6. The Veiling of crosses and statues before the Fifth Sunday of Lent
In recent times, some parishes have veiled or otherwise removed crosses and statues as soon as the Lenten season begins. This is misunderstood. This practice is permitted beginning with the Fifth Sunday of Lent, but not before.
Thus, the Roman Missal states:
The practice of covering crosses and images throughout the church from this [Fifth] Sunday may be observed.
Crosses remain covered until the end of the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, but images remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.
Notice that the practice is option (the practice “may be observed” not “is to be observed”).
If it is not observed, in a particular parish, from the Fifth Sunday of Lent, there is additional encouragement to do remove or veil crosses after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday.
The rubrics in the Roman Missal for that day state:
At an appropriate time, the altar is stripped and, if possible, the crosses are removed from the church.
It is expedient that any crosses which remain in the church be veiled.
