Veiling of Crucifixes, Statues, Images

[Nihil Obstat]

Okay, a few questions:

1. Is it forbidden to do it at home? Arch, your post suggests it's totally okay.

2. When should it be done? The Magnificat says it began yesterday, but that some parishes wait till Palm Sunday.

I want to do it at home, but I think it'll seem more meaningful to me if I wait till Palm Sunday.

Don't wanna do anything unkosher, though...

No rubrics govern your own practice.

Passion tide makes the most liturgical sense though.

[marigold]

I really enjoy reading about Catholic liturgics and rubrics

[HopefulHeart]

My parish began veiling crucifixes and statues this past Sunday. I've never thought about doing it at home, probably because, as beatitude said, I associate the veiling more with public worship. It is an interesting idea, though, maybe something to consider for the future.

In looking up the practice of covering crosses and statues, I came upon this interesting historical detail at this EWTN article:

It probably derives from a custom, noted in Germany from the ninth century, of extending a large cloth before the altar from the beginning of Lent. 

This cloth, called the "Hungertuch" (hunger cloth), hid the altar entirely from the faithful during Lent and was not removed until during the reading of the Passion on Holy Wednesday at the words "the veil of the temple was rent in two." 

That's some fascinating Biblical symbolism!