To be distinguished from the Passion veils is the large Lenten
veil, which has stayed in use here and there in Sicily and
Spain, at some places in Westphalia, as well as in the cathedral
of Freiburg im Breisgau. It is a cloth which is hung up during
Lent at the entrance to the choir. It is most often white or
violet and remains until the Litany is sung on Holy Saturday.
The Congregation of Rites has declared the use of this Lenten
veil to be admissible on 11 May 1878 (decr. auth. n. 3448).
Whereas according to current Roman use Crosses and images are
only veiled during Passiontide, in the Middle Ages the common
thing was to cover them right at the start of Lent, be it from
the Terce of the Monday after the first Sunday of Lent, be it –
although less frequently – already from Ash Wednesday. Here and
there the veiling was even done on Septuagesima. Moreover, not
only Crosses and images were withdrawn from the view of the
faihtful by means of veils, but also reliquaries and
chandeliers, and even evangeliaries wh