Editing Veil (section)

==== Veiling of nuns and consecrated virgins ====
A veil forms part of the headdress of some [[religious order|order]]s of [[nun]]s or [[religious sister]]s in Catholicism, Lutheranism and Anglicanism; this is why a woman who becomes a nun is said "to take the veil". In medieval times married women normally covered their hair outside the house, and a nun's veil is based on secular medieval styles, often reflecting the fashion of widows in their attire.  {{anchor|Probation}}<!--[[veil of probation]] redirects here-->{{anchor|Profession}}<!--[[veil of profession]] redirects here-->{{anchor|Consecration}}<!--[[veil of consecration]] redirects here-->In many institutes, a white veil is used as the "veil of probation" during [[novitiate]].

A black veil is the traditional sign of a professed nun. Some monasteries or communities bestow the black veil at the first profession of vows, but usually it is bestowed with the profession of [[solemn vow]]s.<ref>Marcelle Bernstein, ''The nuns'', Collins, London, 1976, p. 94</ref>  When the vows have been professed the white veil of a novice will be swapped for the black veil of the professed, and she is usually crowned with a wreath of flowers.

A veil of consecration, longer and fuller, is used by some orders whose nuns receive the [[consecration of virgins]] who are already in [[solemn vow]]s or who are being consecrated as a virgin in the same ceremony. References to "consecrated nuns" in medieval literature refers to solemnly professed nuns who received the consecration of virgins from their bishops, usually some years after their final profession of vows. The reintroduced rite of the consecration of virgins for women living in the world  provides, as the [[Roman Ritual]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15321c.htm | title=Religious Veil | website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccscrlife/documents/rc_con_ccscrlife_doc_20180608_istruzione-ecclesiaesponsaeimago_en.html | title=Instruction Ecclesiae Sponsae Imago on the "Ordo virginum" (8 June 2018) }}</ref>

Since the reintroduction of the rite of consecration of virgins for women living in the world in 1970, the newly consecrated virgin receives a veil as a sign of her consecration, as in ancient times.
The nuptial symbolism of the rite was displayed particularly in the bestowal of the veil on the virgin by the bishop, as can be found in the writings of [[Ambrose of Milan]] and in the oldest liturgical sources.<ref>''Instruction Ecclesiae Sponsae Imago on the Ordo virginum'', 2018</ref>

After the promulgation of Pope Paul VI's decree ''[[Perfectae caritatis]]'' on the adaption and renewal of religious life<ref>No. 17, "The religious habit, an outward mark of consecration to God, should be simple and modest, poor and at the same becoming. In addition it must meet the requirements of health and be suited to the circumstances of time and place and to the needs of the ministry involved. The habits of both men and women religious which do not conform to these norms must be changed."</ref> most [[monasticism|monastic orders]] for [[nun]]s retained the veil. Regarding other institutes of [[religious sister]]s who work as teachers, nurses or in other active apostolates, some wear the veil, while some others have abolished the use of the veil.

The fullest versions of the nun's veil cover the top of the head and flow down around and over the shoulders. In western Christianity, it does not wrap around the neck or face. In those orders that retain one, the starched white covering about the face, neck, and shoulders is known as a [[wimple]] and is a separate garment.

The Catholic Church has revived the ancient practice of women to be consecrated by their bishop as a [[consecrated virgin]] living in the world. These virgins are set aside as sacred persons who belong only to Christ and the service of the church. The veil is a bridal one, because the ''velatio virginum'' primarily signified the newly consecrated virgin as the [[Bride of Christ]]. In ancient times his veil was called the ''flammeum'' because it was supposed to remind the virgin of the indissoluble nuptial bond she was contracting with Christ. The wearing of the ''flammeum'' for the sacred virgin Bride of Christ arose from the bridal attire of the strictest pagan marriage which did not permit of divorce at the time. The flammeum was a visible reminder that divorce was not possible with Christ, their Divine spouse. 

In [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodoxy]] and in the [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern Rites]] of the Catholic Church, a veil called an ''[[epanokamelavkion]]'' is used by both nuns and monks, in both cases covering completely the ''[[kamilavka|kamilavkion]]'', a cylindrical hat they both wear. In [[Church Slavonic language|Slavic]] practice, when the veil is worn over the hat, the entire [[headgear|headdress]] is referred to as a ''[[klobuk]]''. Nuns wear an additional veil under the ''klobuk'', called an ''[[apostolnik]]'', which is drawn together to cover the neck and shoulders as well as the head, leaving the face itself open.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catalog.obitel-minsk.com/blog/2018/02/a-look-at-monastic-ranks-in-orthodox|title=A Look at Monastic Ranks in the Orthodox Church &#124; Church Blog|date=14 February 2018 }}</ref>

Some female members of [[Lutheran]] and [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] religious communities also wear a veil, differing according to the traditions of each community.