66. From Postpartum Darkness To A Veil Of Hope in Jesus Christ with Veils by Lily CEO Lily Wiilson

A mother’s raw account of postpartum crisis turns into a story of God-inspired healing: spiritual, psychological, and physical. We trace the years-long birth of the Merciful Love Veil, why veiling expresses dignity and freedom, and what is the future for Lily at Veils by Lily, and does she have a new adventure waiting for her in this season of life?

• postpartum anxiety, depression, insomnia, and hospitalization 
• parish and family support as lifelines 
• therapy rooted in Catholic teaching and dignity 
• St Elizabeth of the Trinity’s call to be loved 
• medical roots: elevated copper and low vitamin D 
• designing and launching the Merciful Love Veil 
• veiling as sign of sacred identity and humility 
• quality craft, ethical sourcing, lifetime warranty 
• Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers and shipping deadlines 
• practical veiling questions on length, fit, and discernment 
• stepping back from leadership and sustaining the mission 
• Advent hope, confession, Eucharist, daily conversion

Please join us every week on the Veil in Armor podcast, where stories come alive through a journalist's lens and mother’s heart.

To see Veils by Lily's veils and connect on social media:

https://veilsbylily.com

https://www.instagram.com/@veilsbylily

https://www.youtube.com/@veilsbylily

If this episode resonated with you, please share with a friend!

Thank you + God bless!

Chapters

• 0:00 Challenging times for Lily Wilson after childbirth
• 1:37 Advent Hope And The Meaning Of The Veil
• 3:53 Prayer And Guest Introduction
• 6:04 Veils By Lily: Mission And Growth
• 8:52 Designing The Merciful Love Veil
• 12:18 Postpartum Crisis And Hospitalization
• 16:10 Parish Support And Encountering The Father’s Love
• 19:28 Therapy, Dignity, And Healing
• 22:45 Copper, Vitamin D, And Physical Recovery
• 25:55 Veil As Identity: Beloved And Sacred
• 28:52 Symptoms, Self-Care, And Faith-Aligned Counseling
• 33:44 Prayer In The Dark And A Pivotal Quote
• 38:20 Peace At Home And A New Calling
• 41:40 Veils By Lily Continues And Leadership
• 44:25 The Merciful Love Veil Details
• 47:30 Black Friday Offers And Shipping Deadlines
• 51:20 A question about veiling
• 54:15 Veiling’s Return And Quality Craft
• 58:40 Community, Affordability, And Deals
• 1:02:10 Why Veil: Sacredness And Humility

Transcript

Lily Wilson: 0:00

So it was, it was very difficult after uh baby number seven was born. Just I I just struggled a great deal. And uh when he was seven, seven months old, um, it just all kind of uh came to a head. And uh I actually ended up in the hospital. And um, you know, I I never saw this coming, you know, it was something that I don't know, that happened to other people, not to me. And it really threw me for a loop. It was a very dark period. But through the mercy of God, he started to open my eyes to the goodness that that was around me that I did not see before.

Lily Wilson: 0:39

But I think part that was part part of the problem too, because my my and I think a lot of women's mo is to just take care of everyone and everything, everyone's problems, neglect ourselves, and then and then we suffer. We suffer for it. And then our families suffer. So we really have to take care of ourselves.

Lily Wilson: 0:59

Self-care is not a selfish thing, you know, depending on how you define it, but get getting proper sleep, proper nutrition, you know, speaking to a therapist a lot of times that there's a lot of things from childhood that we have to um that we have to overcome that be healed from, you know, various wounds and things like that. And it's really helpful to be able to reach out to uh to a counseling professional who knows your faith and who is going to give you counsel in accordance with the Catholic faith and to where you can trust that you won't be led astray is is so very important.

Sheila Nonato: 1:36

Welcome back, Sisters in Christ, and welcome to the first week of Advent. This week we are going to look at the theme of hope. As previously we had looked at the incredible story of Camille Mendoza, her incredible journey of healing from grief to consolation in Jesus. And this week we're gonna be looking at Lily Wilson, Veils by Lily, and how she has overcome her cross of post-partum struggles.

Sheila Nonato: 2:07

And before that, I just wanted to ask you: did you see the latest Miss Universe pageant? A contestant from Brazil wore a veil and gown to symbolize our blessed mother. It was modest and magnificent because the style is timeless.

Sheila Nonato: 2:26

Unfortunately, the culture sees the Veil of Mary as a sign of weakness and oppression. Yet Christianity has always been a religion that is counter-cultural. The veil symbolizing femininity, humility, and vulnerability. It is in fact a symbol of freedom and empowerment.

Sheila Nonato: 2:54

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." St. Paul said in his letter, in the second letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 9, Verse 12, Let's hear from Veils by Lily, CEO and founder, and how her vulnerability before God during her trials after having her seventh baby led to her discovering the strength that emanates from the Father's merciful love and how this newfound discovery has led to a beautiful, newfound creation in herself and in her business. Thank you for joining us this week, and may you have a blessed, blessed start of the Advent season. God bless. Hello and welcome to the Veil in Armour Podcast. This is your host, Sheila Nanato. I'm a stay-at-home mom and a freelance Catholic journalist. Seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the inspiration of Our Lady, I strive to tell stories that inspire, illuminate, and enrich the lives of Catholic women to help them in living out our vocation of raising the next generation of leaders and saints. Please join us every week on the Veil in Armor podcast, where stories come alive through a journalist's land and mother's heart. So, welcome back, Lily Wilson from Veils by Lily. And I your episode has had over a thousand views. Which at that time that we recorded, we had less than 500 subscribers. So that's how big that was. And so many comments. And six months ago there was actually a question. It's still that scene. So but yeah, let's let's start off out with a prayer, please, if you don't mind. Absolutely. Did you want to lead or whatever you uh feel comfortable with? Either I guess you can lead if that's fine. Yeah, oh me. Okay. Hail Mary. Yeah, why don't we do a hail mary? In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace.

Lily Wilson: 5:12

The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Sheila Nonato: 5:26

Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Thank you very much. And um, so uh did you want to start off with your business or did you want to introduce us to the Merciful Veil? The Merciful Love veil and how this sort of informed your own um, I guess would you call it suffering your own cross that that you were dealing with and how that led to the Merciful Love veil. What did you want to start off with?

Speaker 3: 5:58

Yeah, so um, well, first of all, I'll to introduce my business for those who are not familiar with it. Um it's Veils by Lily. We've been in business for over 15 years now. Uh, we've been uh making veils here in our workshop in Missouri and uh and also importing veils uh from abroad as well. And uh it's been really a joy to be able to do this, to be able to speak with so many women uh who didn't realize that something as simple as a head covering would do so much for their spiritual life. Um and uh and to be honest, I'm completely awed and humbled at what God has been able to do through through all of this. Uh we have grown to where we have about 15 women right now working with us and to help it, you know, to help advance our mission.

Speaker 3: 6:56

And uh it's just been really such a privilege. And um to to go to what you mentioned, uh in particular with the with the merciful love veil, uh, so we we launched the the merciful love veil uh this this year, uh back in August. And it's a veil that had been in the works for for about six years, is when we started working with with our uh uh lace manufacturer. Uh and uh and and it took a long time. It was a desire of mine to to make a veil that was um was from scratch our own. So not not purchased lace and trim and then sewn together, but actually designed intentionally um with the with the idea of of just sharing it with as many people as possible.

Speaker 3: 7:50

And so that started in 2019, and uh, but then COVID hit, and that had a very, very significant impact on our business. Um we it really cost us to to struggle for the first time because people people weren't going to church. And uh so that was a very, very difficult period. And as we were coming out of COVID and uh trying to decide, you know, how are we going to recover? You know, the the first thing that came to mind was, you know, the merciful love of God has always been there for me. Uh, it helped me to recover from postpartum mental health issues after my seventh baby.

Speaker 3: 8:34

And um, and I really wanted to to honor it. I I also made a uh an act of oblation to merciful love after the example of St. Therese. This was in uh in 2011, I believe it was. Uh, and um, and so just the the concept of the merciful love of the Lord that is so powerful, uh having brought me out of uh just a very, very difficult time of my life. And I just wanted to do something to uh to to honor that. Um to, I don't know, just uh I I don't know, just uh out of a just a very deep sense of gratitude for what the Lord did for me in that.

Speaker 3: 9:21

So um, so so yeah, that's kind of where where the the story of the merciful love veil begins. Uh it's about uh it's about the the Merciful Love of the Lord that desires to pour himself out for every single one of us. So He's done this for me, he's done this for so many other people that I know. Uh and and it is there for the asking. So um so so that's what so that's what this is really about. Um and uh so uh in in particular, and I know that uh many women have experienced postpartum mental health challenges. Uh I'm not the only one. And uh and this is in particular for them. Um and uh and I kind of wanted to share a little bit about uh what the Lord did for me uh in that time.

Speaker 3: 10:22

And so it was it was very difficult after uh baby number seven was born. Um I just I I just struggled a great deal. And uh when he was seven, seven months old, uh it just all kind of uh came to a head. And uh I actually ended up in the hospital. And um, you know, I I never saw this coming, you know, it was it was something that um I don't know, that happened to other people, not to me. And uh and it really threw me for a loop. Uh it was a very dark period. Um, but through the mercy of God, you know, he started to open my eyes to to the goodness that was around me that that I did not see before.

Speaker 3: 11:13

Uh, I was almost stuck in in kind of a place of um, I guess without intending to, a kind of mentality of I have to save myself and and also that I'm more responsible for other people than I actually am. Um a kind of a sense of over-responsibility, um, you know, and uh and and that really was bringing me down. Uh, but when I came out of the hospital, what I what I experienced with just uh the the parish community that surrounded me uh supporting me, first of all, of course, my family, my sister flew in from out of town to uh to be with me.

Speaker 3: 11:57

My mom came in um for about a month and uh and I started to see that things are not uh quite as dark as they might seem when when when we're in crisis, you know. Um but uh but shortly after the uh the you know the the hospitalization in August of 2022, uh I went on an

Speaker 3: 12:23

? retreat uh with my parish. And what I experienced there was exactly that, the unconditional love of the father. And it was just so beautiful because I knew, you know, the Lord had brought me to my knees. And I knew that it wasn't anything that I had done to deserve that love, that it was simply because I was, you know, or I am, you know. Um and I and I think that that's really uh something that uh that some people have not experienced yet. Uh, you know, to be loved just for who you are and not because of what you've done or or what you could do, uh, that kind of thing. So, you know, that's really so so very crucial for every person.

Speaker 3: 13:09

Uh and so I was uh I had I was fortunate that that that uh this situation uh happened uh in order that I might, you know, open my heart to receive that unconditional love. And um I don't know what else to say about that other than it's you know uh I it was a huge struggle because uh because I didn't have any history or anything like that. And so it was um it was a little bit of uh of uh something that really had us perplexed, you know, and and how are we gonna get out of this and uh what medications are gonna help me uh try various different things.

Speaker 3: 13:56

And um I didn't have uh proper support at the beginning, uh, but later I was able to find uh a therapist from the Pastoral Solutions Institute, Dr. Greg Popak's uh organization, and um uh Dave McClow, if you would uh pray for him, because he's currently suffering from cancer. Um he was instrumental in in just kind of bringing me out uh of this in in in a I guess in a psychological sense, um and in helping me re regain my my self-worth and uh and and and just really live my sense of self really rooted and grounded in love, uh as opposed to fear, which is where I had been. Uh and uh and so Dave worked worked with me for about two years, and uh and the change that happened uh was was really just mind-blowing.

Speaker 3: 15:05

And uh I I've I have a hard time putting this into words, but uh but there's something about being treated as a as as a child of God, full of dignity and value, uh, as opposed to a diagnosis that uh that that is in itself so very healing. And um and so that was that was really, really uh life-changing, you know, the time that he that he devoted to helping me um, I don't know, rewrite a lot of scripts in my mind that that I had uh developed, I guess, as coping coping mechanisms from childhood, you know, and uh and and basically, yeah, it was it was God's love uh uh just pouring into me uh through through the truth of who I am. Uh and as we know, the truth sets us free.

Speaker 3: 16:02

So uh so it was a blessed experience, very difficult. Uh, but but that's you know, that's the merciful love of God, you know, that that that loves us as we are and raises us to where he wants us to be. Uh, and then by the grace of God, um, at one point I was connected with a woman who had suffered the same thing. And uh she had discovered that her problem was due to elevated copper levels. And uh that ended up being the same uh for me. And in addition, I also had um uh severely low vitamin D. And uh so we got those both of those treated, and uh, and I was able to come off, you know, most of the medications and and it and and there was there was real healing, um, as in I could sleep without without uh needing uh you know the help the help of medications.

Speaker 3: 17:07

And so um, and so it was real healing, uh, but it was both spiritual, uh spiritual healing, also psychological, emotional, and and physical, a physical healing uh through the through the treatment of the of the copper and vitamin D problems. So um, you know, when they when they talk about miracles, I consider this my miracle. And uh, and I'm so so very grateful for you know, all the people that that work to address all those different parts of us, you know, the physical part, the emotional part, the psychological and the spiritual. And uh in in and that is in their work and what they did for me and uh and what my my family, the way that they took care of me, uh, just was yeah, a real experience of the love of God.

Speaker 3: 18:03

And uh and for that I am so very grateful. Uh, but after going through all of that, it just seemed fitting, you know, to really dedicate this new veil that we finally were able to um uh to produce and name it after after merciful love, the merciful love of God. Uh and so that's that's what we're so pleased to be able to offer to uh to women uh today as a reminder, you know, especially when when we you know start going into uh into those negative thought patterns, you know, that that my worth is defined by who God says I am. And uh and and that veil is just a symbol of that, that I'm his beloved, that I am uh sacred, precious, precious, and worthy of being loved. So uh so yeah, that veil is for him.

Sheila Nonato: 18:56

Well, thank you for um that courageous story. And you know, a lot of women uh probably have experienced this, but they just don't have a a name uh for it, and maybe they don't even think that something is going on. Were there any symptoms when it first kind of appeared?

Lily Wilson: 19:17

Uh just it was um severe anxiety, uh uh severe depression. Um and then uh at one point I saw I stopped being able to sleep. Um so I was awake for three days straight. And at that point, you know, when you're awake for three days straight, your brain starts to go haywire. Um, so it was um it was quite terrifying. But um yeah, that was yeah, an experience I I wouldn't wish of my worst enemy, you know, but the Lord brought me through. And that's that's the miracle right there.

Sheila Nonato: 19:52

So and so did you notice the symptoms or was it somebody else? Did your husband notice it?

Lily Wilson: 19:59

Nobody noticed until um uh until I wasn't able to sleep, and clearly there was a problem. And the longer that it went on, um uh, you know, I was I started acting in ways that weren't, you know, it just weren't me, you know. Um kind of pacing back and forth and and and saying things, you know, um uh that that that weren't it it just it wasn't me. So uh, you know, things like um uh believing that I had condemned myself to hell, um, that there was that there was no hope, that, you know, any, you know, all sorts of those things. Um and um that was very, very difficult. Uh, but it was clearly, you know, my we we are body and soul, you know, we're not just spiritual beings.

Lily Wilson: 20:55

And taking care of our bodies is uh, you know, we think it it's oh yeah, I'll get to it. But I think part that was part part of the problem too, because my my and I think a lot of women's MO is to just take care of everyone and everything, uh, everyone's problems, neglect ourselves, and then and then we suffer. We suffer for it. And then our families suffer. Um, so we really have to take care of ourselves.

Lily Wilson: 21:24

Self-care is not a selfish thing, you know, depending on how you define it, but get getting proper sleep, proper nutrition, um, you know, uh speaking to a therapist a lot of times that there's a lot of things from childhood that we have to um that we have to overcome that be healed from, you know, various wounds and things like that. And uh and and it is really helpful to be able to reach out to uh to to a counseling professional who knows your faith and who is going to give you counsel in accordance with the Catholic faith and to where you can trust that you won't be led astray. It's it's so very important.

Sheila Nonato: 22:07

So so that so the the help you sought, did you first go to the doctor um to get sort of diagnosed to figure out what was going on? And then you sought out the other, you know, to deal with um, I guess the vitamin deficiencies and and then self-care is and then of course prayer. I'm sure you went to prayer as well as you were mentioning. That would you go to the doctor first? Is that what you did?

Lily Wilson: 22:31

So I I did not, well, initially I called all my OBGYN and they didn't really know what to do because I couldn't really explain what what I was experiencing. You know, it just sounded like like just a regular depression, and uh and and so they're like, well, you know, uh and they were also very busy. And so it just um kind of um got put to the side. I at one point I uh I went to one of our uh local emergency rooms and uh and they, you know, they would speak to me and they they didn't see anything out of the ordinary except just, you know, she she probably looks depressed, you know, and and speaking slow and that kind of thing. Uh and so um so it was just very hard to pinpoint. And so when I started uh uh not sleeping, um that's that's what really really did it. And um then finally my husband was clued in that something actually was wrong. And and one of our priests actually uh encouraged him to take me to the hospital uh to get treatment. So yeah.

Sheila Nonato: 23:47

And as you were saying women, usually mothers especially, you know, want to take care of others first. But this case we need to we need to take care of ourselves so that we can take good care of other people. And I love that you you went to our Lord. Um, I mean you you went to the doctors, as you said, us counseling, um, but you also went to the Lord and you experienced his merciful love. Can you tell us, like, was there sort of a a moment, an exact moment you felt that? Were you in prayer, (Eucharistic) Adoration? Um, can you can you give us an insight?

Lily Wilson: 24:23

Right. So, you know, there was a religious element to everything that I was experiencing. Um in fact, uh, when I was in the hospital, I had a vision of uh Jesus crucified. Um and uh you might say a vision or hallucination. I don't know what you want, might want to call it, but um, but uh but yeah, it was um it was just very bizarre. And uh, but you know, when I when I came out of the hospital because of the religious content of of what I was experiencing, um, you know, some people discouraged me from uh from praying.

Lily Wilson: 25:09

They were thinking that I was praying too much, you know, um, which I wasn't, you know, but uh, but they were thinking they were trying to problem solve for me. They were, they were trying to pinpoint, well, it must be this, it must be that, you know, you need to stop praying. You know, like, you know, all those things. And uh, and and I just stood firm. I'm like, I'm gonna, you know, this is this is my faith. I'm not gonna turn, turn aside. So even in the dark, so it was a very, a very dark period, but even in the darkness, you know, to have um uh to be able to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus uh without feeling anything.

Lily Wilson: 25:46

Uh no consolation, no um, no, no affirmation of any kind, just completely in the dark. Uh, and that's exactly how it was. Um, but the I guess I knew it was gonna start to get better the first time I spoke with Dave. And uh he spoke directly into, and I don't want to cry, but he spoke directly into um into the pain of my heart, into my deepest insecurity. And uh, and I'll have to share, I'm trying to see here, do I have um trying to see where this quote is? Um okay. So Dave really spoke directly into into that insecurity, into into the deepest, um uh deepest part of of my pain.

Lily Wilson: 26:57

And um, you know, uh I'm trying to find the um the quote from uh from Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity, and I think I found it here, so I'm gonna read it for you. Uh and so as we were wrapping up that initial call, uh Dave left me with this quote from uh from Saint Elizabeth. Um this was actually um uh uh what was it? I think a letter uh from uh Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity to her mother superior and um and she says to her uh I guess she's she's passing on to her the words of the Lord and says to her, you are uncommonly loved, loved by that love of preference that the master had here below for some and which brought them so far.

Lily Wilson: 28:02

He does not say to you as to Peter, do you love me more than these? So she's saying he said to Peter, Do you love me more than this? But he says to you, let yourself be loved more than these. That is, without fearing that any obstacle will be a hindrance to it, for I am free to pour out my love on whom I wish. Let yourself be loved more than these is your vocation, and it is in being faithful to it that you will make me happy, for you will magnify the power of my love. This love can rebuild what you have destroyed. Let yourself be loved more than these. And uh clearly, you know, this therapist with with over 30 years of experience worked with so many people in pain.

Lily Wilson: 28:55

Uh, he he I I at that moment I felt that he saw me and uh and and and the Holy Spirit gave him, you know, that quote share with me, which was exactly what I needed and the exact encouragement that I needed. Because um I yeah, you know, I I I think we we do all have the temptation that we have to work for our salvation. And even if we say we don't, a lot of times we act as if we do, right? So we have to do this and I have to do that, and then you know, busy ourselves with things because we think that's what the Lord is asking.

Lily Wilson: 29:38

Um but the Lord first and foremost wants us to let Him love us, you know, and uh without conditions, without conditions, um that his love is not like our human love. That is imperfect and um and and that sometimes comes and goes, you know. But uh but that his love is is true, uh, that he himself is real, um, and that he desires to pour out his love on us. And who are we to tell him no? You know, so uh but that moment that's when I knew that everything was going to be okay.

Sheila Nonato: 30:36

That's very beautiful. It's I can imagine our Lord putting uh the most beautiful veil on your head and just giving me giving you a warm embrace and Our Lady also being there with him. Um that's just that's just a beautiful, beautiful image, especially going into um Advent season. That we um you know, we see Our Lady, she's clothed in the veil. Um and that's her beauty. That was her beauty that that shone, even though she was veiled in her inner beauty, I'm sure it radiated outwards, just like women's beauty when you see one and when you see a woman in church, um, just like the bride of Christ, right?

Sheila Nonato: 31:24

Like I never saw it that way before. Because I I always thought, you know, you know, we're all liberated. We uh need to be free, free from, you know, we but being clothed in the love of God, the mercy mercy of God as you described, um, it's so much more uh beautiful. And it it it gives I I can't even describe it. Like I'm trying to find an image, but it's just it it escapes me because it's just without words, you know, the way that you described it, that you you felt this love. And it feels like it sounded like it felt that you felt this love like beyond your your physical body, like your soul embraced was embraced by Jesus, you know. Is that sort of how you felt? I don't want to put words into your mouth. Is that sort of how you felt?

Lily Wilson: 32:12

Yeah, it really was. I mean, I I I um I at that moment I didn't realize that somebody could see so deeply into my soul and understand uh what was it, what what it was that I actually needed to hear at that moment. And I think that that can only come from the Holy Spirit. Um, the Holy Spirit is uh, you know, dwells in the deepest parts of our souls. And in that moment, you know, uh heart spoke to heart, you know, and it was such a great, um, great consolation and encouragement and uh and just an example of how we can be Christ to one another through through our words, our example, our um, you know, our deeds. Uh and and that's what we're all called to do for one another.

Sheila Nonato: 33:03

Yes, absolutely. And and so how how are you doing now?

Lily Wilson: 33:07

I am doing uh exceptionally well. Um yeah, just you know, back to normal. Um I mean, I can sleep without medication. Uh, I'm enjoying life. Uh my family is doing well. Uh, there's peace in our home. And I'm looking forward to to a new chapter. So um I guess maybe this is a good time to uh to kind of share that that I am gonna be stepping away from Bails by Lily for a little while. Um uh possibly indefinitely. But um, but I've uh I've hired uh some wonderful women to to take it over for me. Uh and and we'll see what the Lord has in store.

Lily Wilson: 33:52

Uh so um I I have particularly received a call uh to uh to work with with the poor, especially um the spiritually poor. Um my experience in the hospital was um was quite life-changing. And uh, you know, part of me uh, and when I think it back on it, I I I um I reflect in particular on one memory that I have in in the common room at the hospital, um, that it was pretty chaotic in there, you know. And uh I don't know if I if you can imagine it, but it was very chaotic uh in the hospital. Uh a lot of people who were struggling more than I was.

Lily Wilson: 34:39

Um, and I was just sitting there on a chair observing everything. And at one point, one person says to me, you know, everyone here is crazy, except for you. You're just sitting there, you know, so and and I said, Yeah, it's true. Uh, but but I just I I truly feel that the Lord uh put me there, you know, I guess you might say divine pro providence, um, to show me something. I I truly feel that he showed me these people who were so very spiritually poor, and uh and as a way to call me to um to serve, to serve the poorest of the poor, which in in our culture, it's not you know the slums of Calcutta, but it's the people who don't know God. And um that's where I'm going the exact uh the exact way that or what what it will exactly look like um is not clear yet. Uh, but I know that this is a call from God, and I'm I'm I'm excited to um to follow it. So wow.

Sheila Nonato: 35:52

Well, thank you for for sharing that. And I'm looking forward to seeing where you're gonna go next. Um, so it veils by Lily is continuing. Is that what you said?

Lily Wilson: 36:03

Yes, it is. Veils by Lily is still continuing. It is God's will that it continues. There, there is uh such a such a demand for veils, uh, and and we're very happy to be able to continue this. Um just that we have the capability to do it, that the Lord has provided uh the people that Veils by Lily needs. Um, and I'll I'll highlight in particular uh Mary Lee Salzer-Lutz, our current uh VP of operations. Uh uh she is a very, very capable lady with a lot of a lot of experience. Um, and uh I know she's gonna do a phenomenal job. So you'll probably be hearing more from her.

Sheila Nonato: 36:44

Okay. And does this open leave the door open for you to come back later? Do you think? Or you're not sure yet?

Lily Wilson: 36:52

You know, we'll see. We'll see what happens. So um, so I'm open to to to whatever the Lord wants. And uh, whatever he says to do, I'll do. You know, it's the it's the it's the only thing I can do considering how gracious he's been to me. Um, and and just you know, how good he is. I can only, you know, the Lord speaks and I listen and I act and follow.

Sheila Nonato: 37:16

And so my husband went one day was like, maybe we should go to Lily's shop in Missouri. Is that still gonna be open or yes?

Lily Wilson: 37:25

It's still gonna be open. Yep. And uh 403 Oak Street in Kimmswick, Missouri. Uh, we love having visitors here, and uh, and just we're excited to to receive anybody who wants to come.

Sheila Nonato: 37:38

Awesome. And so if you can tell us, so you talk about the Merciful Love veil, what does it look like? Uh, what colors does it come in, what lengths, and how do people get access to it?

Lily Wilson: 37:50

Yeah, so it comes in three colors at this time, and we may expand uh to more colors in the future. Uh, but it's available in champagne, in uh amethyst, which is a purple, and onyx, which is a shade of black. Uh they're just so beautiful. Um people can see pictures on our website, veils by lily.com. I think that's the best way to get an idea of what they're like. Um, but they're very soft and very flowy, uh, just a beautiful design. And um it just the quality is is is really truly amazing. Our our lacemaker is uh is um uh a lacemaker of of real craftsmanship. And uh and I know that people won't be disappointed, so much so that we do offer a lifetime warranty on the veil against manufacturer defects. Um and so we we offer a replacement veils if if the edges ever start to unravel, which they should not, um, or if there's any other problem uh, you know, uh caused by you know by the by the manufacturing process, which there won't be any, you know, but we're just so confident in it that we do offer a lifetime warranty on the veil.

Sheila Nonato: 39:06

So and then it's available when it is already available.

Lily Wilson: 39:12

We launched it on uh was it August 22nd, which incidentally is the the exact three-year anniversary of the day that I was admitted to the hospital. It was the um oh, you know what? I just gave you the wrong information. No, it wasn't August 22nd. That was our original plan. So you have to cut out, you'll have to cut that out of the uh of the recording. Uh, but yeah, so we launched it on September 30th. Um, it was on the eve of the feast of St. Therese, um, because it was her inspiration through her act of ablation to Merciful Love that uh that we wanted to honor. And the timing just worked out perfectly in order for us to be able to do that. Uh we received it from the manufacturer just in time. We started um uh cutting it out of the rolls and uh and we were able to start shipping on on September 30th.

Sheila Nonato: 40:08

Okay, wonderful. And um Black Friday's coming up. So is there uh something special coming up for Vales by Lily?

Lily Wilson: 40:18

Yes, so we are going to offer uh a generous 20% off store wide from all the way from Black Friday through Cider Monday. And so when we offer 20% off, it's usually a single veil or a single color because our veils are priced um as low as possible to keep them affordable for everyone, especially considering all of our employees um are here in the United States, uh, which in itself is a big thing. Um, so 20% off store wide uh from Black Friday through the end of Cyber Monday. And in addition to that, we are also offering a whopping 40% off the merciful love veil, because it it's it's my heart, you know. Uh my heart, my heart for the Lord, my heart for the the merciful love of God. Um, so we are offering 40% off the merciful love veil.

Sheila Nonato: 41:16

Wow. I mean so that's gonna be exciting. And um so for Christmas shopping, when do they have the orders have to be in? Um I guess let's let's talk about the United States. Um when do orders have to be in? Yeah.

Lily Wilson: 41:31

So within the United States, um, you will want to order uh if you're ordering one of our handmade to order bales, uh, which we only have a few of them left. Uh, we we we've been able to make most of them ready to ship to where we have them made and sitting on the shelf ready for somebody to order. Uh, but any of it are handmade to order, uh, you can still order them with the rush option through the end of the day, Wednesday, December 3rd. Uh, then uh the vast majority of our veils, which are ready to ship veils now, uh, with standard shipping, you'll want to order by the end of the day Tuesday, December 9th. And then with priority shipping for ready to ship veils, you'll want to order through the end of the day Saturday, December 13th. And then for uh expedited shipping, the ready to ship veils, you'll want to order by the end of the day Thursday, December 18th. And you can find all of this information on our website under Christmas deadlines.

Sheila Nonato: 42:39

Okay. Okay. And the website again,

Lily Wilson: 42:42

veilsbylily.com

Sheila Nonato: 42:45

Okay. Um, and I just had a question uh from your episode. Somebody asked, uh, "do you need to have a veil that covers the length of your hair?"

Lily Wilson: 42:55

So you don't. That is optional. Uh it's uh it's you know, in in some places it's tradition for for women to cover the full length of the hair, um, but it's not necessary. Uh it's really um it's it's really meant to be uh a symbolic covering, a symbolic act of humility. Um, but some women do feel that that covering the full length of your hair um serves the purpose of the veil better. And so it would be something for you to pray about and discern, you know, what what is it that you're comfortable with, or maybe what is it that the Lord is calling you to. Uh and uh and and depending on what that is, you know, you can make your choice and and and uh choose a longer veil or something a little shorter.

Sheila Nonato: 43:50

Okay. And I picked up this book from Amazon. I didn't realize it was on your website too. I think it's still on your website, the manic The Veil of the Bride of Christ. Yes. And it was talking about in the beginning, it's talking about the biblical reasons of veiling. Like we look in the Old Testament, Rebecca, and in the New Testament, of course, Saint Paul talks about it, and of course, our lady was veiled. Um, Saint Veronica, you know, the veil of Veronica, again, something that we are familiar with. But I guess it sort of fell out of favor in the church. But to be honest, I've been noticing, and it's like we've been in different cities in uh in in the states, and then even here in Canada, I've noticed the veil at Novus Ordo Masses, actually. Uh, and young ones, even little girls, they're it's really sweet to see them. It's like it's coming back. It's um, yeah. What do you what do you make of this kind of trend that's that's coming back?

Lily Wilson: 44:47

Yeah, so it's it's a beautiful thing. And I think um all of the education that we've been trying to do for 15 years and that uh and that our very own customers have been trying to spread has really been effective. Um, people are are are finally understanding the true reasons why we wear the veil. And and those are beautiful reasons, you know, grounded in truth. And um, you know, I think that when the veils uh fell away uh back with the feminist movement and all that, I think it was caught up in a lot of the cultural thing, but it wasn't something that needed to be discarded, you know. Um it was um it just I think people just needed to know more about it at the right time. And I think that was the right time.

Sheila Nonato: 45:37

Yes, and um, I have a couple of your veils. One the one that I purchased was Our Lady of Guadalupe, if I'm not if I'm not mistaken. Simple, very I just want to start it off with something simple because I wasn't sure. And then the one you had gifted me, the Saint Therese, so beautiful. My husband is always compliments, you know, like that's so the quality of your veils is amazing. And when I see somebody or when somebody sees me with a veil, he asks, Where'd you get it from? And I say, Veils by Lily or Veils B y Lily, or if I see somebody with a veil, I'll ask them, "Where'd you get your veil?" And they'll say Veils by Lily. Thank you. In Canada, this is in Canada. I I saw somebody yeah, on a retreat from and she was in New York, actually, she lived in New York. So uh so everyone pretty much knows veils by Lily. That's where you go. So how are you able to maintain this sort of level of quality of the veils and and keeping your mission, the core mission, like central to what you're doing?

Lily Wilson: 46:38

Yeah, so you know, the first thing is you know, making sure that we're careful with with our suppliers. Uh, we don't just buy our veils from anywhere. Uh and um, you know, we we've had some some customers, uh uh people looking around our website uh claim that you know some of our veils can be found on on the cheap Chinese websites for $3. And um and I recently actually had to had to um uh give information to to a person who posted a Google review in regard to that. And uh I was able to point out to that person uh like a side-by-side picture difference between our our in particular Spanish joymantilla and a um a low-quality reproduction by a Chinese company.

Lily Wilson: 47:31

And it's actually uh uh possible to see the differences in the quality of the of the veil. And um, and so it's unfortunate that the Chinese companies are out there copying our designs. Um, but but our customers can be confident that that we use reputable suppliers and uh and we stand behind all of our all of our veils. So um, you know, we just have high standards and and our c a quality control team really does a wonderful job. They are very, very thorough. Um, they're eagle-eyed, if you will. Um, and uh they're you know, we we feel that our customers def deserve the best, and that's what we've trained them to do.

Sheila Nonato: 48:19

Yes, and um I never like paid attention to this before, but my husband, when we um buy certain things, like we don't know, he's like, we gotta put holy water, we gotta bless it, because you don't you don't really know who made that and did the you know, people yeah, people can bless things just like in the Bible, you know? Blessings and then there are curses, unfortunately. So you never know. And you know, if you buy a veil from, of course, Lily, you'll you'll know they they made that with that that intention uh in mind, Christ at the center.

Sheila Nonato: 48:52

And the other, I mean, not to disparage the other ones, uh, you know, that you see. And that's what you can afford. I don't know. But I'm just saying, like if you want peace of mind, right? That you're you're giving your money, your hard-earned money to a business that, you know, a woman-run business, you know, that you know, is helping to um feed their family, basically, right? You know, that that's it's amazing.

Lily Wilson: 49:17

Yes, and honestly, not just mine, but the families of all the other ladies who work here. And they're truly, truly wonderful women. And I just couldn't, just couldn't be more grateful for for their contribution to our mission. Uh, it's just, it's just such a blessing. Uh, it's created such a wonderful community here at Veils by Lily. Um, so it's not just, you know, uh it's just not just about the work anymore. Uh it's also about the community. It's really wonderful.

Sheila Nonato: 49:47

Yes. And I like price shouldn't be an an obstacle because you you also started doing these Facebook lives that you you would offer some veils, you know, I think I saw one for $20 or maybe even less. Uh and so that, you know, for a person who, you know, that might be an obstacle, you could consider doing that. So when do you do the Facebook lives?

Lily Wilson: 50:08

So a Facebook lives are every Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. Central time. Uh and um they're very quick. And a lot of times the veils go fast. So we do recommend people, you know, just choosing the one they want and going to order. We do offer them at a discount. Uh and for other people who are also looking for a discount, uh we recommend our Lazarus veils. We call them Lazarus because they're given a second chance at life.

Lily Wilson: 50:37

They are a little less than perfect, but it's not a reason why they shouldn't be worn. And so we discount those also uh for anybody who needs a discount on those. Uh, but definitely people will want to shop on uh Black Friday through Cyber Monday for really the best deals uh on veils. Uh they make beautiful, beautiful gifts. It's something that's really, really quite thoughtful and and women really enjoy receiving uh veils in particular from uh from their significant others, uh husbands, uh possibly boyfriends. Um, but that that is something that really um uh conveys uh thoughtful care um that goes into a gift. So we would definitely recommend that.

Sheila Nonato: 51:26

Awesome. And finally, for those women who um, you know, might not ha known have known about the veil or veiling, um, could you leave them with some food for thought? You know, what what convinced you that, you know, I'd like to take up this kind of traditional practice that um that used to be, you know, what what what was the standard, I guess, for women that now unfortunately now we're like unveiling women. The the current Hollywood um I guess style now is like see-through clothing. So this is the opposite of that. So what what can you encourage, you know, women who, you know, that you know, they they have their traditional kind of classic tastes. What would you say about?

Lily Wilson: 52:12

I would say and just remember that the church has always veiled everything that is sacred. And that means that you are, too.

Sheila Nonato: 52:23

Absolutely, absolutely. And as Christmas is coming up, we look to Our Lady, who is the new Ark of the Covenant, and she housed our Lord. And as you were saying in the Bible, um, our Lord had very careful instructions on how um the Israelites were to construct the Ark of the Covenant. It was, you know, in gold and there were cherubims. Uh, it was glorious, and whenever they went into battle, the ark was there. And now in our own spiritual battle, we have our lady going forward because she she carries our Lord. We have our lady, the rosary, and the veil to sort of help us to arm us spiritually that we always remember it's the humility, the humility of our lady that helped to sort of write this story of salvation. And of course, Jesus is Our Saviour, but our lady was part of that story. And um, any Christmas plans, Lily?

Speaker 3: 53:22

Christmas plans now, just enjoy the family uh at home. Um we don't have family in town, so it's just me and my husband and and our seven children. Uh, and I can't wait. It's just uh lovely to spend those holidays with them. Uh, Thanksgiving is first, and then uh and then Christmas, and we're just all looking forward to it.

Speaker 2: 53:43

And do you have any Thanksgiving traditions? Do you make something special?

Speaker 3: 53:48

So uh my husband is usually the one that does most of the of the creative cooking at home. I do have an idea of something that I want to make this year. However, our big Chris uh Thanksgiving tradition is to after our Thanksgiving dinner, uh, we go to the uh the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois, uh for the Way of Lights. And uh they walk you through the the Nativity story. Uh and there it's just filled with Christmas lights and the kids absolutely love it. And it's been our tradition ever since my husband and I were married. Our very first year uh we did it and we've done it ever since.

Speaker 2: 54:32

Beautiful. And did you have any final words?

Speaker 3: 54:36

No, just thank you for for letting me be here and share my story. Um uh I just encourage everyone to uh especially those ladies who might be on the fence about veiling, uh, to to to go for it because it's it's really a beautiful thing that has enriched enriched the spiritual lives of so many women, you know, when when when done with a proper interior disposition, which is as you said, it's the humility, the desire for for humility, you know, um, you might even say the commitment to humility and to and and to always um you know keep in mind that that the goal is continual conversion, that it's not perfection right now, but but but to grow, uh to grow in holiness and to to just be a little bit more faithful to the Lord every day, uh being willing to to repent of our sins, to receive uh the sacrament of reconciliation frequently, receive the Eucharist uh frequently as well, and just live in God's grace.

Speaker 2: 55:38

Yes, and just the final word on because on X, there was some misunderstanding. You know, there's so many conversations, but the one I was involved in, they always go to Ephesians 5 and they always don't understand submission is not subjugation. And we're not submitting to man, we're actually submitting to God of our free will. So it doesn't mean we're less than men, we're we're actually clothing ourselves in the purity that and the dignity that God created us, each and every one of us.

Speaker 2: 56:10

And I think unfortunately we're it's getting lost, especially amongst women um in the culture Hollywood, unfortunately, porn culture, and it is having a severe effect on our young people, especially the boys and the girls who um they don't feel like they're enough. They have to and they don't feel special, they don't realize how as you were saying, like the God-given dignity and worth that each and every one, and we're we're losing that because we're we think like everyone has to have a piece of us, everyone has to see us, but God wants you for himself, and uh if you're called to marriage for your future spouse, and one way to sort of keep that in mind is having this veil in your mind.

Speaker 2: 57:00

Uh remembering, you know, yeah, remember Our Lady, how she always wore the veil. And if the mother of God, you know, if if if she's if it's good enough for her, you mean it should be good enough for us, right? That that's you know, God certainly, I mean, Jesus certainly treasured his mother. And and the way we also see our mothers, we would love to see our daughters also kind of emulate that purity, that dignity. Um, and I I really truly I appreciate you coming back, Lily.

Speaker 2: 57:29

And I think last time you were on, the same same time as uh Black Friday. God's timing.

Lily Wilson: 57:35

That's right.

Sheila Nonato: 57:36

You know, whoever is um on the fence about it, think about it. And like like we were saying, there's um, as you were saying, the Facebook lives and also the Lazarus veils, if you're not sure, um, you know, the price shouldn't be an obstacle for you. You know, go into prayer and see what you know what what is the Lord calling you to do. And it's really not just, it's not just a piece of uh material, right? It's it's also part of your, it can be part of your interior life and your prayer practice. It doesn't just have to be uh, you know, something that for show. It's it's really for you and for God. And um, and yeah, was there anything else like did I misspeak about something, Lily?

Lily Wilson: 58:17

No, you got it all right. Yeah. And uh it's just a beautiful thing to do for God, a a beautiful reminder of your dignity, especially when you're tempted to believe that that uh that that it's not there. Um uh that that does happen. You know, we continually struggle with these temptations, but it's a it's a wonderful reminder to always get us back to uh to uh to understanding our dignity before God and that he's the one that gives us our dignity and we don't have to work for it, we don't have to earn it, uh, but it's just given to us by by the fact that we are created in his image and likeness.

Sheila Nonato: 58:53

Beautiful. And God willing, Lily, if um if you're still in Missouri, uh do you have any plasma moving? Because we're we're thinking like maybe we should one day take a trip to your shop.

Lily Wilson: 59:04

That would be wonderful. It would be wonderful to me in person, sure.

Sheila Nonato: 59:08

Definitely, thank you so much. God bless you. Thank you for sharing your very courageous story that I'm sure a lot resonates with a lot of women who may feel like they don't know what words to put to what they're feeling, and you put words to what you were feeling. So hopefully that gives them the courage to seek help, you know, to go to the doctor, to find a Catholic counselor, a priest for spiritual direction, go to the Eucharist, confession. A ll the things that will help us to heal. Um, and especially as we're going to the busy Christmas season, we have to we have to sort of um develop our own inner strength because you know, the the season is very busy, right?

Sheila Nonato: 59:47

And we we can as mothers, as women, we need that that interior strength to to get us through all the dangers. So thank you so much again, Lily. God bless you. My pleasure. God bless you. Take care. Bye. Thank you once again for joining us, friends, and also a special thank you to Lily Wilson from Veils by Lily for opening up her heart and sharing her story of the consolation in Jesus and the trials, the cross that she carried after having her seventh baby, the postpartum struggles that we mothers can face after such a monumental event in our lives, the the birth of our children.

Sheila Nonato: 1:00:33

And we pray for Lily, continued healing and restoration, and for her new adventure that she's embarking upon. We're blessed to have her on this week. And friends, we are coming up to the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and I invite you to, if you haven't started already, the to pray the novena for the Immaculate Conception. And as we know, Mary is inviting us to a deeper relationship with Jesus. And for that reason, our episodes will be featuring the feminine genius of Mother Mary, who leads us to Jesus.

Sheila Nonato: 1:01:12

And our next guest will be Carissa Douglas, mother of 16, the author of the Little Douglas series, Beautiful, Beautiful Soul, Beautiful Mother. And she also has a heart-wrenching story of hope and healing and restoration.

Sheila Nonato: 1:01:29

And after we will be releasing videos and interviews from the Catholic Raider Conference, a blessed conference in Steubenville, Ohio. The organizer, one of the main organizers, Kyle Whittington, is going to be our guest. We are honored, uh humbled and honored to have him on the show. And also Estelle and Keith Nestor. Just a blessing to have met them, to hear their story firsthand, and many, many more guests who had just have a love and a big heart for Jesus and for Mary.

Sheila Nonato: 1:02:02

So stay tuned, friends, and have a blessed, blessed week. Thank you so much again for joining us. God bless the money.

Co-Host: 1:02:41

And be blessed together.