She looks very respectable. Maybe the trend will catch on with some of her fans?
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Lady Gaga dons the mantilla
Lady Gaga wore a mantilla to her grandfather's funeral on Monday.
She looks very respectable. Maybe the trend will catch on with some of her fans?
She looks very respectable. Maybe the trend will catch on with some of her fans?
Oscar Romero
Photo of a woman wearing a mantilla during a mass said by Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, October 1979.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Mantilla Amontillado: The famous ecclesiastical fashionista speaks
Guest post by Mantilla Amontillado.
OK hon. You asked me why I wear the mantilla. It's easy. I wear the mantilla first of all because it looks good and because it is ridiculous. You think hats are simply to keep your head warm? You're crazy, then everybody would just wear a woolen stretchy hat.
No a good hat is something, you know, slightly crazy. A good hat stands the world upside down. A really good hat is totally useless and reminds everyone that not everything has to be useful and that useful is usually another word for ugly.
Still. This is not ugly. No. This mantilla is to look good. So what's wrong with looking good? Also, it is for something else. The Bible says women should cover their heads in church. When I wear the mantilla I'm saying, "Look here. I believe the Bible." In this day and age, that's ridiculous too. You see, it is the way I fly the flag. It is my way of saying, "I'm a Christian, and what are you going to do about it?"
Third reason I wear the mantilla is because it is Catholic. Do you think you'll ever see one of those Protestant gals at the mega church wearing a mantilla? I don't think so. They're dressed in sloppy jeans, flip flops and slurping a latte. You call that church? I call it slouch. My mantilla is my Catholic badge of courage.
Fourth reason: I met this Amish girl once. She was wearing one of those little bonnets that look like the thing you collect strawberries in, but it was white and upside down on her head.
I say, "Why are you wearing that crazy thing on your head?"
She looks me in the eye and says "It is the sign that I am submissive to God and to men."
I nearly punched her in the eye. "Are you crazy? You want to be submissive to God and men? What's wrong with you? I think I'm going to slap you girl!"
She says, "Well, you got to be submissive to something. Everybody's got to take orders from someone. Who you going to take orders from? Yourself? Who do you think you are? God? Get over it."
Whew! talk about radical statements? That one knocked me for a loop. Then I start to think about it, and I think maybe she's right. So I got my own version of the Amish bonnet which is my mantilla, and I'm happy about the submissive to God thing, but I want to argue with her about the submission to man thing because so many of the boys are beasts.
But never mind that. Another reason: I wear it because it annoys liberal Catholics, and that is always fun, you know?
Finally there is this: I wear it to remind the men in my life that I am submissive to God, and I'll tell you a secret, I'd like to find one of them I could be submissive to as well, but they better watch out because if they take advantage of that they're going to be sorry, because if they think 'submissive' means I'm going to be some kind of Minnie Mouse doormat they'd better think again.
Republished with thanks to Fr Longenecker. First posted at Standing on my Head.
OK hon. You asked me why I wear the mantilla. It's easy. I wear the mantilla first of all because it looks good and because it is ridiculous. You think hats are simply to keep your head warm? You're crazy, then everybody would just wear a woolen stretchy hat.
No a good hat is something, you know, slightly crazy. A good hat stands the world upside down. A really good hat is totally useless and reminds everyone that not everything has to be useful and that useful is usually another word for ugly.
Still. This is not ugly. No. This mantilla is to look good. So what's wrong with looking good? Also, it is for something else. The Bible says women should cover their heads in church. When I wear the mantilla I'm saying, "Look here. I believe the Bible." In this day and age, that's ridiculous too. You see, it is the way I fly the flag. It is my way of saying, "I'm a Christian, and what are you going to do about it?"
Third reason I wear the mantilla is because it is Catholic. Do you think you'll ever see one of those Protestant gals at the mega church wearing a mantilla? I don't think so. They're dressed in sloppy jeans, flip flops and slurping a latte. You call that church? I call it slouch. My mantilla is my Catholic badge of courage.
Fourth reason: I met this Amish girl once. She was wearing one of those little bonnets that look like the thing you collect strawberries in, but it was white and upside down on her head.
I say, "Why are you wearing that crazy thing on your head?"
She looks me in the eye and says "It is the sign that I am submissive to God and to men."
I nearly punched her in the eye. "Are you crazy? You want to be submissive to God and men? What's wrong with you? I think I'm going to slap you girl!"
She says, "Well, you got to be submissive to something. Everybody's got to take orders from someone. Who you going to take orders from? Yourself? Who do you think you are? God? Get over it."
Whew! talk about radical statements? That one knocked me for a loop. Then I start to think about it, and I think maybe she's right. So I got my own version of the Amish bonnet which is my mantilla, and I'm happy about the submissive to God thing, but I want to argue with her about the submission to man thing because so many of the boys are beasts.
But never mind that. Another reason: I wear it because it annoys liberal Catholics, and that is always fun, you know?
Finally there is this: I wear it to remind the men in my life that I am submissive to God, and I'll tell you a secret, I'd like to find one of them I could be submissive to as well, but they better watch out because if they take advantage of that they're going to be sorry, because if they think 'submissive' means I'm going to be some kind of Minnie Mouse doormat they'd better think again.
Republished with thanks to Fr Longenecker. First posted at Standing on my Head.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
'Mantilla With Me' featured on Catholic Answers Live!
On 9 September 2010 the topic of veiling in church was discussed by Patrick Coffin on Catholic Answers Live.
Mantilla With Me is mentioned at the 3:45 mark! It's at about 3/4 of the way through - towards the end.
Click here to listen to the discussion if you have trouble listening to it on this site.
___________________________
If you'd like to post this radio clip on your own site, email me (mantillawithme at gmail.com) and I will send you the html code.
Cherie gets it right
Despite her previous faux pas - and although not required - Cherie Blair donned a black lace mantilla for the recent mass held by Pope Benedict XVI at Westminster Cathedral during his State Visit to England (18 September 2010). Lovely!
Monday, September 27, 2010
New Blogger at Mantilla With Me: Señora Elaine!
Please join me in welcoming the newest member of the Mantilla With Me blog team, Señora Elaine!
Elaine is a convert to wearing chapel veils, but not a convert to the faith. A lifelong Catholic, she embraced her faith more fully soon after college. She has been married 9 years and homeschools her three children.
Besides being a witness to the beauty of veiling at her novus ordo parish (where almost nobody else wears a veil), Elaine's interests include whole foods cooking, reading, sewing and knitting, supporting local politics and childbirth advocacy. She's come a long way from her skater chick, punk rock days of her young adulthood, but still retains a strong individualist streak.
Elaine is our photography blogstress: she will be posting interesting and beautiful photos of women wearing mantillas from all over the world.
You can preview her work and exquisite taste at her blog: Wear Your Mantilla.
Elaine is a convert to wearing chapel veils, but not a convert to the faith. A lifelong Catholic, she embraced her faith more fully soon after college. She has been married 9 years and homeschools her three children.Besides being a witness to the beauty of veiling at her novus ordo parish (where almost nobody else wears a veil), Elaine's interests include whole foods cooking, reading, sewing and knitting, supporting local politics and childbirth advocacy. She's come a long way from her skater chick, punk rock days of her young adulthood, but still retains a strong individualist streak.
Elaine is our photography blogstress: she will be posting interesting and beautiful photos of women wearing mantillas from all over the world.
You can preview her work and exquisite taste at her blog: Wear Your Mantilla.
Veil Winners
Veils by Lily has some very beautiful veils and our four winners will soon be receiving one!
Congratulations to:
Congratulations to:
Anne Burke-Herrera
Lindsay Piedra
Kim (MommaF8)
A special fifth veil is going to Suzanne who emailed in after hearing about the giveaway on Catholic Answers at Spirit 102.7!
A special fifth veil is going to Suzanne who emailed in after hearing about the giveaway on Catholic Answers at Spirit 102.7!
I'll be emailing soon to get your mailing address.
Thank you everyone for your entries. Hopefully we'll be able to arrange another giveaway soon!
And thank you again to Lily at Veils by Lily! I hope you will continue to support her wonderful work!
And thank you again to Lily at Veils by Lily! I hope you will continue to support her wonderful work!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Giveaway: Four Mantillas from Veils by Lily
It's giveaway time here at Mantilla With Me.
Plus we'll give additional entries to anyone who posts about the giveaway (including a link) on their blog or who cc's us in on an email to their friends and family about the giveaway.
You get two extra entries if you do both!
To celebrate the launch of Veils by Lily we have mantillas for four lucky readers!
To enter please post a comment below (remember we need some way of getting in touch with you so make sure we can access this info via your profile page or include an email address).
Plus we'll give additional entries to anyone who posts about the giveaway (including a link) on their blog or who cc's us in on an email to their friends and family about the giveaway.You get two extra entries if you do both!
Our email address is mantillawithme at gmail dot com.
Entries close Thursday 16 September.
Entries close Thursday 16 September.
With thanks to Veils by Lily!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Faux Pas: Politicos and Popes
We've had the best. Now the rest.
1. Queen Sofia
Queen Sofia of Spain with Pope Benedict XVI.
Normally I'm a fan of Queen Sofia (Spain), especially in terms of her sartorial elegance. But when it comes to papal audiences, she has a history of sticking with the protocols that suit her (like wearing white) while ignoring others (the mantilla).
If you're going to exercise your privilège du blanc - granted as a sign of respect for Catholic monarchs - then make a return gesture of respect by donning a mantilla.
With Pope John Paul II.
2. Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson - former Irish President
In 1997, Irish President Mary Robinson visited the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II sans mantilla and wearing a green suit. I haven't been able to find a photo of it but it stirred up some debate in Ireland at the time since it was speculated that her choice of attire was deliberately provocative.
Her successor, Mary McAleese, sensibly chose to wear black when she met Pope John Paul II in 2003 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 (photo below) but was likewise sans mantilla.
Pope Benedict XVI with Irish President
Mary McAleese, 23 March 2007
3.
Winnie Mandela
I haven't been able to find a photo of
this, but according to the Catholic News Service 'Winnie Mandela, who was the wife of then-vice president of the African National Congress Nelson Mandela, wore a long lacy dress that was whiter than the pope's vestments in a June 15, 1990, visit to the Vatican.'
4. Raisa Gorbachev
Raisa Gorbachev with Pope John Paul II, December 1989.
It's a faux pas that still gets discussed. This monumental meeting between the Polish pope and the last head of state of the USSR was almost over shadowed by the bright red dress worn by Mrs Gorbachev.
5. Cherie Blair
The wife of then British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Cherie Blair
meets Pope Benedict XVI, 28 April 200
What's wrong with this photo? Well, she's in white (a privilege reserved only for reigning Catholic monarchs), she should be in black, her head isn't covered and she's a celebrity heterodox 'Catholic' who likes to publicly criticize church teachings. In fact, according to some accounts, she's on a one-woman mission to modernize the church.
I'm going to make a point of praying for her more often.