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'.