Church Hats, Veils and Kleenex

 
    I was recently captivated by the Queen of England’s platinum jubilee and by the televised festivities surrounding her 96^th birthday. What especially fascinates me about the queen is how she rocks the whole hat thing. Her outfits are always complemented by a color-coordinated hat that displays style, dignity, and a bit of British royal culture. Here in the states, we don’t seem to do the hat accessory too consistently, unless one counts the hats worn at the Kentucky Derby.
 
    As a child, head coverings were a standard part of my church attire. I looked forward to shopping with my mom for the perfect bonnet each year to match my Easter dress. When the flowered headpiece wasn’t seasonally correct, we wore a chapel veil or lace doily. And, if we forgot our headpiece, a Kleenex tissue was fastened to our head lest we enter church without a head cover.
 
    In biblical times Jewish women often wore head coverings in places of public worship, and this custom seemed to carry over to the New Testament based on St. Paul’s letters, such as in 1 Corinthians 11:4-5: “Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered brings shame upon his head. But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled bring shame upon her head…”
 
    As recently as the first Code of Canon Law in 1917, Canon 1262 stated that women must wear chapel veils or other head coverings and it prohibited men from wearing hats in church. In 1963, the bishops at Vatican II published the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, which led to significant reforms in the Mass and the ways the People of God participate in liturgy. Even many of the religious orders, which had long worn habits as a symbol of poverty, uniformity, and a sign of consecration to God, began making the head covering an optional part of their dress. When Pope John Paul II released a revised Code to Canon Law in 1983, there was no longer any mention of head coverings.
 
     Although cultural expectations differ, ladies head coverings in church are generally a personal decision. Since my thin head of hair doesn’t fashion well with hats, I’ve not been drawn to that accessory; however, I do enjoy seeing them on others. Whether it be a hat, veil, or scarf, head coverings have traditionally been a sign of humility and piety and are a lovely way to show reverence. And should someone be inclined to bobby pin a Kleenex to their head, at least they have a tissue handy during Mass as well!  
 
             Linda Olsen, rectory receptionist