8.179. I don’t understand why women have to wear head coverings at Mass. Isn’t that kind of oppressive or old-fashioned?
The Catholic practice of women wearing a head covering at Mass is neither oppressive nor outdated. Rather, it is a biblically mandated, apostolically transmitted, and universally practiced tradition — held from the time of the Apostles until its sudden collapse after Vatican II. The traditional head covering is often called a mantilla (from Spanish, meaning “little cloak”), though it may take the form of a chapel veil, scarf, or hat.
1. Scriptural Foundation
St. Paul clearly commands this practice:
“Every man praying or prophesying with his head covered, disgraceth his head. But every woman praying or prophesying with her head not covered, disgraceth her head: for it is all one as if she were shaven... For this cause ought the woman to have a power over her head, because of the angels.”
This reveals a profound truth: the head covering is not just a cultural sign but a spiritual symbol — of authority, reverence, and humility in the presence of God and His holy angels.
2. Apostolic Tradition and Church Law
The practice was universally observed for nearly 2,000 years, and codified in Canon Law:
“Women shall have their heads covered and be modestly dressed, especially when they approach the table of the Lord.”
This canon was never lawfully abrogated. Vatican II and its aftermath caused mass liturgical and disciplinary breakdowns — but no official decree ever nullified this divine apostolic precept.
3. Historical Practice
From the early Church Fathers through to the Middle Ages and even up to the 1950s, Catholic art and photography show women attending Mass always with their heads veiled — whether in lace mantillas, silk scarves, or modest hats. This wasn’t optional or aesthetic — it was a duty rooted in Scripture and Catholic discipline.
The Church has always connected this with the woman’s dignity and sacredness. Just as the tabernacle is veiled, so too is the woman — both are signs of life, mystery, and spiritual fruitfulness.
4. Clarifying Misconceptions
To modern ears, the idea of veiling may sound repressive. But the truth is the opposite: veiling is a sign of honor, modesty, and feminine beauty rightly ordered. It’s not about male dominance — it’s about divine order, which lifts up and dignifies both man and woman in their respective roles.
5. Today’s Restoration
Many traditional Catholic women today are reclaiming this practice, finding that it deepens their reverence, sharpens their focus at Mass, and visibly affirms their Catholic identity — even amidst a world that rejects modesty and sacred tradition.
| Category | Traditional Catholic View | Modern/Post-Vatican II View | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scriptural Basis | Mandated in 1 Corinthians 11:4–10 | Dismissed as outdated or “cultural” | Scripture remains binding and timeless |
| Name and Form | Called a mantilla, veil, scarf, or headcovering | Rarely used; misunderstood or mocked | The mantilla is a symbol of sacred modesty |
| Church Law | Canon 1262 (1917) mandates it | Silently discarded post-Vatican II | Still binding unless officially revoked |
| Symbolism | Sign of reverence, humility, spiritual headship | Seen as oppressive or irrelevant | Veiling is about God, not social power |
| Angelic Witness | Women veil "because of the angels" (1 Cor. 11:10) | Rarely understood or taught | Liturgical worship is a participation in heaven |
| Practical Effect | Encourages focus, modesty, sacred disposition | Distraction, worldliness, casual dress common | Veiling is an inward act expressed outwardly |
Summary:
For nearly two millennia, Catholic women wore head coverings during Mass as an expression of humility, modesty, and spiritual order. Known as the mantilla or chapel veil, this practice wasn’t a cultural trend or aesthetic choice — it was a sign rooted in divine revelation, upheld by the apostles, and codified in the Canon Law of the Church.
St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians lays out the theological foundation: men must uncover their heads, and women must cover theirs, because of the sacred distinctions God placed in creation. The head covering symbolizes submission to God’s order, not submission to man’s dominance. It reminds both sexes of their place before Almighty God and of the divine presence in worship — especially during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Historically, from the early Church through the 1960s, this practice was universal. Whether in grand cathedrals or humble missions, Catholic women always veiled. The 1917 Code of Canon Law reaffirmed it as binding. It was only after the confusion and rebellion following Vatican II that veiling was gradually abandoned — not by law, but by lawless custom.
Unfortunately, modern culture has framed veiling as oppressive or unnecessary. But when understood in its true light, it is a noble sign of feminine dignity and reverence. Just as the tabernacle is veiled, so too is the Catholic woman — both are vessels of life and sacred mystery. The head covering proclaims silently: “I am before the Living God.”
This has nothing to do with shame, inferiority, or outdated custom. It’s a visual catechesis — showing the world that sacred things are not flaunted but revered. Women who veil today often report a deeper focus in prayer, a renewed sense of modesty, and a closer bond to the blessed women of Scripture and the saints who veiled before them — including Our Lady, the Mother of God.
In a culture obsessed with visibility, vanity, and rebellion, the veil is a quiet act of defiance against secularism and a proud embrace of Catholic identity. It is a sign of hope — that even in dark times, the faithful still know how to worship God with reverence, purity, and love.
Let us reclaim the beauty and power of this tradition — not for its nostalgia, but because it is true, sacred, and Catholic.
Further reading:
Why You Should Veil: A Guidebook for Catholic Women – by The Girl in the Mantilla