Note: The Catholic Church's stance on head covering is that it is not required but is permitted as a personal devotion. This series of posts is not suggesting it is required in any way and is only my personal experience with head covering.
You can read Part 1 and Part 2 of my veiling journey.
The Art of Veiling
So here I am, several months later, with my rush ordered infinity veil and the veil I won from the contest, both of which I have used regularly.
I ordered the infinity veil, and now it was time to wear it. I was very very nervous the first day I wore a veil to Mass, but I have to admit it was a weekday Mass so it seemed a bit less stressful for some reason. I don't know why because having LESS people at Mass seems like I would have stood out more than having more people at Mass. I suppose I felt that the fewer people were there, the fewer opportunities there would be for me to be judged by others. Can you tell I was EXTREMELY NERVOUS?!!!!
With butterflies in my stomach, shaking hands, and weak knees, I entered the church with my boys, slipped into one of the back pews, hidden, safe. Let me tell you, when you have a 5 year old and a 9 month old, there is no place you can hide in church where their little voices will not result in looks of other parishioners. So safety was out. Now it was just time to "get through this Mass". At least that is what I thought. Then something pretty awesome happened.
My Zen Place
It was only through the grace of the Holy Spirit, but as Mass began I become so calm, serene. It was as if the veil was blocking all the distractions from ME! I didn't seem to be a distraction to others and they were no longer a distraction for me. I could focus on the Mass with as much focus as a mother of two busy boys can. Truly, it was a beautiful experience for me! During the Eucharistic prayer, I just felt like I was making my Guardian Angel so proud because here I am, worshiping with "the angels" (as St. Paul tells us), while honoring my Lord with my head covered. Here I am for the first time, maybe the first time ever, truly keeping in mind, that I am IN the PRESENCE of Jesus' body, blood, soul and divinity! How unworthy I am to receive this gift, but oh how beautiful a gift it is!
I had found my place of zen, my place with my Lord and I could not go back.
Tears of Joy
So it's been several months of veil wearing for all Masses I have attended (Sundays and weekdays) and I don't feel out of place one bit. In fact, the more I attend Mass, the more I know I am doing what the Lord is calling me to do. I am not saying this is for everyone or that everyone should follow suit. This is what He is asking of me and I am so very happy to oblige.
In fact, it seems the more I "veil up" (ha!), the more I seem to get out of the Eucharistic prayer, the more I feel my Lord and unfortunately (or maybe fortunately I'm not sure), the more emotional I become in the presence of the body of Christ. I find myself tearing up and even crying many times in Mass after I have received Christ for no real reason, other than I am just so very grateful for this wonderful blessed gift, this perpetual sacrifice. Maybe it is the Holy Spirit touching my heart or it's just the way my brain is able to understand the Eucharist at this time, but it truly is a blessing and I have only my veil and my Lord to thank!
So that has been my journey of veiling these past few months. Do you veil? Have you thought of doing it? What's been your experience?
Blessings to you and yours. And if you wear a head covering in the presence of our Lord, let me just say "Veil on, Ladies! Veil on!",
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