Fr. Paul D. Scalia: Veils that Reveal

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*Image: The Supper at Emmaus by Bartolomeo Cavarozzi, about 1615–1625 [Getty Center Museum, Los Angeles, CA]

By Fr. Paul D. Scalia, The Catholic Thing. April 23, 2023

Fr. Paul Scalia is a priest of the Diocese of Arlington, VA, where he serves as Episcopal Vicar for Clergy and Pastor of Saint James in Falls Church. He is the author of That Nothing May Be Lost: Reflections on Catholic Doctrine and Devotion and the editor of Sermons in Times of Crisis: Twelve Homilies to Stir Your Soul.

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.

This Catholic view of veiling provides a way to understand the appearances of our risen Lord. He is veiled in body and word. But the veil of the resurrection not only conceals but also reveals. …

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