Posted on 10/01/2012 6:29:51 AM PDT by marshmallow
Author Pietro Citati calls for limit on crowd numbers to preserve Michelangelo's art in Vatican City, Rome
A fierce row has broken out over the future of the Sistine Chapel, after one of Italy's most respected writers slammed it as an "unimaginable disaster" where tourists resemble "drunken herds".
Centred on the image of God reaching out to give life to Adam, the chapel ceiling is renowned as Michelangelo's masterpiece and offers a defining image of the Christian faith.
But as the crush of visitors grows year by year, this home to Michelangelo's majestic 16th-century frescoes often feels more like a packed, sweaty, and very noisy railway station.
Five million tourists surge through the chapel every year, craning their necks to get a glimpse of the scenes painted on the 130ft-long ceiling, flouting the ban on flash photography and ignoring pleas from guards to lower their voices.
In an article in Corriere della Sera, Pietro Citati, a leading literary critic and biographer, has demanded that the Vatican limit access to the chapel, claiming it would save the frescoes from damage and restore some decorum to the consecrated site.
Describing a visit, Citati claimed that "in the universal confusion, no one saw anything" and "any form of contemplation was impossible". The answer, he said, was to reduce the number of visitors drastically.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
That's how people dress at Mass in Arizona, I kid you not.
We still dress up here. I haven’t worn shorts or blue jeans ever in church. Are these regulars or tourists?
These are the regulars. At least 65% of the men wear short pants, sandals, and shirts not tucked in. I know it’s hot out but the churches are air conditioned. I’m not just talking about the kids and the teenagers—I expect them to act like goof balls— I’m talking about grown men of all ages. They dress like they’re at a backyard BBQ.
No respect for the location and occasion, and no self-respect.
And before all you guys chime in with “God doesn’t care how we dress,” I want to know when He told you that. And don’t start with the “Maybe they can’t afford any better,” these are not poor people. They drive nice cars and those shirts they don’t tuck in are often Tommy Bahama.
They are just slobs. Maybe the pastors will eventually start to gently educate them.
That’s too bad. I agree with you.
The priest needs to mention this in his homily. Mine does, from time to time.
And what is it with tank tops and shorts? Honestly, I don’t know how they did it in earlier days. I see photos from here way back in the 1890s or 1910s, and all the men had on long pants, a long sleeve shirt, often waistcoats, boots and always hats, while all the womenfolk had on long dresses, with petticoats, full sleeve blouses and bonnets.
Our library has a whole bunch of these photos from around the area on display. Every time I look at them, I also remember these folks had no air conditioning, ice on demand, refrigerators, or even cold water to drink.
I’m miserable in the heat and humidity of the Southern Summer, but that’s what air conditioning is for. Around the house and yard, I wear tank tops and shorts, but get dressed to go to town. My teenage daughter thinks I’m old-fashioned.
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