In these photos is the uniform of the Colonel Commander of the Palatine Guard. The Palatine Guard walked in papal processions as a guard of honor, enhancing the splendor of the liturgical services of the Roman Pontiffs. The members of the Guard were volunteers, Roman men of common stock who offered this services to the Holy Father. The carbine rifles they carried are today kept in the basement of the Swiss Guard barracks. Their motto was FIDE CONSTAMUS AVITA.
Their nineteenth century uniforms were frozen in time from the period of their creation in 1850 as a military unit under the reign of Pius IX. They heroically guarded the Piazza San Pietro during the Nazi occupation of Rome as well as Castle Gandolfo during the horrific bombings there, when the Propaganda Fide building was destroyed and even the Papal Summer Villa was damaged significantly, with bombs dropping just outside the papal bedroom window.
The Guard also had their own military band. Unfortunately they were abolished in 1970 with a letter from the office of the Papal Secretary of State as part of Pope Paul VI's massive overhaul in a feeble attempt to make all things modern and simple. I hope one day the Guard will make a return and replace the Vigilanza. Catholics have a tradition of military orders and membership in the Guard was a way of getting local men involved by giving them the opportunity to be a part of something great. In a spirit of social justice, the Guard was transformed in 1971 into a volunteer club of civil service.
Below are images of the attractive uniform, composed of a dark blue wood jacket with amaranth hand guards decorated with "frogs." The pants are lighter blue with suspenders. The waistband had the papal colors, yellow and white. The coast had a golden threaded cord with finger metallic shoulder pads. Not to mention the representative sword and belt.
-------
Why not also consider subscribing monthly/yearly to Liturgical Arts Journal? Choose the amount for yourself. Your support of LAJ and its writers makes all the difference.
