How Veiled Statues Might Blind the Catechumens

On her Work of the People blog, Diana Macalintal does an excellent job of clarifying the various understandings of the rubrics regarding the veiling of crosses and statues during Lent. Regardless of the permissions allowed however, one has to wonder about the retention of this medieval practice in the post-Vatican II church.

The veiling of images in the Western church has its origins in shrouding of all the liturgical elements (including the chalice!) in unbleached linen or silk during the middle ages. This shrouding took place at the beginning of Lent, and everything remained covered until the Gloria of the Easter Vigil. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the symbolism of the shrouding was to remind us that this is a time when Christ remains hidden and does not walk openly among the people.

With the reform of the Second Vatican Council, we no longer think of Lent as a time in the desert, absent of Christ’s constant presence. Indeed, the reverse is the case. With the Elect among us every Sunday of Lent, Christ is perhaps more intensely recognized than at other times of the year. The intensity of Christ among us is clearly symbolized in the “recognition” stories of the Woman at the Well, the Man Born Blind, and the Raising of Lazarus, which are proclaimed during the Scrutinies.

While the theme of repentance is not forgotten during Lent, it is contextualized as a “special season for the ascent to the holy mountain of Easter…[that] disposes both the catechumens and the faithful to celebrate the paschal mystery… (Ceremonial of Bishops, 249). The Ceremonial goes on to say that “the bishop should be deeply concerned to promote the formation of catechumens” (250).

What formation will the veiling of statues provide for the catechumens? That Christ is not in the font, but in the tomb? That Christ is not now welling up in their hearts as with the Woman at the Well, but will be delayed in arriving until the Gloria of the Easter Vigil?

There seems to be little value in the veiling of statues beyond nostalgia, and the practice has the potential of providing a counter-catechesis for the Elect and the faithful. When it comes to shrouding the images in Lent, it is best we paraphrase the words of Jesus to Lazarus’ startled loved ones: “Unbind them, and let them go.”