At the parish my Husband and I attend, it is customary for the ladies to veil. In other Christian communities--Pentecostals, Mennonites, Brethren, Baptist, and Orthodox-- women cover, too. So do various Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and African communities. The whys and wherefores of covering vary from one group to another. Some women choose to veil for religious events only, others veil 24/7. Some coverings are simple, others are ornamental and elaborate. Nevertheless, the act of covering has been, for centuries, a tremendous source of cultural and spiritual symbolism.
In the Catholic Christian tradition, a veil symbolizes submission to God. It denotes an order, a hierarchy if you will. St. Paul gives an extensive discourse in 1 Corinthians 11: 1-11. Regardless of your convictions regarding this issue, whether or not you, as a woman, have a piece of cloth on your head, I have a more important question for you: Do you have a veil upon your heart?
For us women, a veil upon our hearts denotes a godly submission to our husbands. It means that we know our place within the order of God's chain of command, and that we lovingly accept it.
I challenge you, dear woman reader, to imagine a veil. Create it out of the air, choose a colour and cut it and decorate it as you wish. Let your daydreams run wild! When you are done, though, in your mind's eye, place it upon your heart. Leave it there for one day. Offer it up as an act of love to God and as a commitment to sweetly surrender to His will for your life. Throughout the day, keep reminding yourself of its presence, and take note of any "differences" you observe.
I wonder if your "veil" will make a difference in your daily life. Will it change your perspective or outlook? Will it inspire your heart to be softer, more surrendering? Will you feel more feminine? Closer to God? It may seem like a silly exercise, but I do hope that you will take up my challenge and let me know your results. You just may be surprised. :)
With Love,
Traditional Wife
In the Catholic Christian tradition, a veil symbolizes submission to God. It denotes an order, a hierarchy if you will. St. Paul gives an extensive discourse in 1 Corinthians 11: 1-11. Regardless of your convictions regarding this issue, whether or not you, as a woman, have a piece of cloth on your head, I have a more important question for you: Do you have a veil upon your heart?
For us women, a veil upon our hearts denotes a godly submission to our husbands. It means that we know our place within the order of God's chain of command, and that we lovingly accept it.
I challenge you, dear woman reader, to imagine a veil. Create it out of the air, choose a colour and cut it and decorate it as you wish. Let your daydreams run wild! When you are done, though, in your mind's eye, place it upon your heart. Leave it there for one day. Offer it up as an act of love to God and as a commitment to sweetly surrender to His will for your life. Throughout the day, keep reminding yourself of its presence, and take note of any "differences" you observe.
I wonder if your "veil" will make a difference in your daily life. Will it change your perspective or outlook? Will it inspire your heart to be softer, more surrendering? Will you feel more feminine? Closer to God? It may seem like a silly exercise, but I do hope that you will take up my challenge and let me know your results. You just may be surprised. :)
With Love,
Traditional Wife