Passiontide Veiling of Sacred Images

    Our Church (like every other Catholic Church in the world) looks different today. All the Shrines and the figures on our Rood Screen are veiled in Purple cloth. Why is this? Catholics veil statues, crucifixes, and other sacred images, particularly during the final two weeks of Lent (beginning on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, or “Passion Sunday”), as part of an ancient liturgical tradition. This practice, known as “Passiontide veiling,” carries both symbolic and spiritual significance.

           1. SYMBOLISM OF MOURNING AND  ANTICIPATION

The veiling of sacred images creates a more somber and penitential atmosphere, helping the faithful focus on the suffering and sacrifice of Christ. The hidden images symbolize:
· The obscuring of Christ’s divinity: During His Passion, Christ’s divine glory was hidden beneath His suffering and humiliation.
· The mourning of the Church: Just as the Apostles experienced sorrow and confusion at the Lord’s suffering, the veiling expresses the Church’s sorrow in preparation for the commemoration of His death.
·  A longing for Easter joy: The covering up of images fosters a sense of deprivation, making their unveiling at the Easter Vigil more dramatic and joyful, symbolizing the glory of the Resurrection.
               2. SCRIPTURAL ROOTS
The practice also reflects a scriptural motif. In the Gospel of John (8:59), Jesus “hid himself” and went out of the temple. The veiling echoes this passage, symbolizing the hiddenness of Christ during His Passion. It also recalls how, at the moment of His death, the veil in the Temple was torn in two (Matthew 27:51), foreshadowing the unveiling of the sacred images at Easter.


          3. LITURGICAL PRACTICE
· When: In Ordinariate parishes, the veiling begins on the Fifth Sunday of Lent and continues until the Easter Vigil.
· What is veiled: Crucifixes, statues of saints, icons and religious paintings are covered, typically with a purple cloth, the color of penance. The crosses remain veiled until after the Good Friday liturgy, while other images are unveiled just before the Easter Vigil.

            4. SPIRITUAL IMPACT
The veiling encourages the faithful to detach from visual consolations, and enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s Passion. It fosters a sense of spiritual longing, making the revelation of the unveiled images at Easter a powerful symbol of Christ’s triumph over death.

The veiling today is deliberate and, we hope, helps our parishioners and guests to prepare for Holy Week.
 
Faithfully, Your Friend and Pastor,
Fr. Christopher C. Stainbrook, KHS