Passiontide
In the traditional calendar, tomorrow is actually Passion Sunday, although since the liturgical reform of Vatican II Palm Sunday is now referred to as Passion Sunday.
When I was little, the statues in church would be veiled in purple on the Fifth Sunday in Lent, only to be uncovered during the Gloria of the Easter Vigil, or was it earlier in the liturgy of that night? EWTN has a discussion on the custom here.
The origins of the custom date back centuries and may have originated in Germany. The school sisters told us that it was done because Our Lord went into hiding after the Jews attempted to stone him, while he made his way to Jerusalem in secret. Liturgists maintain that the statues are covered to focus the faithful’s devotion more explicitly upon the Passion of Jesus, and there are other explanations offered as well.
I love the custom since it does indeed focus our attention completely on the sober solemnity of Passiontide. There is a mystery surrounding the hiddeness of the saints and Christ during this time. There is a sense of solitude and interior lamentation, leading one to a deeper compunction of heart.
From Dom Gueranger on the veiling of the crucifix and statues:
The presentiment of that awful hour leads the afflicted mother to veil the image of her Jesus: the gross is hidden from the eyes of the faithful. The statues of the saints, too, are covered; for it is but just that, if the glory of the Master be eclipsed, the servant should not appear. The interpreters of the liturgy tell us that this ceremony of veiling the crucifix during Passiontide, expresses the humiliation to which our Savior subjected Himself, of hiding Himself when the Jews threatened to stone Him, as is related in the Gospel of Passion Sunday. The Church begins this solemn rite with the Vespers of the Saturday before Passion Sunday. Thus it is that, in those years when the feast of our Lady’s Annunciation falls in Passion-week, the statue of Mary, the Mother of God, remains veiled, even on that very day when the Archangel greets her as being full of grace, and blessed among women. - The Mystery of Passiontide and Holy Week. Thanks to Fish Eaters.
March 24th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Not surprisingly, this morning at a certain parish on Lafond Street in St Paul this morning, all images save the Stations of the Cross were appropriately swathed in purple.
It brought back fond memories.
I vaguely recall that the purpose was to make us focus more on the Passion and Death of Our Lord, and not on devotions to the Saints. Although why the crucifix gets covered, I can’t quite recall.
I would imagine that the cost of the bunting for the two behemoths must have cost more than most normal church statues.
We missed you there, Terry. Father Altier, as can be expected, was on the mark. Sin was indeed mentioned. We sat in your pew and thought of you.
Later this weekend, I’ll probably have a fish anecdote that does not involve a miracle.
March 24th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I like your quote better than the one I used, terry. I should have gone to Fish Eaters. I knew it. But my computer is broken so I am using someone else’s and can’t surf the way i usually do to find stuff.
March 24th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Ray - I forgot about the retreat - gosh - I could have gone. Now that I’m retired I’m going to be in Church all of the time.
March 25th, 2007 at 3:18 am
In fact, the substance of Passiontide remains in the Divine Office and Mass. The great Passiontide texts, hymns and responsories (Vexilla Regis, etc.) have not been changed; one can still experience most of the richness of the Passiontide Liturgy, even with the reformed rites.
Many people understand “optional” to mean “suppressed.” The violet veils were not suppressed or outlawed; images may be covered from the First Vespers of the 5th Sunday of Lent, just as they were in the past.
March 26th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
I have truly missed this precious custom in our parish, and truly doubt that it will ever be resinstated again. To capture the solemn mystery of this custom, I will veil the images in my home next year, God willing.
March 26th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Harry - I’ve always thought statues draped in purple were far more effective than sand filled holy water fonts and banners.
Many people do veil the statues in their home.
Thanks for your comment.