Extraordinary Mantillas!

As long as a lady covers her head inside a Church, many believe, it does not really matter whether it is with a lace embroidered mantilla or a raincoat hood!

Veiling shows submission first and foremost to Almighty God and it is the act of head covering to make oneself aware that He is great and we are small.

A headscarf or hood might suffice if we have no other form of head covering, but these mantillas are extraordinary!

Gold glorious gold!  A vintage, gold floral pattern in black by Robin Nest Lane (details in side bar)

Intricately embroidered Wedding Veil - wholly Catholic!

Spanish style silver veil with large flowers and lace edging, also by 'Robin Nest Lane.'

Beautifully flowing white mantillas. The one with the butterfly and flowered motif is so pretty and unique.

A Russian Old Believers Bridal veil. The Old Believers separated themselves after 1666 from the Russian Orthodox Church in a protest against Church reforms brought in by Patriarch Nikon.

An exquisite pale and darker blue, lace mantilla with gorgeous roses adorning the sides. This is handmade by my friend Gail of 'Peter's Bride' on Etsy. 

Late 12century veil - the beautiful and determined Queen Isabella of England.

Lastly, an extraordinary Chapel Veil case to keep your mantillas clean and safe. Isn't this one utterly perfect for Holy Mass?

'But the fruit of the Spirit is; charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity.'

Galatians 5: 22-23

Mother and Child

Not only does a Mother veil to show reverence and humility towards God Himself - decreasing herself, so He can increase - it also is an example to any children she may be blessed with, especially her daughters. Teaching them from babyhood that veiling is about focusing upon God, humbling oneself in His presence and being modest and respectful, is a seed which will be sown into all aspects of their lives.

A Mother and Baby in the Russian Orthodox Church. Baby's head is also covered as is custom within the Orthodox way of life.

In the Ukraine Church the Mother's wear a beautiful, full head covering and the little girl's veil in either mantillas or head scarves.

A group of Mothers and daughters -learning by example. These are such modest style veils.

A Russian Orthodox Mother wearing a beautifully bright scarf and her young daughter wears a pretty hat. 

Babies make their First Holy Communion within the Eastern Church. Note the traditional vestments, sacred Communion cloth and the Mother is veiled in white.

Little Grace Therese wearing a veil in Holy Mass...she is aware that we always cover our heads when entering the House of God. 

Lastly, let us always look to Our Blessed Mother for the best example of modesty and humility. 

'Let us run to Mary, and as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with perfect confidence.'

St Francis de Sales

Meeting the Holy Father.

Wearing a mantilla to meet the Holy Father or a Cardinal...or a Saint...

Meeting Cardinal Burke certainly deserves a white, lace mantilla.

Jacqueline Kennedy meeting Pope Paul VI, July 2nd 1963.

In June 1987 when Nancy Reagan met Pope John Paul II she donned a black lace mantilla.

The ever elegant Princess Grace Kelly about to meet Pope John XXIII in June 1959.

Ladies adorned in white lace to meet the future Saint, Padre Pio. Holiness emanated through him to all he met.

What an honour to meet Archbishop Fulton Sheen!

St Therese of the Child Jesus meeting Pope Leo XIII to ask permission to enter Carmel at just 15yrs. 

'He must increase, but I must decrease,'

Gospel of St John, 3:30

Veiling

Wearing a lace mantilla is not the only way to cover one's head and retain modesty in Church.  It really does not matter how a lady or young girl covers their head, it is the act of being willing to veil for God which is important. 

A peasant style cream scarf with a larger brown patterned one, enshrouds this lady and shows true modesty and femininity.

A simple white scarf can work just as well as lace to veil a lady. 

Brightly coloured scarves can often be a popular choice for young ladies.

Purple, rose patterned head scarf covers (most) of the hair and gives a modest air appropriate for Church. From Etsy.

Many European ladies would don silk scarves for Holy Mass instead of the mantilla. This looks very elegant.

Young Russian girls lighting tapers in coloured and patterned scarves wrapped around their heads very modestly.

Praying in Upper Egypt in plain black head scarves. 

'O how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory- for the memory thereof is immortal; because it is known with both God and with men.'

Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi is one of the greatest Feasts of our Holy Catholic Faith. For hundreds of years magnificent Processions have held place where Priests and lay people reverently and proudly process the streets behind Our Lord. Never has it been more vital than today to bring Jesus through the streets, to publicly show our deep love and gratitude and adoration of Him, and not of the world.

Corpus Christi is the perfect feast day for First Holy Communion where a little child receives Christ's Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity for the first time. 

1950s England - beautifully stylish and classical First Holy Communion girls. Lace caps, flowers and gloves were all very popular.

Corpus Christi in Serbia. Traditional dress looks so beautiful!

German First Holy Communicants in glorious national dress. I love their intricate hair styles and jewelled head dresses.

Our annual Corpus Christi Procession in Oxford. The First Holy Communicants wear their dresses and veils and scatter rose petals in front of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Grace Therese with her rose petals before the Procession on the Feast of Corpus Christi. 

'O Sacrament most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving

be every moment Thine'

Holy Trinity Sunday

On Holy Trinity Sunday we went to the First Holy Communions of three dear children- Columba, Elizabeth and Frances.

There was a beautiful Missa Cantata and they received Our Blessed Lord's Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, with a pure white Holy Communion veil (otherwise known as a houseling, a domenical or a manutergium) which was spread across the Altar rails in case any Pieces of the Host are accidentally dropped. 

Afterwards there was a joyful celebration in the Church grounds with champagne and a magnificent Holy Communion cake.

Elizabeth and Frances on their First Holy Communion Day. Elizabeth wears her Grandmother's dress with a beautiful veil and flower crown from Etsy. Frances wears a long, antique veil.

Elizabeth's veil was very pretty and detailed with flowers and frills down the back.

The First Holy Communion boy, Columba, looked resplendent in his kilt, sporran and tie.

A fabulous First Holy Communion cake by Lucy Shaw cakes http://lucyshawcakes.blogspot.co.uk/

Modesty is beautiful

Modesty and purity shine through the soul. When  a lady remains pure of heart it is to be honoured. Covering one's head in reverence to Our Lord shows great respect and humility to Him who made us. 

Teaching our little girls, by example, to always veil on entering a Church, and especially when in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament helps with their formation, teaches them modesty, purity and humility. 

Veiling a small baby teaches them modesty from a tender age.

As the young girl reaches her First Holy Communion Day she will be familiar with wearing a mantilla and showing her reverence to God.

As she grows into a young, godly lady she will learn that covering her head before God helps with prayer and teaches true humility.

On her Wedding Day a lady will veil before her bride groom and Our Lord. 

As a young Mother she will pass on the tradition of veiling to her children.

Directing her heart towards God.

Mantillas, or head coverings, can look elegant at any age. This painting is of an older lady humbly attired in a long black mantilla.

'Purity is the fruit of prayer'

Blessed Mother Teresa