As you gather in the sacred space of our church, you constantly find yourself surrounded by the symbols and reminders of our faith. Yet, during this Fifth Sunday of Lent to the Easter Vigil (Passiontide), you may have noticed a significant change—the statues that usually adorn our church have been covered. No, we are not tired of looking at them. No, they have not been repossessed. While it may appear counterintuitive to veil statues and images during the final weeks of Lent, the Catholic Church recommends this practice to heighten our senses and build a longing for Easter Sunday. But why go to such lengths to cover up images designed to raise our hearts and minds toward heaven?
This tradition of covering statues during Lent is more than merely a superficial alteration of our surroundings. It carries profound spiritual significance, inviting us to delve deeper into the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice and our journey of conversion. When we walk into church and notice everything is covered, we immediately know something is different. These last two weeks of Lent are meant to be a time of immediate preparation for the Sacred Triduum, and these veils are a forceful reminder to get ready. The Church uses veils to produce a heightened anticipation for Easter Sunday. This is further actualized when you attend daily Mass and see the veils each day. You don’t want them to be there because they are hiding something beautiful.
The veils seem out of place and even counterintuitive. It can seem strange that the crucifix is covered up during Passiontide. Our senses are heightened through this absence of images, and we become more aware of what is missing. Similarly, the suppression of the Alleluia during Lent effectively demonstrates that we are in exile from our true home, where the angels sing Alleluia without ceasing. When images are unveiled before the Easter Vigil, we are reminded that we, in a sense, live in a veiled world. Through our death, we can see our true home, and the veil is lifted. Christ lifts the veil through His Resurrection.
In covering these statues, we are reminded of the words of St. Paul, who wrote to the Corinthians, “We proclaim Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23). Lent is a time for us to enter into the mystery of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. By veiling the statues, we symbolically enter into the tomb’s darkness, acknowledging the absence of Christ’s physical presence during his time in the wilderness and his ultimate sacrifice on the cross.
But this act of veiling is not meant to leave us in despair or sorrow. Instead, it is a call to deeper reflection and spiritual renewal. It invites us to strip away the world’s distractions and focus on the profound mystery of God’s love revealed in Christ’s sacrifice. As we journey through the desert of Lent, we are called to imitate Christ’s humility and self-emptying love. Just as he willingly embraced the cross for the salvation of humanity, so too are we called to take up our crosses and follow him. By covering the statues, we are reminded of the call to embrace the austerity of Lent—fasting, prayer, and almsgiving—as we strive to grow closer to God and one another.
But even as we contemplate the tomb’s darkness, we do so with the hope of Easter on the horizon. The veiling of the statues is but a temporary measure, a prelude to the joyous celebration of Christ’s Resurrection. Just as the covering will be removed on Easter Sunday, so will the light of Christ pierce through the darkness of sin and death, bringing new life and hope to all who believe.
As we journey through this season of Lent, may we embrace the symbolism of the covered statues as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice and our call to conversion. May we strip away the world’s distractions and enter a deeper relationship with our crucified and risen Lord. May we eagerly anticipate the joy of Easter, when the veil will be lifted, and we will behold the glory of our Resurrected Savior.