By Fr. Paul D. Scalia, The Catholic Thing - In the Catholic tradition, a veil is not just a covering. Obviously, it does conceal something or someone. But it also reveals. We veil what is sacred – to reveal it as sacred. Thus, the chalice is often veiled not because it’s ugly (one hopes) or because we’re forbidden to look at it. It’s veiled to reveal its sacred purpose as the vessel of Christ’s Precious Blood. A woman is veiled not because she is ugly (one hopes) or because we’re forbidden to look at her. She’s veiled to reveal her dignity as a bride on her wedding day or as a vowed bride of Christ.