The Veil And The Tabernacle

Quod vero in medio tabernaruli velum extenditur, et exterior pars ab interiore separatur, illud significat, quod nunc populis Ecclcsiae, quae promissa sunt, velut oppansa, quousque revelentur, videre non liceat. Sic enim et Apostolus ait : Nunc videmus per speculum in aenigmate, tunc autem facie ad faciem. Quandiu igitur in hoc mundo sumus, tanquam per speculum veritatem videmus, positi quasi in sancta, nondum pervenientes ad sancta sanctorum. Sancta enim possunt esse ea quae in praesenti saeculo habere sancta conversatio potest. Sancta vero sanctorum, in qua semel tantummodo intratur, ad coelum est transitus, ubi est propitiatorium et cherubim, ubi et mundicordibus apparere poterit Deus. In qua tamen conversatione constitui non sine adjutorio. Spiritus sancti consistimus. Habemus enim ex uno Spiritus sancii fonte septem lucernas , quae illuminent populum Ecclesiae , id est, semptemplicem Domini gratiam missam in universum orbrm terrarum, quae populos Ecclesia: fulgore Spiritus sancii diversa charismatum claritate illustrat. Potest quidem hoc oppansum velum, quod partem tabernaculi interioris occultabat, ne prospicerentur illuc reposita, tempus illud significare quod fuit sub Lege. Quia ea quae lex et prophetae cecinerunt occulta erant, et interjecto velamine videri non poterant. Sed posteaquam Christus adveniens tempore passionis velum illud a summo usque deorsum dirupit , omnia illa quae autea erant occulta, per Domini passionum ail nostram fidem sunt revelata, dicente Apostolo: Nobis autem revelavit Deus per Spiritum suum: quia Spiritus omnia scrutatur, et ea quae sunt alta Dei Sanctus Isidorus Hispalensis,Mysticorum Expositiones Sacramentorum Seu Quaestiones In Vetus Testamentum, In Exodum, Caput LV Source: Migne PL 83.315 b-d

However in the middle of the tabernacle a veil was drawn across, 1 and it separated the exterior part for the interior, which signifies that now to the people of the Church, the things promised, as a thing drawn across, yet to be revealed, are not permitted to be seen. So the Apostle says, 'Now we see in a mirror in darkness, then face to face. 2 While, then, we are in the world, as in a mirror we gaze at the truth, and though  placed among holy things, we are not yet able to come into the holy of holies. For they are able to be holy in this world which can be in holy state, the holy of holies, however, which is entered only once, is the transport to heaven, where is the mercy seat and the cherubim, where God is able to appear to the pure in heart. But this is not able to happen without the assistance of the Holy Spirit. For we have from the one fount of the Holy Spirit, seven lamps, which illuminate the people of the Church, that is, the sevenfold grace of the Lord sent into the whole world, which illuminates the people of the Church with diverse charisms of the Holy Spirit. 3 Now this veil drawn across, which hides the interior part of the tabernacle, lest they see what is there, signifies the time when they were before the law. Because what the law and the prophets spoke was hidden, and beyond the veil they were not able to see. But after the coming of Christ, His passion tore the veil from its top to its bottom, 4 so that all things which before were hidden by the passion of the Lord were revealed to our faith, whence the Apostle says, 'For God has revealed it to us through His spirit, because the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.' 5 Saint Isidore of Seville, Expositions of Sacred Mysteries or Questions on the Old Testament, On Exodus, Chap 55 1 Exodus 26.31-34 2 1 Cor 13.12 3 1 Cor 12.4-11 4 Mk 15.38, Mt 27.51 5 1 Cor 2.10