# Behind the Veil explained — Verses on Various Occasions > Chapter companion for Verses on Various Occasions by John Henry Newman. ## What happens The speaker, banished from a sacred place and surrounded by a thoughtless crowd, finally hears the creed confessed and kneels among the saints. A simple, unadorned messenger delivers Christ's message, which the speaker now finds captivating. The speaker prays for the grace to know God's Word and sons, and to see through the veil on Moses' face despite slow speech. ## Themes in this chapter ### Faith and Doubt The speaker's journey from scorn to faith, finding grace in a simple sermon. ### The Church and Tradition The speaker kneels among the saints and hears the creed confessed, emphasizing communal worship. ## Character check-ins ### Unknown The speaker who is banished from sacred rest and kneels among the saints. ### Christ Christ's message is delivered by a simple preacher. ### Moses Moses' face is veiled, symbolizing obscured truth. ### Lord The speaker prays to the Lord for grace. ## Key lines > Banish’d the House of sacred rest, Amid a thoughtless throng, At length I heard its creed confess’d, And knelt the saints among. Exiled from a holy place and surrounded by an indifferent crowd, I finally heard the faith's creed spoken and knelt with the saints. _The speaker finds spiritual belonging after being separated from sacred spaces._ > Lord, grant me this abiding grace, Thy Word and sons to know; To pierce the veil on Moses’ face, Although his speech be slow. Lord, give me the lasting gift to understand your Word and your children; to see through the obscurity of Moses' veil, even if his words are halting. _A prayer for spiritual insight beyond outward appearances._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters/lviii-behind-the-veil - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters