Today I am linking up with the Advent Veil Project. I am really excited because I am pretty new to veiling and I love it. I started veiling on Holy Thursday 2013. It was never something I expected to do, in fact I had never seen anyone veil except when I went to Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Growing up in Montana, it just was no longer done.

When I met my husband and started joining him for Mass at his parish, we met a couple who were married in the Extraordinary Form and she veiled. It was foreign to me at first. They both received the Holy Eucharist kneeling on the stone floor, even when she was pregnant. Their piety impressed me. They were such humble and loving people. It was then that I felt a slight nudge to veil.

Alas, my husband and I left that lovely parish shortly after our wedding in order to move to Southwest Virginia. We had to search for a parish for months. I just like to say “the Spirit of Vatican II” was strong here, so we finally found our current parish 6 months after moving to the area.

I immediately joined the Sanctity of Life Committee and became friends with Christine, and I noticed that she veiled. She was the only woman in the entire parish who veiled regularly. I once again started to get a slow push, but put it on the back burner.

I had reservations about veiling. First off, my own pride. I was worried that I would be prideful and boast in my veil. The opposite has happened actually. Veiling reminds me that I am small before The Lord. It gives me a sense of reverence, especially when I go up to receive the body, blood, soul, and divinity of my Savior.

Second, I was worried about what other people thought. This is also tied to pride. It is a deadly sin I am an unhappy fan of these days. I thought someone would say something nasty to me or people would not talk to me. That has happened to a friend of mine. In actuality not a single person as mentioned it. In fact, one woman asked me where I got my veil. I wear the Black Eternity Veil from Liturgical Time. Check out their giveaway this week! She ended up ordering one and wears it pretty regularly. There are actually at least 4 or 5 women who veil on a regular basis in our parish now. Many of them are my fellow Lay Dominicans (or in the process like me).

Third, I wanted to make sure that it was Christ who was calling me to veil. Earlier this year as I sat at Mass I felt a tremendous urge to veil. I felt like the Holy Spirit was no longer nudging, but kicking. So, I told my husband about my decision. It took him a little while to adjust, but now it is routine.

I could also give the theological or Scriptural reasons for veiling, but honestly, I believe that Christ called me to veil and I submitted. It is not required, nor do I believe that all women should have to veil, unless at an Extraordinary Form Mass. I feel extremely feminine in my veil. I feel a close connection to Our Lady as she is almost always depicted in statues or paintings with a head covering, which was the norm of that time.

If you are considering trying the veil, I say pray about it and then go for it. As Blessed John Paul II always said, “Be Not Afraid”. If you are called to veil, then it is a decision between you and God. It does not matter what anyone else thinks about your decision. That should not matter at all. I have been greatly blessed in the months that I have veiled so far. I cannot imagine not veiling now. I hope you have a very blessed Advent season.

Have you thought about veiling?