St John's prepataion for Holy Week
Friday 20 March 2026
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The Veiling of Crosses and Images at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church
A Closer Look at the Montage
A Closer Look at the Montage
The montage illustrates the interior of St John's, spanning the main sanctuary, side chapels, and votive areas, undergoing a profound visual transformation.
The Sanctuary and High Altar: The central crucifix above the altar, as well as the tabernacle area, are concealed. The vibrant contrast between the red sanctuary wall, the green marble altar featuring the golden Chi Rho, and the stark violet veils is particularly powerful.
Mosaics and Statuary: The intricate mosaic depicting St. John, along with freestanding statues and devotional images near the candle stands, are entirely draped.
The Medium: The veils used are simple, opaque purple or violet cloth, devoid of any ornamentation or embroidery.
The History and Theology: Why are they covered?
The History and Theology: Why are they covered?
This practice, known as the Veiling of Images, is a visceral tradition designed to shift the congregation's spiritual focus during the final, most intense period of Lent, known as Passiontide.
1. A "Fast of the Eyes": The Catholic Church utilises all the senses in its liturgy. Just as fasting from food deprives the body, the veiling of beautiful art deprives the senses. By stripping the church of its visual comforts and the comforting faces of the saints, it creates a deliberate sense of starkness, exile, and mourning.
2. Scriptural Origins (John 8:59): Historically, the tradition traces back to the Gospel reading traditionally assigned to the Fifth Sunday of Lent. In this passage from the Gospel of John, Jesus is nearly stoned by a crowd, ending with the words: "But Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple." The veils literally represent Christ "hiding" His divine glory as He begins the final descent into His Passion and death.
3. Heightened Focus on the Word and the Cross: By removing visual distractions, the faithful are forced to focus more intently on the words of the Mass and the scripture readings. It builds a psychological tension; the absence of the images makes the congregation acutely aware of what is missing, fostering a deeper anticipation for the Resurrection.
The Liturgical Timeline: When does this happen?
The Liturgical Timeline: When does this happen?
While the practice is technically optional in the modern Roman Missal, it remains deeply cherished and widely observed in many parishes.
The Veiling (The Fifth Sunday of Lent): In St. John's the purple veils are placed over all crosses and images in the church prior to the Vigil Fifth Sunday of Lent Mass on the Saturday evening.
The Unveiling of the Cross (Good Friday): Crosses remain covered until the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday. During this sombre service, the main crucifix is ceremonially unveiled at Holy Rosary Church in stages for the Veneration of the Cross.
The Unveiling of the Statues (The Easter Vigil at St. John's): All other statues, mosaics, and images remain shrouded until the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night. When the Gloria is sung and the church lights are brought up to celebrate the Resurrection, the veils are finally removed, symbolising the return of joy and the triumph of life over death.
A special note of thanks
A special note of thanks
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the dedicated volunteers who gave their time to transform the church so beautifully for this sacred season. While they wish to remain anonymous, their quiet, behind the scenes work is deeply appreciated and profoundly enriches the spiritual journey of the entire parish community during Holy Week.
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