[Greek] αἰσχρός (aischros), [Latin] turpis, [Latin] defames: shameful, improper, filthy, base, disgraceful, sordid; 1Cor.11:6, 1Cor.14:35, Eph.5:12, Tit.1:11
The women in Corinth expressed their reverence, respect, and humility by wearing their headdresses at liturgical assemblies. Now recently more and more women (young and old) are wearing veils (mantillas) at the Traditional Latin Mass. (Photo from the article “Proper Dress Code Attire for Mass” July 2017) https://tradcatfem.com/
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means dishonoring, causing shame, reproachful, ugly, ill-favored, shameful, and ill-suited (awkward). Sophocles’ Ajax 1160 states “Leave then! The worst disgrace for me is that I should listen to a fool’s empty chatter.” Homer’s Iliad 3.38 states “He chided him with words of shame; ‘Evil Paris, most fair to look upon, thou art mad after women, thou beguiler, would thous hadst ne’er been born.” Sophocles’ Electra 621 states “But then the enmity I get from you and your behavior compels me with harsh necessity to do this: for reprehensible deeds are learned from reprehensible examples.” Plato’s Symposium 183d states “To do the thing basely is to gratify a wicked man in a wicked manner.”
New Testament: This term means shameful, improper, disgraceful, and sordid. In 1Cor.11:6, an often misunderstood scripture passage, Paul claims that if a woman does not have her head veiled, she may as well have her hair cut or her head shaved. Then she should wear a veil. Paul was referring to the deeper spiritual truth concerning a man’s and woman’s relationship with God. Because woman came from man (and was created for man), women are called to have a sign of authority (veil) on their heads. The veil represents woman’s equally dignified but subordinate (secondary) role in God’s order of creation. Likewise, man is the image and glory of God. But woman is the glory of man. That is why only women wear veils.
Paul also claims that it is improper for a woman to speak in the Church assembly. This role was customarily was assigned to the man. Paul also was addressing the accepted societal norms of the society at that time. Women are called to respect and adhere to such practices. The women were expected to seek instruction in the home or in association with their female peers. As Christians are called to be people of light, it is shameful to even mention things done by immoral and impure people. It was imperative to silence the sordid damage caused by deceivers, rebels, and idle talkers.
Womens’ headdresses (veils) at liturgical assemblies
“But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the husband is the head of his wife, and God the head of Christ.” 1Cor.11:3
What is the significance of this scripture? Although this scripture may be seen at first glance to be controversial or chauvinistic, Paul conveys a deeper truth about the hierarchical relationships between God and man (and woman). Man’s relationship with woman mirrors Jesus’ relationship with the Church. Man and woman each have separate but equally dignified roles.
What are these hierarchical relationships? Just as Christ assumes headship and subservient roles, man has a headship and a subservient role. As Christ is under the authority of God, man is under the authority of Christ. As man is under the authority of Christ, woman is under the authority of man. As God has headship over Christ, man has headship over woman.
How does the man (husband) exercise headship like Jesus? The man (husband) loves and sacrifices (gives up his life) for his wife. This relationship mirrors Jesus’ loving and giving up His life for His Church. (This is the husband’s sub-mission [task])).
How does the woman (wife) allow the man (husband) to exercise headship? The woman allows the husband to love her and gives himself up for her. (This is the wife’s sub-mission [task]). This relationship mirrors the Church’s passive relationship (receptivity) to Christ.
“Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered bring shame upon his head.” 1Cor.11:4
What is the significance of this scripture? Paul states that God has defined and assigned uniquely masculine qualities to man and uniquely feminine qualities to woman. As man is the image and glory of God, his head should not be covered. To do otherwise contradicts man’s relationship with God and brings shame (disgrace) upon himself.
“But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled brings shame upon her head.” 1Cor.11:5
What does the veil represent? The veil is meant to be an external sign of humility before God. Women are representative of the Church (Bride of Christ). The veil is a visible reminder of the submission of the Church to the loving rule (headship) of Christ. The veil signifies purity and obedience.
What are some other practical reasons that a woman wears a veil? Respect for others (God, husbands, authorities, elders), respect for tradition (customs), reverence, modesty, and respect of sacred space.
Recent interest in the Traditional (Tridentine) Latin Mass:
There has been an increasing interest (receptivity) in the Latin Mass among the younger generations, including young women. These younger woman, along with older generations, are wearing veils. Like many others, these young woman are becoming increasingly attracted to this form of liturgical worship. Some of these reasons could be: more modest dress attire, reverence, silence, and the sense of the sacred. Perhaps, most important of all, the Eucharist, rather than the priest, becomes the focus of attention. This traditional Mass naturally lends itself to the increased occurrence of young women wearing veils. The priest, as with the congregation, also faces the Eucharist. The obvious question is: Why is this occurring among the younger generations? I suspect many are not getting anything (a deeper meaning) out of the modern Mass.
Conclusion:
Defame, defamatory, defamed, moral turpitude (depravity)
Throughout many periods in history, dishonor or shame was taken very seriously. In Homer’s Iliad, Paris was a shameful “lady’s man” who caused such trouble in stealing Menelaus’ wife. It was also interesting to discover that this term can mean ill-suited or awkward.
In the New Testament, it was imperative that Christians not only silence and but also not mention the terrible actions of immoral and impure people. Such actions had sometimes resulted in the ruin of families.
1Corinthians 11 often has been historically misunderstood. To be honest, until recently, I had never really considered this notion of women’s headdresses. Some have viewed this as men subjecting women or as a form of ‘thinly veiled patriarchy’. Rather, this is about showing respect for tradition and expressing one’s dignity! Paul was stating a deeper truth about the headship and subservience of man’s (and woman’s) relationships in God’s creation. Man and woman each have a ‘sub-mission’ in their respective roles in respecting God.
1Cor.11:7 states that “woman is the glory of man.” How many times have you heard a devoted husband say this about his wife: “How could I have been so lucky in finding someone like her! I really don’t deserve her. She has made me such a better person. I love her so much. I would do anything for her.” (In a sense, this is how a woman (wife) glorifies her husband. Her husband would be willing to lay down his life for his wife. (This is the love that Jesus has for His Church!)
Let’s be honest, the people in Corinth and all around lived in a patriarchal society. Times were vastly different back then. Now women have more rights and opportunities regarding speaking in our current times.
My Thoughts on the Traditional Mass: To be honest, I really did not know what to expect. I had to get dressed up. The silence was unsettling, since we were outside observers watching the liturgical service. There was no recurring and repeating back and forth vocal responses normally present in the modern Mass. There was a stark separation (barrier) between the congregation and the priest (and servers) in the sacred space. I felt myself in another world and time, listening to the beautiful Gregorian chants and priest’s Latin words. These chants sounded like prayers going up to heaven. The priest, along with us, was gazing at the Eucharist. I felt a great sense of awe and reverence as I knelt down receiving the Eucharist on the tongue.
As I cannot presume to speak for the veiled young woman who attends this Mass, I can only imagine that she may be experiencing that same awe and reverence. Her veiling indicates that she brings her dignity and modesty to the sacred space.
Many of us (including myself) were perhaps unaware of what Paul was saying all along about women’s headdresses. Perhaps this post (in a small way) may help to uncover this veil of misunderstanding.