Canon Lee

Congregation Column

700 Warden Bob Deming writes on the "Veiling Tradition at Holy Communion":
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702 The part of the service where I most closely pay attention is the Sacrament of Holy Communion. I watch the celebrant, the acolyte, the assisting clergy, and, of course, the congregants who are receiving the consecrated bread and wine. I noticed the last few Sundays that a young woman puts a wrap around her hair before she approaches the altar and takes it off after she returns to her seat. I asked her about this ritual during coffee hour.
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704 Her name is Rebecca Maria, she is a graduate student at Columbia University, and she has been coming to Sunday services at the Cathedral this past academic year. She explained that in her Anglican tradition in South India the women put on a veil before receiving Communion and take it off after Communion. So, this is part of the tradition that she carries with her from her upbringing.
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706 I shared what I had seen and heard with my wife, who is Jamaican. She confirmed that the practice occurs across traditional religions in the Caribbean as well.  
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708 Rebecca is gone for the summer, as she received an internship in Houston, and she expects to return in the fall. 
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710 ***
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712 I emailed my reflection to Rebecca to make sure my thoughts and facts were on target, and this is how she responded. 
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714 I appreciate the appropriate and accurate information! In addition to 'veiling' as a tradition, I firmly believe that it is a powerful gesture of my faith, as it allows me to feel humble, focused and in a perfect mindset, in reverence, as I receive the Body and Blood of Christ. And to top it all, it is a tradition that I carry with me and will continue to, as I travel around the world... A way for me to feel peace and comfort, planted firmly in my faith in God, even 8000 miles away from home!
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716 Hope this helps you to better understand why I love practicing it every Sunday! 
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