out from her, the Light of the World waiting to be born. And this is why Mary is always veiled. When attending Mass or in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, a woman covers her head because she is a life-bearing vessel. Think about it. The chalice is veiled until the consecration because it holds the living blood of Christ. The ciborium in the tabernacle is veiled between Masses because it holds the living Body of Christ. The monstrance is traditionally covered in a canopy during procession because it holds the living Christ. Life-bearing vessels are veiled because they are sacred. By divine decree, the source and summit of all life was once in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The incarnation, God’s great shout out to motherhood, is the climax of creation.
✏️Mothers are a menace to the assembly line. They remind us that we are alive.
This is why Satan hates mothers almost as much as he hates chapel veils. He hates everything for which they stand. Mother’s are an eschatological sign, a reminder that God has not given up on the world. The veil reminds us that God did not leave us naked, shivering in the garden. The veil is a celebration of the fact that the curse has been reversed. We are not our own, we are Christ’s. As his Bride, Mother Church is called to be fruitful and to multiply, preaching the Good News and baptizing, bringing Christ’s life to the world
✏️ Crowned in glory
Men, we must never forget that Christ was crowned with bloody thorns so that his Bride might be veiled in spotless white. We were naked in our sins, and he clothed us. From Genesis to Revelation, we do not deserve our Savior’s self-donation, the total, cruciform gift from our Husband and Head Jesus Christ. When St. Paul talks about head coverings, we need to remember that his understanding of gender and clothing is culture-bound…to the culture of Christ. Everything about being a man or a woman is meant to tell the story of the wedding of Heaven and Earth, Christ and his Bride. Chapel veils help tell the story. Although veils are no longer required for women attending the Novus Ordo Mass, they are still encouraged because they are a reminder of what all of us—men and women together—are by Baptism: the Bride of the Lamb. And the “it’s not required” attitude makes it even more awesome. So if your wife ever decides she wants to wear a chapel veil, don’t be afraid of the small persecution that might come your way. Take a stand with your better half, and defend what she’s defending: God’s Bride, the Church. What a gift! To be a tiny snapshot of Mary and the Church in the presence of the congregation, in the sacramental Presence of the God. Mantillas are a clarion reminder that gender roles in the culture of Christ are not a power trip, but a love trip. Christ’s head was crowned with thorns so that his Bride’s head might be crowned with stars.
📖 Rev. 11:19-12:1 “And the temple of God which is in Heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant appeared…a great sign appeared: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head”.
Part III next week
Thanks 4 taking a little time out to feed you soul
Trying to provide quality nourishment is my number one goal
To prevent a lack of spiritual knowledge from taking it's toll
✞ⓂⓂ/℘✞L̶o̶r̶d̶ \o/
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