Unam Ecclesiam: The Vatican's Dress Code

Sunday, July 19, 2009

The Vatican's Dress Code

Visitors to the Vatican who meet with Pope Benedict XVI must follow protocol when visiting the Supreme Pontiff. According to an article, the dress code in summary reads:

For men: black or dark suit, aka business attire, with a dark tie.

For women: black skirt or dress that reaches at least the knees, black top with mid- to long-sleeves, no pants, simple jewelry, dark closed-toe shoes, and a black hat or veil is optional.

Photo: Chris Helgren/Associated Press

Looks strikingly similar to what I have observed the Faithful wearing to the Traditional Latin Mass or to masses that emphasize reverence and respect for Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. If Michelle Obama can wear a veil and her husband and other world leaders wear a dark suit with a dark tie to see the Holy Father, shouldn't all Catholics be following this dress code when we visit our Heavenly Father, the King of Kings and High Priest, Our Lord Jesus Christ when we adore and worship Him at Mass each week?

In fact, St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the Chief Church of Catholicism, has a dress code for everybody who visits the landmark (in red below):

Location:	Piazza San Pietro, Vatican City, Rome, Italy
Phone:	06-69881662 (for information on celebrations)
Hours:	Basilica (including the sacristy and treasury) Oct-Mar daily 9am-6pm; Apr-Sept daily 9am-7pm. Grottoes daily 8am-5pm. Dome Oct-Mar daily 8am-5pm; Apr-Sept 8am-6pm
Cost:	Basilica (including grottoes) is free. Stairs to the dome €4; elevator to the dome €5. Treasury 4 €.
Dress code:	No bare shoulders or knees (for both men and women).
Photography:	Permitted throughout (except in special necropolis tour)

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St. Irenaeus (A.D. 180-199) - Against Heresies Book IV, Chap. 26:2 The Treasure Hid in the Scriptures is Christ; the True Exposition of the Scriptures is to be Found in the Church Alone "It is necessary to obey those who are the presbyters in the Church, those who, as we have shown, have succession from the Apostles; those who have received, with the succession of the episcopate, the sure charism of truth according to the good pleasure of the Father. But the rest, who have no part in the primitive succession and assemble wheresoever they will, must be held in suspicion"

St. Irenaeus (A.D. 180-199) - Against Heresies Book III, Chapter 3, 1 A Refutation of the Heretics, From the Fact That, in the Various Churches, a Perpetual Succession of Bishops was Kept Up.: "For if the Apostles had known hidden mysteries which they taught to the elite secretly and apart from the rest, they would have handed them down especially to those very ones to whom they were committing the self-same Churches. For surely they wished all those and their successors to be perfect and without reproach, to whom they handed on their authority"

Unam Ecclesiam

From the Credo - Latin for "I believe" - the Nicene Creed prayed during the Latin Mass.

The Credo

The Nicene Creed—also known as the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed—was composed and refined during the ecumenical Councils of Nicea and Constantinople in the early fourth century; these councils defended the true nature of Jesus against heresies of the time. This Nicene Creed (from the Latin word credo, “I believe”) declares that Jesus was indeed both true God and true man.

All the people join in chanting the Credo in the Gregorian simple tone.

Listen to the Latin: 60 sec. music \| Text not available
CREDO in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium.	I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
Et in unum Dominum Iesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum. Et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero. Genitum, non factum, consubstantialem Patri: per quem omnia facta sunt.	And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages; God from God, light of light, true God of true God; begotten, not made; consubstantial with the Father, by Whom all things were made.
Qui propter nos homines, et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis. Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine: ET HOMO FACTUS EST. Hic genuflectitur.	Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, *AND WAS MADE MAN. * All genuflect while reciting these words.
Crucifixus etiam pro nobis: sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est. Et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas. Et ascendit in caelum: sedet ad dexteram Patris.	He was crucified also for us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried. And the third day he arose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven. He sitteth at the right hand of the Father:
Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, iudicare vivos et mortuos: cujus regni non erit finis.	and He shall come again with glory, to judge the living and the dead: and His kingdom shall have no end.
Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem: qui ex Patre Filioque procedit.	And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son,
Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur: qui locutus est per prophetas.	Who, together with the Father and the Son, is adored and glorified: Who spoke by the prophets.
Et unam, sanctam, Catholicam et Apostolicam Ecclesiam.	And one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum. Et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.	I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. And I expect the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.