With the Fifth Sunday in Lent we begin in the Church a time formerly called ‘Passiontide.’ During this time the Church begins a mourning period where we focus our attention and prayer in the salvific death of Our Blessed Lord. With the Fifth Sunday of Lent the images and statues of the Cathedral are veiled in violet, the penitential colour of the Church. For many of us it raises the question, why do we veil images during this time?

This tradition of the Church has several meanings. Abbot Prosper Guéranger, gives a mystical interpretation of the veiling, based on the Gospel of Saint John, which was formerly read on Passion Sunday. Just as Our Lord hid himself from those who wanted to stone him (cf. Jn. 8, 59), so by the veils he is now hidden from the world in preparation for the mysteries of His Passion. Furthermore Dom Prosper Guéranger also explains that veiling during this time speaks to us of about Our Lord’s suffering and humiliation. {1}

The Crucifix and other images are covered with a mournful veil. The almost sole object of meditation during these days will be the Passion and Resurrection of Christ. By doing this the Cathedral becomes sad and gloomy. These are outward signs of mourning and they help us to focus on what is important: the images of the saints are covered as well, for the Church does not want to distract its gaze with beautiful sculptures, with the splendours of art, or even with the craftsmanship that adorns the Crucifix.

This ancient tradition of veiling holy images is intended to help us focus on the penitential aspect of this liturgical season. It reminds us in a visual way that our faith in all its glory is only possible through the work of Christ in his suffering and death on the cross. Just as the Church somewhat simplifies the sanctuary in these last days of Lent in order to focus on the penitential aspect of the season, so too can we simplify our homes by covering crucifixes and other sacred images with violet coverings. It reminds us that Our Lord hid his glory during His Passion, so we also hide our religious objects to prepare ourselves to focus on and honour his Passion.

Fr. Pablo Santa Maria, JCL

Vice-Rector of the Cathedral

Footnotes:

1. The Catholic Leader. 2014, catholicleader.com.au/features/veiling-statues-in-lent