Women in Black

When one imagines a mantilla it is usually a black, lace veil. Black is the classical colour worn by married ladies and also at times, young women. Very young girls traditionally wear the black mantilla throughout Holy Week in Spain to show reverence and respect to God.

Beautiful, traditional lace black mantilla - eyes towards Heaven.

Simple elegance in ebony lace.

Princess Caroline of Monaco wearing a classical black veil with silver edging and flowers.

A very young girl wearing a black mantilla perfect for Holy Week.

Holy Week in Spain sees even baby senoritas wearing little black veils in honour of Our Lord.

With the proper peineta in place this Spanish bebe looks the part in pearls!

'Purity requires modesty, an integral part of temperance. Modesty protects the intimate centre of the person. It means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden.'

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Veiling the world over.

It is consoling to find  that the mantilla, or any head covering, is alive and well all over the world. Just as the Mass of Ages is timeless, so is covering one's head...the reverence and love for Our Lord remains brightly burning in many countries.

In the Russian Orthodox Church a lady lights a tapered candle wearing a patterned shawl over her head in reverence.

A Nigerian lady in a black veil holding her tiny baby- I love this devotional picture.

Two young ladies in a beautiful rose lace mantilla and a deep green one in no other than Baghdad! 

A young Korean Catholic lady in a pure white flowered mantilla.

Veiled appropriately at Holy Mass in Pakistan.

'Modesty in a women is a sign that Christ Jesus dwells in her heart. It is the 

sweet perfume of edification which she is called upon to diffuse.'

Thou Art Dust

As we enter into Lent we are reminded on Ash Wednesday of our human mortality when the Priest blesses us with ashes and recites ' Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverum reverteris.'

A beautiful picture of a veiled lady and young girl receiving their Ashes in the 1950s.

Modestly veiled and serenely praying at the Ash Wednesday Holy Mass in India.

A young girl claims her ashes in a black flowered mantilla, ideal for Lent.

'Remember  O man, that dust thou art, and to dust thou shalt return'.

Holy Matrimony

I never tire of gazing at Wedding veils and I'll have been married 19 years this October! On one of the most special days of her life, the bride approaches the Altar of God and her husband-to-be full of joy and peace. Dressed usually in pure white, she will have her hair covered in modesty and reverence to God and her bridegroom.

The stunning Grace Kelly on her Wedding day - she chose a Juliet cap (made famous from Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet') decorated with orange blossoms and the  circular veil, with lace motifs, was 90 yards long.

Another Juliet cap style veil- this one is handmade by 'Kelima K' in New York and is made of vintage lace and beaded trim. 

A glistening, fully beaded long mantilla.

Crocheted white Wedding veil, absolutely glorious!

Elegantly simple, traditional style mantilla.

Veiling the sacred - in Judaism at the 'bedeken' ceremony the bridegroom places the veil over the bride's face and recites the blessing given to Rebecca by her mother and brother before she left for her marriage to Isaac. 

“When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy of her. The higher her virtue, the more noble her character, the more devoted she is to truth, justice, goodness, the more a man has to aspire to be worthy of her. The history of civilization could actually be written in terms of the level of its women.” 

+Fulton J. Sheen

Modest in mantillas

When one veils there is a special yearning for reverence and humility. It shows an understanding of the virtue of modesty and respect in the presence of God. Seeing young ladies wearing mantillas is a real joy, especially in a world which is rife with impurity and immorality. Covering their heads and dressing in modest attire shows Our Lord that He is at the centre of their hearts.

A beautiful, black lace mantilla for a young lady.

Modestly fashionable in white.

I love the way this Russian girl has made her ivory mantilla her own by tying it around the base of her neck. 

A wonderful array of pure white lace with a pale pink and ebony mantilla...feminine beauty at its best.

Our young ladies will lead the Church into Her next generation - may they always remain virtuous, modest and faithful.

'How beautiful then is modesty and what a gem among virtues it is.'

St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Doctor of the Church 

Prayer

During prayer mantillas help to keep the mind focused. The head is covered and one can direct all their thoughts towards God. It shows reverence towards the Blessed Sacrament to cover one's head, a humility and modesty which puts God first and us second. 

All alone with her Lord.

Prayerful young women directing their hearts to God.

'He must increase but I must decrease'

Even the very tiny can contemplate!

"Prayer is an aspiration of the heart, it is a simple glance directed to heaven, it is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trail as well as joy; finally, it is something great, supernatural, which expands my soul and unites me to Jesus."

--St.Therese of Lisieux

Beautiful Baptism

The Sacrament of  Baptism is not only essential for Catholics, but so very beautiful to behold-  a baby becomes a child of God and a member of Christ's Mystical Body. The Old Rite of Baptism is especially efficacious as it includes all the exorcisms and the prayers (and most of the time, the responses) are said in Latin.

The Baptism of baby Robert Emmanuel which I was honoured to attend last Saturday. His Godmother wears a beautiful black lace mantilla for the occasion.

With all the Sacraments in the Church a woman wears a mantilla to show humility and devotion to God. 

Frances looking on in her pretty, handmade white mantilla. 

Caught at the Baptism in my teal, blue and black mantilla by 'Peter's Bride', one of my favourite shops.

'Humility is the mother of many virtues because from it obedience, fear, reverence, patience, modesty, meekness and peace are born. He who is humble easily obeys everyone, fears to offend anyone, is at peace with everyone, is kind with all.'

St Thomas of Villanova