The St. Rose 02 Veil

 JMJ

Made in honor of St. Rose of Lima.
-Ready to ship now!
-Embroidered floral lace frames the face for a lovely effect.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/RosaMysticaBoutique

The St. Michael Veil

 JMJ

In honor of St. Michael.
Mauve Chantilly lace pairs with Venise peacock trim in this boho style veil.

Rosa Mystica Boutique

The St. Gertrude of Nivelles Chapel Veil

 JMJ

https://www.etsy.com/shop/RosaMysticaBoutique

In honor of St. Gertrude of Nivelles.

Our small brown D-shaped veil features cluny lace trim.

Catherine of Siena Veil

 JMJ

https://www.etsy.com/shop/RosaMysticaBoutique

Made in honor of St. Catherine of Siena

Lightweight embroidered blue mantilla offers an allover design for holy Mass.

Our "Infinity Eternity Mantilla For Mass" is a veil with a twist!

How to Wear a Chapel Veil

 Thought I'd share this lovely video by Abbey Clint. 

Should Women Veil in Church at Mass? Dr. Taylor Marshall Podcast

Veils in Art

 The Veil, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1898.

What a lovely painting. I remember in  school how the academics turned their noses up at painters like Ingres and Bouguereau. They called Bouguereau overly sentimental. The professors were more in favor of the impressionists and all the major movements to come afterwards. 

It's unfortunate when art becomes about doing something different for the sake of novelty. It sort of reminds me of what happened to the Mass, don't you think? 

But back to the painting. The painting speaks about light and dark, the white of the veil against the dark greens trees. I'm thinking it appears to be late afternoon on a summer day. There's a certain playfulness in her gesture, as if she is playing peek-a-boo with her veil. It's as if she were peeking out from inside a tent. The tilt of her head and the movement of the hands suggests a certain welcoming to the viewer.

Like a tent: I know some women have told me they felt this way about their veils at the Mass. I have, too. I put on the veil and its purpose is to cover me and direct my focus on the Lord. Somehow these little pieces of lace can do that for us as women. Maybe in part it's because this is the one place we wear them; before the Blessed Sacrament. 

https://www.1st-art-gallery.com/William-Adolphe-Bouguereau/The-Veil.html

Welcome to My New Sewing Kitchen!

Well, we're settling into our new home. I thought you might like to see my new sewing studio, which funny enough, turns out to be another second floor kitchen, just like my old sewing studio!

It's bright and sunny, which is nice. Here's the little porch which is adjacent to the kitchen.

I believe these cabinets were made by the original owners of the house, who were cabinet makers (above).

My sewing machine and new serger here, along with a laptop (above).

Notice my little friend here at the bottom of the photo (above). He's my constant companion.

Here's my embroidery machine.

The "kitcheny" part of my studio.

Thanks for taking the time to view my little tour. Have a great weekend and God bless!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnh4DchxfEw

Here's a super good and spot on commentary on the chapel veiland what it symbolizes. 

"A controversial discipline in the Church today. Where does this teaching come from & why? Is it important for today? For more please visithttp://www.traditionalsermons.com/ & remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest."

Jackie

Jackie Kennedy Onassis has arguably done more for the mantilla chapel veil in the latter half of the 20th century than anyone. Ladies in the Romance countries (Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican City) wore the mantillas. I have two veils that my mother bought in Rome, one of which she wore at a private Mass with Pope Pius XII. Yes, it's now my treasure!

But I'm told that in the United States, in earlier part of the 20th century, women wore hats and sometimes headscarves to Mass. As a young child do I remember a sea of hats at Mass and I remember being bedazzled with at all the different colors and styles. Hats were seen as classy and elegant head coverings.

Then in the 1960's, pictures of the first lady Jackie wearing mantilla chapel veils to Mass appeared. And that was IT. And that became the latest thing. American ladies began to wear the mantilla. In Catholic schools the little round chapel veils became the standard fair. I just missed the cut off for that, sad to say. By the time I hit grade school, the chapel cap was well on the decline.

So, where are the "Jackie Kennedys" of today? Where are those who inspire other to reverence before the Blessed Sacrament? You are she! It's beautiful ladies like yourself who bring back the reverence through the chapel veil. That's such a sight for sore eyes at Mass. You are the "trend setters."

With Pope Paul VI in Rome.

With Pope St. John XXIII in Rome.

Caroline, Jackie's sister Lee Radziwill, Jackie and John, Jr. at the funeral of Senator Robert F. Kennedy in New York on June 8, 1968.

At Sen. Robert Kennedy’s funeral with her sister Princess Lee Radziwill. 

Making the sign of the cross at funeral.

On her Wedding Day. 

The First Family.

Leaving Mass. I'm noticing she liked to wear her chapel veils "backwards". She how it frames the face? That's a rounded drape effect from a triangular or almond shaped veil. 

Saddest days.

A happier time for Jackie.  

Frequently Asked Questions About Chapel Veils

Frequently Asked Questions About Chapel Veils

Perhaps you might be thinking, "What's the big deal? Just put it on your head and you're good to go." To a certain extent, that's true. But so many women are new to veiling these days, and I've had enough questions emailed to me regarding the actual wearing of veils, I thought it was time to write a few words on the subject.

Q.1. When is it appropriate to wear my veil?

A.1. Anytime you're in the chapel before the Blessed Sacrament. Whether you're at the Mass, at Adoration, taking part in a Eucharistic procession, or even just chapel cleaning, it's always appropriate to cover your head. Of course  while doing the last one, you'll need something that's easily tied back for practicality's sake.

 Q.2. Where should I put on my veil?

A.2. Some ladies like to put the veil on while still in the car, others in the  vestibule, while still others wait until they're in the chapel. Do what suits you best.

Q.3. How can I make sure that my veil is on straight?

A.3. Take a second or two to make sure you've got the veil on your head correctly, and that it isn't crooked or all bunched up in the back. Run your fingers across the back of the veil, and then check to see that it's on straight in the front, and that the sides are even, by bringing the two front sides together and matching them up.

 Q.4  How can I keep my veil from slipping?

A.4.  It's certainly fine to subtly adjust your veil during Mass. Is it wrong to say it's even a little bit charming? I think it can be. But if you find the veil is constantly slipping, then perhaps a sewn-in comb or clip is the best option  for you. Another alternative is to use a bobby pin or a tiny hair claw that can be slipped in between the fibers of the lace. However this option is less  desirable, as bobby pins and hair claws can easily damage the lace if you're not careful.

 Q.5. Why do some veils tend to slip more than others?           

A.5. It all depends on the style, as some veil styles tend to slip more then others. For example, veils with lighter-weight trim in the front and heavy trim on the back are often more likely to slip, while stretch lace veils generally tend to stay on fairly well. In addition, some hair types tend to make veils slip more than others. Women with fine, silky hair tend to have more issues with slippage than those with coarser, curly hair.

 Q.6. Is there a way for me to know in advance whether a certain veil will fit well?

A.6.  Prior to putting a veil up for sale on the website, my daughters and I test all  our styles for "wearability", and I think it's important for us to do so. By  “wearability” I mean, does it fall nicely? Does it frame the face well? All veils slip a little, but does the veil slip excessively? If we feel a particular style slips a lot, then I'll mention that information on the veil's page, and that a   comb or clip is recommended.

 Q.7. How do I pick the right color?

A.7. When it comes to Chapel veils, the bottom line is to wear what you like best!  There once was a time when no one would wear white after Labor Day,   These sorts of color rules have been greatly relaxed. But, it's always good to know what the rules are--or were--before breaking them. So here are some general guidelines you may want to consider.

Traditionally married women and older women wore black, while younger  ladies and girls wore white. Was this so that the men could see which ladies  were "taken?" I'm not sure, but somehow it seems reasonable to assume that   a sort of color-coding would be useful in this regard. However, there are no longer any "official" rules dictating what colors you should wear, so feel free to express your personal preferences here.

It should be mentioned that colors can express the mood or the tone of a  given day. Certainly for a requiem Mass, the darker colors are more suitable,   even for the younger girls. While at Easter, a lighter color veil is more appropriate, regardless of age.

 Q.8. How do I pick the right style of veil?

A.8. The particular length of the season's hemlines used to be strictly dictated by the fashion industry, but now there is more room for individual taste. A general rule is that the longer the hairstyle, the longer the veil. Think of letting the veil frame the hair. For example, if you have a bob, then a half-circle veil might look really pretty.

 Q.9. What should I do if no one else is wearing a veil?

A.9. Be a trendsetter! I know that sounds paradoxical when speaking of  something as traditional as veiling, but my point is that one shouldn't let the fact that nobody else is veiling stop them, if they're veiling to please Our Lord. So it really doesn't matter if others approve or disapprove.

 

Are You A Lone Veiler?

Sometimes I get mail from ladies I call "lone veilers." Are you a lone veiler? You know, the only lady at church who wears the chapel veil?

You are?! I admire you for your heroic fearlessness. You do what you believe is right regardless of what others may think. I'm sharing a letter from a dear lone veiler lady, with her permission. I'm including my reply.

Hi Ann,
I hope you can assist me, I go to mass daily and of course Sundays, I started kneeling for Holy Communion,
and sometimes there are different priests, and they all disagree for me to kneel. Why? What can I do? Wearing a veil is also not acceptable in our parish as our priest says that I draw people to myself because I'm different, if I wear a veil.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you,
Patricia

Greetings Patricia,  

The priests are very wrong to discourage you from these pious practices. Is there a more traditionally minded parish in your area? If so, perhaps you may want to consider joining them as a member. It would be better for you to be shepherded by a priest who is respectful and appreciative of our beautiful traditional practices. In addition, you'd be supporting a more traditionally Catholic church.

If there's no such place in your area, I feel for you, and this situation is a heavy cross for you to carry. Try not to be bitter, but don't back down either. You are not alone. There are many other ladies out there whom are what I call,"lone veilers." Please know how firmly I believe that you ladies are making a difference in a big way. Wear your chapel veil, kneel for Communion and pray the rosary! When you do that, you set a good example for others, and you're only doing what Catholics have been doing for centuries. How can that be wrong?

Kind regards,

Ann

Are you a lone veiler? You are not alone! How do people respond to your chapel veil? Let me know. I'd like to hear from you.

Why wear a chapel veil?

Why wear a chapel veil? I couldn't have said it any better than these ladies have.

Mantilla From I Love Lucy, "The Dummy"

I love the lace on this veil. We often watch these old re-runs while sewing here. The girls love them. Lucy was so funny!

The Veil from the Ghost Breakers.

My daughter and I were watching this old horror comedy with  Bob Hope (Geoff)and Paulette Goddard( Mary). There's a Zombie, Turner Classic Films says it "pre-dates the Val Lewton classic I Walked with a Zombie (1943) by three years, and it is easy to imagine that film's director Jacques Tourneur taking his visual cue from this film.

Geoff: A zombie has no will of his own. You see them sometimes walking around blindly with dead eyes, following orders, not knowing what they do, not caring.Richard Carlson as Larry: You mean like Democrats?

But anyway, what interested me most was the veil Paulette Goddard was wearing (below). What do you think? Do you like it?

It's an oval shape veil and it's long in the back. The material seems to be sort of rigid, with a sort of flyaway effect. It definitely needs a comb. I'm inspired. You don't see a lot of the longer oval veils out in the pews--especially none like this. I think I may have to come up with one that's similar.

Married women and the black veil revisited.

How did the black veil become associated with married women?

Below is a photo that I took of the widow's veil at the Louisiana State Museum on Jackson Square in New Orleans. You can see how it is meant to cover the face and undoubtably the tears of the woman who wore it.

The widows veil of mourning.

A widow in mourning was required to wear black for about one to two years after the death of her husband. So say for example the woman was widowed and she began the morning process of wearing black. If during that year another family member died, she would begin the full morning all over again from the very beginning.

Wearing Your Chapel Veil

This article is taken from my website: http://rosamysticamantilla.com/how-to-wear-your-mantilla-chapel-veil.php

Perhaps you might be thinking, "What's the big deal? Just put it on your head and you're good to go." To a certain extent, that's true. But so many women are new to veiling these days, and I've had enough questions emailed to me regarding the actual wearing of veils, I thought it was time to write a few words on the subject.

When to put your veil on. Anytime you're in the chapel before the Blessed Sacrament. Whether you're at the Mass, Adoration, taking part in a Eucharistic procession or even just chapel cleaning, it's always appropriate to cover your head. Of course while doing the latter, you'll need something that's easily tied back for practicality's sake.

Where to put your veil on. Some ladies like to put the veil on while still in the car, others in the vestibule, while still others wait until they're in the chapel. Do what suits you best.

How to make sure your veil is on straight. Take a second or two to make sure you've got the veil on right, and that it isn't on crooked and it isn't all bunched up in the back. I find it distracting when a Mantilla's not laying flat in the back! Does that drive you crazy, too? Run your fingers across the back of the veil, and then check to see that it's on straight in the front, and that the sides are even by bringing the two front sides together and matching them up.

Slippage. Some veil styles tend to slip more then others. For example, veils with lighter weight trim in the front and heavy trim on the back are often more likely to slip, while stretch lace veils generally tend to stay on fairly well. In addition, some hair types tend to make veils slip more than others. Women with fine, silky hair tend to have more issues with slippage than those with coarser, curly hair. It's certainly fine to subtly adjust your veil during Mass; is it wrong to say it's even a little bit charming? I think it can be. But if you find the veils constantly slipping, then perhaps a sewn in comb or clip is the best option for you. Another alternative is to use a bobby pin or a tiny hair claw that can be slipped in between the fibers of the lace. However this option is less desirable, as bobby pins and hair claws can easily damage the lace if you're not careful.

A little more regarding veils that slip... Prior to putting a veil up for sale on the website, my daughters and I test all our styles for "wearability", and I think it's important for us to do so...  By wearability, I mean, does it fall nicely? Does it frame the face well? All veils slip a little, but does the veil slip excessively?  If we feel a particular style slips a lot, then I'll mention on that particular veil's page that a comb or clip is recommended.

Picking The Best Style And Color for You. When it comes to Chapel veils, the bottom line is to wear what you like best! There once was a time when no one would wear white after Labor Day, and the particular length of the season's hemlines was strictly dictated by the fashion industry. These sorts of clothing rules have been greatly relaxed. But it's always good to know what the rules are--or in this case, were--before breaking them. So there are some general guidelines you may want to consider. They are as follows below.

Traditionally married women and older women wore black, while younger ladies and girls wore white. Was this so that the men could see which ladies were "taken?" I'm not sure, but somehow it seems reasonable to assume that a sort of color coding would be useful in this regard. However, there are no longer any official rules dictating what colors you should wear, so feel free to express your personal preferences here.

While I'm on the subject of color, it should be mentioned color can express the mood or the tone of a given day. Certainly for a requiem Mass, the darker colors are more suitable, even for the younger girls, while at Easter, a lighter veil is more appropriate, regardless of age.

Another general rule is that the longer the hairstyle, the longer the veil. Think of letting the veil frame the hair. For example,  if you have a bob, then a half-circle veil might look really pretty.

What if no one else is wearing a veil? Then be a trend setter. I know that sounds paradoxical when speaking of something as traditional as veiling, but my point is that one shouldn't let the fact that nobody else is veiling stop them, if they're veiling to please Our Lord. So it really doesn't matter if others approve or disapprove.

My Thoughts on Veiling.

Throughout the ages Catholic women have always covered their heads while at church. This part of our identity fell widely out of practice in the late 1960's. 

But now it appears that headcovering, and in particular the chapel veil is making a comeback. I for one am grateful to be part of its return! 

Some people ask, "Why cover your head? Isn't that antiquated? Isn't that out of date?" 

To answer, I can only explain this way: veiling is an outward sign. Our Catholic faith is full of external signs and expressions that point us to the supernatural; they point to the mysteries of our faith. When we let these precious customs fall by the wayside, we lose something beautiful. Maybe we lose some part of that which has the potential to turn our mind and heart to God. Can the chapel veil help to turn a woman's mind and heart to God? I think so.

Maybe back in the old days many women covered because, well, that's just what everyone did... St. Paul wrote that 'women must have a covering over their heads', so that's the way it always was.  Then the 1917 Code of Canon Law Church required it. And frankly that's reason enough--as far as I'm concerned. That's simple enough.

In the past, in covering, it was also understood that the woman submits to the authority of her husband, which is a sore point for many today, certainly. Well what can be said about that? If the headship of the husband is understood in light of the fact that the husband is likewise under God's authority, and that he has no right to ask anything of his wife that would go against God's laws, then I believe that  the issue of authority gets set in the proper perspective.

Furthermore, as St. Paul affirms, a man must love his wife as Christ loves the Church and gave himself up for her. That's a very tall order. Perhaps women have the better deal within the relationship, because it's much easier to submit than to love as Christ loves.

The 1983 Code of Canon Law said nothing regarding the issue of headcovering. So now some argue that it was never officially abrogated, since Canon Law states that when in doubt, the older law stands. Still most others say it was abrogated... 

In any event, in most places nowadays, a woman has a choice about whether to veil or not. In most places, no one's going to lead a woman out into the vestibule and hand her a chapel veil to borrow. So it's a choice.

For many of us that choose to wear veils--now, in our time-- I think it's motivated by the desire for an affirmation of what we believe in our hearts: that Our Lord Jesus is truly present in the Most Holy Sacrament on the altar. That's the sense I get from those with whom I've spoken, anyway. And yes, I know many Catholic women believe this without wearing a veil. Of course, they believe but don't choose to go without that outward sign. 

In what way is the veil an outward sign? 1 Corinthians: 11 explains that a woman's hair is her glory. 

1 Cor 11:[14] Doth not even nature itself teach you, that a man indeed, if he nourish his hair, it is a shame unto him? [15] But if a woman nourish her hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.

So perhaps the veil is an outward sign in this way: A woman covers her hair--which is a sign of her glory--in the presence of One who is far more glorious: Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament. In doing so she submits to Him.

This is what I've come to believe about the chapel veil. That's what it's about for me. Our Lord Jesus is with us: body, blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist. How wonderful is that mystery of our faith?  What a privilege it is for women to have some external means of testifying to that; of showing some outward sign of reverence to Jesus in the Eucharist! 

So, we cover our head as a way of acknowledging where we are, and genuflect before Our Lord in the tabernacle as a sign, as an expression of love for Our Lord Jesus.