--- title: "To Veil or Not to Veil: That is the Question" description: "To Veil or Not to Veil: That is the Question" --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/03/06/to-veil-or-not-to-veil-that-is-the-question#) # To Veil or Not to Veil: That is the Question Mar 6, 2013 9:00:26 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) [![veil](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/veil-550x394.png?width=330&height=236&name=veil-550x394.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/veil.png)I’ve met some awesome Catholic families who wear veils during mass. I’ve met some awesome Catholic families who don’t.  Mine doesn’t, but I swear, there’s an unmistakable draw about those veils. I used to think that mass veils were silly and a sign of some sort of spiritual elitism.  But of course, I was just being a ‘un-covered head’ elitist adamant that I didn’t need no veil to be all holy-like and stuff.  It turns out, I was correct: you don’t need a veil to be holy and those who wear them don’t think so either. Many choose to wear veils simply out of reverence and I have a deep respect for any family who wants to indicate in their dress that mass time is like no other hour in their schedule.  It’s set aside for Him, and veiling their heads is the indication of that. Secretly, I think I’ve always found mass veils really pretty and attractive. But, then, it could just be the Spaniard in me wanting to leap out in passionate, mantilla form. Deep down, I realize that, if I don’t keep the Spanish Dona at bay, I’d probably show up to church looking something like the picture above. Oh yeah.  Six inch comb and all. The important thing when deciding whether or not to veil is understanding that if you don’t, you aren’t doing anything wrong.  No matter what some might claim, the requirement for chapel veils was already in decline when the mass rubrics of the 1962 Missal did not mention them. Similarly, and more recently, the 1983 Code for Canon Law is silent about the subject.  So, no, you are not obliged wear one, but at the same time, it’s equally fine to wear one. We need to avoid the temptation to believe that some invisible veiled/veil-less rivalry exists somewhere six feet above the temporal plane. Although, that *would* be an, er, interesting ‘battle’ to witness (The Veils unleashing a hail storm of lacy netting and the Bald Caps deflecting with their copies of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy) the truth is that the efficacious grace of the Eucharist is available to to all properly disposed Catholics regardless of headdress. The important thing, of course, is what’s in your heart … unless it happens to be a flailing Spanish flamenco dancer.  Whatever you do, don’t let her out.  Appease her with chocolate and Gyspy Kings music, but do not, I repeat, do not flamenco in Church.  That might have been okay in the old translation (no it wasn’t) but the new translation, not so much. ***Copyright 2013 Marissa Nichols*** ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F03%2F06%2Fto-veil-or-not-to-veil-that-is-the-question%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F03%2F06%2Fto-veil-or-not-to-veil-that-is-the-question%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F03%2F06%2Fto-veil-or-not-to-veil-that-is-the-question%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=To%20Veil%20or%20Not%20to%20Veil%3A%20That%20is%20the%20Question) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F03%2F06%2Fto-veil-or-not-to-veil-that-is-the-question%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F03%2F06%2Fto-veil-or-not-to-veil-that-is-the-question%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. Please support our guest writers by visiting their sites, purchasing their work, and leaving comments to thank them for sharing their gifts here on CatholicMom.com. To inquire about serving as a guest contributor, contact editor@CatholicMom.com. ## Related Blog Articles [ Veronica’s Veil Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/01/26/veronicas-veil) [ Veil of Tears: A Movie Review Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/06/20/veil-of-tears-a-movie-review) [ "Jacinta's Miracle Veil" Celebrates the Story of Fatima Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/04/18/jacintas-miracle-veil-celebrates-story-fatima) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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