Dear Cecilia:

Welcome to the Church. I praise God that you have returned and that your husband and daughter have come into full communion with the Church that Jesus established.

I am thrilled to hear that your daughter wishes to honor this ancient tradition of wearing some sort of headgear when present at the liturgies. She is to be praised and congratulated for her faith and devotion.

As what to wear, a mantilla or a head scarf is suitable. A snood, on the other hand, depends on the style. A snood can be a hair net. This is really not appropriate as we are attending Mass not working at McDonalds

A good document on head coverings that I recommend is A Mother's View: Modesty in Head coverings (pdf file).

I recommend Modesty Veils as a place to buy mantillas. This source has several different styles at very reasonable prices to choose from.

Do not worry about what others think. That is their problem. Jesus said "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house" (Matthew 5:14-15).

If we are hiding our devotion then we are not serving the greater glory of God. St. Louis de Montfort taught:

Although what is essential in ... devotion consists in the interior, we must not fail to unite to the inward practice certain external observances. “We must do the one, yet not leave the other undone” (Mt 23:23); because the outward practices, well performed, aid the inward ones; and because they remind man, who is always guided by his senses, of what he has done or ought to do; and also because they are suitable for edifying our neighbor, who sees them; these are things which inward practices cannot do.

Wear the mantilla or scarf openly with grace and humility as a witness to all of the devotion that all women should express.

The Modesty Veils site also has a page on the Tradition of the head covering that is excellent.

It is true that the requirement of the veil mentioned in the 1917 Canon Law was omitted in the 1983 Canon Law. This means little. The Church does not make a law for every little thing, especially when the long-standing and ancient tradition teaches and informs us.

Those who do only what the law requires are immature. We are all called to a standard of excellence, not to the mediocrity of minimum requirements. The minimum requirement to receive the Eucharist is once a year during the Easter season. It is foolish, however, to receive the Eucharist only once-per-year. While we do not sin in doing this, it is not prudent.

St. Paul said twice in Scripture: "All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify" (1 Corinthians 10:23) and "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything" (1 Corinthians 6:12).

In other words, just because it is allowed, doesn't mean we ought to do it.

In like manner concerning the veil, even if it is not required (which it is according to the Bible--Corinthians 11:1-16), does mean we should not do it anyway as an act of devotion and love.

Encourage your daughter to continue this practice and not worry about what others say or think. Whenever we do anything that glorifies God there will be detractors. It is a great testimony of Godliness, devotion, and femininity. Be sure you wear one too, and shame on you if you do not!

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary