𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
Towards the end of Lent you may notice Purple Cloths draped over the Crucifixes, Statues, and Saints images at your parish. In some Churches, these items may be removed from the sanctuary altogether. What is the importance of this practice?
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗩𝗘𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗦.
The tradition is often practiced during the last two weeks before Easter, starting on Passion Sunday (now called the Fifth Sunday of Lent) and ending on Good Friday.
This time period is known on the old liturgical calendar as Passiontide. Even though this period is no longer officially called by this name, the tradition is still practiced in many places.
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 𝗩𝗘𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 𝗨𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗗?
Crucifixes and images are to be veiled from the 5th Sunday of Lent and Crucifixes are to be revealed on Good Friday (to emphasize Jesus’ death on the Cross on that day).
While Images and Statues are to be revealed on Easter Vigil (the early evening of Holy Saturday).
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡?
Firstly, this old custom of veiling religious images is a way of focusing on the penitential aspect of this liturgical season. It reminds us in a visual way that our faith in all its glory is made possible only through the work of Christ in his suffering and death on the cross. When we cover or remove these holy and sacred images that we are so accustomed to, we are starkly confronted and reminded in a poignant way of all that Christ has won for us.
More so, In covering the religious images during the height of Lent, all attention is centered on the Passion and death of Christ. This is why the only images NOT to be covered are the Stations of the Cross.
Also, Veiling the altar crucifix for Passiontide and temporarily veiling the crosses and religious images in the penitential color of Lent is a beautiful custom that helps us to reflect on the deeper theological meaning of the liturgical season.
Then, as in a dramatic unveiling, the holy images are again revealed for the Easter Vigil to mark the end of the penitential season. The joy of the Easter season and the hope of the Resurrection then comes to the forefront.
The unveiling before the Easter Vigil is a great reminder of our own life on earth. We live in a “veiled” world, in exile from our true home. It is only through our own death that the veil is lifted and we are finally able to see the beauty of everything in our lives.
𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡
Just as the Church simplifies the sanctuary in these last weeks of Lent in order to focus on the penitential aspect of the season, we can also simplify our homes in creative ways by draping purple clothes over our crucifixes and other holy images. It reminds us that Jesus hid his glory during his Passion, so too we hide away our religious items in order to prepare ourselves to focus on and honor his Passion.
Credit_Ibi Emmanuel Rev
