What Happened To Chapel Veils At Mass?

ATT FRADD has posted an interesting article called “What Happened to Headcoverings at Mass?” He speaks about Canon Law as it relates to women and girls covering their heads during Mass. In general, I have no issue with Chapel veils. As a matter of fact, I really like them, but I think it’s better when the entire congregation wears them, rather than only some. Women at the FSSP parishes usually wear veils, but only in America. This is not done in Europe, according to what I’ve been told and witnessed.

Years ago, at a “traditional” parish that shall remain nameless, I saw a parishioner rudely confronting a women not wearing a Chapel veil. Being rather young and brash, I inserted myself into the conversation. The man was showing this poor woman a document from the early 1900s insisting women cover their heads. I asked the gentleman, “What does it say right above?” Then he read the preceding sentence, which mandated that women and men sit on opposite (separated) sides of the church building. As you can see, I had done my homework in advance. “Do we do that here?” I asked. The conversation ended.

The reality is, the same document he quoted said in no uncertain terms that men and women must sit on opposite halves of the church. If you’re having difficulty picturing all the boys from a family sitting in a different pew from all the girls, you’re not alone. This practice was hardly ever done in America, from what I’m told.

Are you old enough to remember the old Latin Mass? Did they make girls sit on one side and boys sit on the other? We did this for school Masses, but adults were still free to sit on either side.