The last two weeks of Lent are called Passiontide because the readings and prayers for the Holy Mass draw our attention in a very intense way to the Passion and Death of our Savior Jesus.  The church building itself is in mourning and the veiling of all of the familiar objects of devotion helps us to concentrate upon the great essentials of Christ’s work of Redemption.

The custom veiling the statues probably finds it’s origins in Germany, where from the ninth century, a large cloth was hung in front of the entire altar area throughout Lent.  This cloth, called the “Hungertuch” (hunger cloth), hid the altar entirely from view during Lent and was not removed until during the reading of the Passion on Holy Thursday at the words “the veil of the temple was rent in two.”

As we look upon our church, shrouded and sad, may our minds dwell in gratitude upon the Passion of Jesus by which He won salvation for us, and may our hearts swell with deeper love for Him who died for love of us.