As Lent deepens and Holy Week draws near, Catholic churches around the world take on a more somber tone. One striking tradition that often surprises the uninitiated is the veiling of images—statues of saints, crucifixes, and other sacred icons—beginning on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, also known as Passion Sunday. But what does this gesture mean? Why do these beloved images disappear behind a purple veil?
A Tradition Rooted in Mystery
The practice of veiling sacred images dates back centuries and has its origins in the pre-Vatican II liturgical calendar, where the last two weeks of Lent were called Passiontide. During this period, the Church focused intensely on the suffering and death of Jesus. The veiling of images served as a visual and spiritual preparation for the Passion narrative that would unfold during Holy Week.
Symbolism of the Veil
Covering religious images is a way of creating a spiritual and visual fast for the faithful. Just as we fast from certain foods or activities during Lent, veiling the saints reminds us to turn our focus solely to Christ’s Passion. The images of saints, beautiful as they are, are momentarily hidden so that our hearts can dwell more fully on the suffering Christ.
The veiling also reflects the withdrawal of Christ from public view, as described in the Gospel of John:
"Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple" (John 8:59).
This moment of concealment anticipates the silence and stillness of Good Friday when Christ is taken from our sight in death.
The Color and Timing
Purple veils are typically used, symbolizing penance and sorrow. The veiling begins on the Fifth Sunday of Lent and continues until the Easter Vigil, when the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection lifts the veil from all creation.
At the Gloria of the Easter Vigil Mass, the veils are removed, and the images return—renewed in the light of Christ’s victory over sin and death. This dramatic unveiling echoes the joy of the Resurrection and the renewed hope of the Church.
A Personal Invitation
This tradition is not merely about cloth and silence—it is a sacred invitation. The veils ask us to look beyond what is visible, to ponder the unseen mystery of redemption. They remind us that the saints themselves, who now live in glory, first walked the road of suffering with Christ.
As we see our churches gently shrouded in purple, may our hearts, too, embrace the final stretch of Lent with renewed devotion. May the veils not obscure but rather unveil the depth of God’s love poured out on the Cross.
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God bless you!