In Roman Catholicism, a black veil is the traditional sign of a solemnly professed nun. The nun will make her profession of solemn vows during a Mass. During the course of the Mass, she will lie prostrate as the community and all in the Church pray over her, present her vows, signed upon the altar, to the bishop and profess her vows to the Abbess or Prioress of the monastery. After the vows have been professed her white veil will be swapped for a black veil. As a sign of her espousal commitment to Christ, she will be presented with a ring which she will wear for the rest of her life and subsequently be buried in. It is also common that she will receive a wreath of flowers. In some orders, according to traditional practise, the nun making her solemn profession could also receive the Consecration of Virgins.
