I’ve always felt it odd that some Catholic parishes hide everything lovely in their churches, even the crucifix, during Lent, one of the most sacred seasons of the year. When we hear the story of the Passion on Palm Sunday, shouldn’t we be gazing at the agonizing sight at Calvary?
In the Catholic Church, we have a period called Passiontide. This is a practice traditionally observed starting from the fifth Sunday of Lent (Passion Sunday) up until the Triduum, which is Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil.
During Passiontide, some churches cover the crucifixes, statues, and holy images throughout the church — except the Stations of the Cross — with plain violet cloths as a stark visual reminder of the most spiritually intense, solemn, and mournful two weeks of the liturgical calendar. The Stations of the Cross are left uncovered because they lead the faithful through the story of the Passion.
WATCH: Virtual Stations of the Cross
The Gospel readings for the fifth Sunday of Lent used to be about Jesus challenging religious authorities with the truth of his divinity. In response, they wanted to stone him, “but Jesus hid and went out of the temple” (Jn 8:46-59). Until his triumphant arrival into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus remained hidden from the religious authorities who sought to kill him. During that time, he did not allow anybody to capture him until he was seized in the Garden of Gethsemane.
The veiling of the cross that we see today during Passiontide hides Jesus from us while plans to crucify him are underway. He remains hidden until the unveiling before the Easter Vigil, which symbolizes the unveiling of his glory in the Resurrection.
A fasting for the eyes
This period of veiling is meant to intentionally disorient us. It is not conventional or decorative. The immediate absence of these faith symbols in a space that honors God’s presence and the communion of saints invites us to a more profound level of spiritual awareness. The Church seems to be asking us to walk with Christ through his Passion with our senses intensified by absence and to experience the weight of his loss.
The coverings serve as a reminder that something is concealed, and we yearn for its revelation. This reflects our deep yearning for the Resurrection, Easter, and the revelation of Christ’s splendor. The veiling represents humanity’s spiritual exile and yearning for our true and eternal home in God.
READ: A Catholic Guide to Holy Week Symbols
The veiling is also the Church’s way of assisting us with “spiritual fasting.” We are pulled within, away from outward comfort, to reflect on the mystery of the Cross in greater detail. The veils act as a visual cue to be ready — Be prepared, something significant is about to happen.
The veiling of images and statues becomes a spiritual discipline that creates a visual stillness and helps us see and hear more clearly. It is a practice that draws us into the mysteries of Holy Week by appealing to our hearts, emotions, and intellect. This year, when you walk into your church and notice the purple veils covering sacred images, let your heart be moved. Let it serve as a reminder of the sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf and the immense joy that will come when the veil is eventually lifted.
