Why I Wear a Veil

A lovely friend of mine recently wrote to ask why I veil for Mass and Adoration.  This is what I told her.  I hope it might help you, too, if you are discerning adding a veil to your devotional practices.

My family thinks I'm "a little out there," a la "The Church Lady."  No one else in my extended family veils and at the time that I first started wearing one, I didn't know ANYone else who did, either.  But, I had seen other women in church veiling and wondered about it....

Then, the Church revised the wording of the Mass with Advent 2011.  I prayed a *LOT* about whether or not to veil, then felt a pull toward, "new Church year; new devotion to help me focus."  At the time, my youngest was only seven months old and the rest of our family's pew was filled with all six impatient, squirming children, with me at one end and my husband far away at the other.  It was nigh on *impossible* for me to focus on Mass.  At.  All.  Much less for an entire hour.

As a result, I was increasingly impatient, annoyed, self-pitying, and resentful that I couldn't manage one measly hour a week before the Lord!  Ugh!  Then, I saw veils.  And I noticed that, in a gentle sort of way, they were like blinkers or blinders on a horse.

I grew up around horses.  Horses' eyes are set far on opposite sides of their heads as one of their methods of self defense -- they have almost a 360 degree view of everything around them.  Consequently, they see (and react!) to EVERYTHING.

Along came blinders.  You've seen them -- the Budweiser Clydesdales and Amish buggy horses wear square ones on their bridles and Thoroughbred race horses wear spherical ones on a hood on their face.  The blinders narrow the horse's frame of vision so he focuses ONLY on what's ahead of him.

Ahhhhhhhh.  As in every moment of my life as a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom, I was surrounded on all sides by a miniature Barbarian Hoard.  Almost.  All sides but one.  What was in front of me in church?  The tabernacle -- literally, because we sit up front for the benefit of our eldest son (which really winds up benefiting us all!).

Wearing a veil became my literal and figurative blinders.  In many instances, it literally obscures my peripheral vision.  In all instances, it is a lightweight, tangible reminder of where I am, Who is present, and what I am there to do.

Worship.  Him.

It's that simple.

Worship.  Him.

My veil becomes my blinders.  My prayer tent.  My spiritual security blanket.  My smack on the head to pay attention.  My reminder that I am on holy ground, in the presence of Almighty God, a humble creature before her Creator.

It does not make me MORE humble or more reverent or more special than anyone else there.  If anything, while a veil *IS* special (because it's only for a woman in the Real Presence), it reminds me that I'm NOT the most special.  I am the least before Him.  It is such a wonderful, freeing, comforting train of thought, almost like being a child again and obliviously having my late father lovingly take care of.... everything.

The same kids were still squirming.  The same distractions were all still there, whether in my head or all around me.  And the same God was still present in the same way in the same tabernacle where He always was.  But, now I had a tangible touchstone to remind me.

It was like the time I confessed to a priest about being distracted too often during the rosary.

"Do you come back to it?" he asked.

I frowned.  "Of course."

He smiled.  "Then, that is an even greater grace.  To be pulled away, whether by the devil or by honest distractions, and to CHOOSE to return to it can be an even greater grace."

My veil reminds me to keep coming back, despite the distractions.

Today, I feel naked and amiss if I enter a Catholic church without my veil.  So, I keep it in my purse (with an extra for anyone else!  I've given away three since I started veiling!).  It's kind of like "appropriate dress and comportment" for me.  I wouldn't wear stilettos to the barn, nor pajamas to my boss's dinner party.  I wouldn't chew gum in a job interview, but I would make sure I brushed my teeth.  My veil just feels... right, in every way, in the Real Presence of Our Lord.

And that, in the immortal words of Paul Harvey, is the rest of the story!

:-D

That also, my dear friend, is probably waaaaay more than you really wanted to know!  I scrolled back through this and was going to delete it, but decided to be honest and send it "as is."

Wearing a veil is simple and complex, all at the same time.  I hope this is helpful to you in discerning your own devotions!  The video entitled "The Chapel Veil" by "True Faith TV" on YouTube also is well-done.

Thank you!  Please be assured of my prayers! ❤️

The Catholic Addams Family

Start humming the tune to "The Addams Family," snap your fingers, then treat yourself to Father Dwight Longenecker's latest article:

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/longenecker/the-catholic-church-is-home-to-the-tasteful-and-the-tacky-the-sinners-and-t

With Love From Your Fellow Sinfully Tacky Catholic,
Enjoy!

Welcome Home to Rome!

Fox News contributor Kirsten Powers has announced that she is converting to Catholicism this weekend.  Congratulations Kirsten and welcome home to Rome!

You can read various relevant stories about Kirsten's conversion at these links:

The Deacon's Bench

Christianity Today

Wikipedia Biography

Saint of the Day

This site was just recommended by another Catholic homeschooler.  It's a great resource, not only for brief daily stories about today's saint (or any other -- you can search alphabetically or chronologically!), but also for many other nourishing aspects of living our Catholic faith, both at home and in the school room (see any of the teal-colored sidebar menu choices on the left when you get there).

http://www.loyolapress.com/saints-stories-for-kids.htm?cId=403415Awesome!  Enjoy!

Understanding God and the Church

Here's a wonderful link to a reliable source (St. Mary of Piscataway, Clinton, MD, Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.) with a plethora of downloadable PDF's on "the most important things to 'get' about God and the Church":


http://www.parishesonline.com/scripts/HostedSites/org.asp?SBA=4578&Content=4&p=26&ID=8190#

Talk about edifying and spiritually nourishing summer reading!  Enjoy!

More from Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Wisdom from Flannery O'Connor

“I think that the Church is the only thing that is going to make the terrible world we are coming to endurable; the only thing that makes the Church endurable is that it is somehow the Body of Christ and that on this we are fed. It seems to be a fact that you suffer as much from the Church as for it but if you believe in the divinity of Christ, you have to cherish the world at the same time that you struggle to endure it.”  (Flannery O'Connor)


I was inspired to share this quote after speaking with someone who, unfortunately, was treated harshly by a consecrated religious person.  Remember, the Church is made up of fallible human beings, which does not negate the fact that it is the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church -- our Faith -- begun by Jesus Christ Himself.  It will withstand the gates of hell (remember? He promised in Matthew 16:18) and it contains the fullness of the Magisterium, not to mention the Real Presence of Jesus Christ!

Please don't let Old Scratch plant one bad seed in your life and thus spoil all the fruits of your spiritual well-being and nourishment from the Church.  Even if the person who has injured you is a consecrated cleric or religious, don't let someone else's human failings keep you from your heavenly Father or from the guidance of your spiritual father on earth, the Holy Father, Il Papa, the Pope.

Don't let someone else's flaws define or determine your spiritual future.

Remember the goal?  To know, love, and serve Him in this world and be happy with Him forever in the next.  With HIM!  And He *IS* there in tabernacles throughout the world.  Don't let anyone drive you away from the Church and thus keep you from being in His presence and adoring Him.

Now go give Jesus a great big hug!  He's already outstretched His arms....for YOU!

Summertime Modesty in Church - Second Amendment

Wedding - St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church - Bensalem, PA

And you thought I was kidding about the staggering inappropriateness of some women's choice of garb at Mass?  Did I miss this one in the parish dresscode handbook!?

This snapshot was taken at a wedding at St. Charles Borrowmeo Catholic Church in Bensalem, PA.  The direct link is here: http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/2012/02/21/strapless/

Be sure to scroll down and read the comments to at least reassure yourself that, while some Catholics might have lost all sense of propriety in their choice of garments at church, at least several have salvaged a sense of humor from it.

P.S. - My husband is among them.  He took one look at this photo and my blog post title and quipped, "What?  The right to bare arms!?"

Summertime Modesty in Church - First Amendment

In response to my original post, "Summertime Modesty in Church", someone asked me, "Well, what about if you're at the beach?"

You know what, folks?  It's still church.  It ain't Beach Blanket Bingo.  It's still church.  Even at the beach.  There's an old saw that people in poorer parishes look like they're going to the beach and people in affluent parishes look like they're coming from the beach.  Either way, clean up your act and dress appropriately.

Do I really have to explain this?

Apparently.

If someone important were coming to your house, or you were going to visit an amazing celebrity, wouldn't you want to look your best?  Tidy up?  Comb your hair?  Brush your teeth?  Put on your makeup?  Dress your best?

Of course!

So are you telling me that a mere mortal with momentary celebrity status deserves more effort and shine on your part than The Creator Of The Universe?  Really?

Just checking.

"But, it's summer time.  It's hoooooooot out!" is a common comeback.

Okay.  Yes.  I know.  I'm in tune with the weather.  I'm aware that it's hot out.  Does your car not have air conditioning?  Does your church not have air conditioning?  Do you live in a gutter in sub-Saharan Africa?  Is it really going to kill you to dress appropriately and, perhaps, be slightly uncomfortable for one measly hour a week?

Offer it up and get a grateful soul out of purgatory!

"But.....God loves me the way I am!" is another favorite defensive comeback.  Does He?  Of course He does!  You love your own children just the way they are, don't you?  Of course you do!

However....

(There's always a "but," isn't there?)

However, do you expect your children to STAY just the way they are?  I mean, honestly, show me a parent who hasn't corrected his or her child at least once today in an effort to help that child grow into a better person.  As a parent, I constantly am telling my children to sit up straight, say please and thank you, clean up your own mess, and don't eat the dog's food (...well, fortunately that last one really only applies to the toddler).

You get the idea.

It is BECAUSE I love my children so much that I correct them and strive every day to shape them, not only into a better person, but into the fullness of the lovely person whom God has created them to be!  When my children arrive at The Pearly Gates -- please, God! -- I want St. Peter to smile, but a big gold check mark next to their name, and wave them on to Jesus, Who's first words will be, "Well done, My good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:23).

Because isn't that what it's all about?  (No, not the Hokey-Pokey.)  To know, love, and serve Him in this world in order to be happy with Him forever in the next!

So, the next time you're headed off to church, ask yourself this: For whom are you dressing?  The boy in the next pew?  Your own self-comfort?  The beach party you're headed to afterward?

Or have you really taken a moment to prepare yourself (physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally) not only to meet but to worship Almighty God, the Creator of the Universe, the Maker of your soul, and the joy of your heart!?

Summertime Modesty in Church

It's summertime, ladies, and we women and girls have the luxury of choosing from a plethora of fashion options to enhance and highlight our natural beauty!

However, let's be mindful that all things bright and beautiful come from God, and that true beauty comes from within -- in Rome and Vatican City, tourists are turned away from some churches because of sleeveless, short, or revealing clothing.  But, here in the 'States, there seems to be a lesser regard for the sanctity of holy space and the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

I mean, seriously -- do my husband and sons really need to see a girl's bare shoulders, her bra straps, and bare thighs in the pew right in front of them, when they're trying to look up and focus toward the Eucharist on the altar?

Ladies, if we women want our men -- your husband, your sons, your brothers -- to be chaste according to their station in life, we need to not lead them into temptation.  If you're clever and have good taste, you can look ravishing without being revealing.

(Plus, honestly girls, half that stuff actually only looks good on Heidi Klum anyway.)

Highlight your feminine mystique without giving it away!

Happy Summer!

Pinterest - Quick, Cheap, & Easy Tips!

If you'd like some more quick and easy tips and tricks on Catholic homeschooling, kindly stop by any of my boards on Pinterest.com!  My boards include quick recommendations on Books, Catholicism, Games & Activities, Homeschooling, Recipes, Rosary, and Words of Wisdom.

These are great pin-ups!  Feel free to abscond with them and re-pin them for yourself, too!

http://pinterest.com/avemommas/

Wisdom from Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

"There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be."

"To a great extent the level of any civilization  is the level of its womanhood.  When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy of her.  The higher her virtue, the more her character, the more devoted she is to truth, justice, goodness, the more a man has to aspire to be worthy of her.  The history of civilization could actually be written in terms of the level of its women."

"You must remember to love people and use things, rather than to love things and use people."