|
Entrusted to ServeThroughout the ages, various Popes have praised the Order and have entrusted to the members of the Order the primary missions of personal sanctification and support of our Christian sisters and brothers in the Holy Land. Being a Knight or Lady of this Order is not an empty honour - it is a privilege conferred on those who profess the Catholic Faith in union with the Holy See and strive to live out the promises made at their investiture in their daily lives.
|
|
Why are Christians Leaving?
|
The work of the Order in the Holy Land is expressed through prayer, knowledge about living conditions in the region, sharing this awareness with others, and through financial contributions to the work of the Latin Patriarch. Education in the Faith is key. Many Catholic educational institutions in the Holy Land owe their existence and continued operation to the generous donations provided by the Lieutenancies of the Order throughout the World.
The percentage of Christians in the Holy Land is diminishing! Help us in our efforts to maintain a strong Christian presence in the land made sacred by the life, death and resurrection of Our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ. Holy Land Christians: Threatened With Extinction, but Still Bearing Witness |
Help us stay!
|
FAQNominees often have a few questions. When was the Order founded? How has it developed and survived for a millennium? What are the obligations? And above all, what is its role in the modern world? The following FAQ by H.E. Thomas E. McKiernan, KGCHS is intended to reply to these questions in a brief manner.
|
|
What is the Order?
An Ecclesiastical Order of Knighthood. The only Order of Chivalry under the protection of the Holy See. Investiture in the Order is considered one of the highest honours conferred upon clergy and laity alike. Only practicing Catholics approved by their bishop and pastor may be invested.
Tradition holds that the Order was established in 1099 by Godfrey de Bouillon, leader of the First Crusade. He called for forces from among his knights to spend their lives guarding the newly liberated tomb of Christ. The new Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre received papal approbation from Pope Pascal II in 1113. It was reorganized by Pope Pius IX in 1847.
It is among the oldest Orders within the Church and none has a more glorious history. Many countries accord members a high position in the chivalric community. Members are investing during a centuries old ceremony and receive a Diploma imprinted with the seals of the Vatican Secretary of State and the Cardinal Grand Master.
Tradition holds that the Order was established in 1099 by Godfrey de Bouillon, leader of the First Crusade. He called for forces from among his knights to spend their lives guarding the newly liberated tomb of Christ. The new Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre received papal approbation from Pope Pascal II in 1113. It was reorganized by Pope Pius IX in 1847.
It is among the oldest Orders within the Church and none has a more glorious history. Many countries accord members a high position in the chivalric community. Members are investing during a centuries old ceremony and receive a Diploma imprinted with the seals of the Vatican Secretary of State and the Cardinal Grand Master.
Why Me?
Many times when an individual is invited to become a Knight or Lady of the Order, two questions arise: Why have I been selected for this honour? What are the obligations?
Selection occurs because of meritorious service to the Church, to the community and to one’s fellow man. Many times this is not obvious to the individual as meritorious service, but indeed extraordinary often flows from the ordinary. This honour comes to you as a distinguished Catholic of demonstrated fidelity, notable accomplishments, and readiness to serve the Church.
Selection occurs because of meritorious service to the Church, to the community and to one’s fellow man. Many times this is not obvious to the individual as meritorious service, but indeed extraordinary often flows from the ordinary. This honour comes to you as a distinguished Catholic of demonstrated fidelity, notable accomplishments, and readiness to serve the Church.
Who Are Inducted?
Pius XII and John XXIII adapted the Order to the modern world. At one time the Order consisted of mostly aristocrats. Today the Order still includes crowned heads of Europe, many cardinals and bishops, and a list of lay men and women who have achieved a degree of distinction in their professional field and who have a record of service to the Catholic Church. Today it is a worldwide Order with 30,000 members in 38 countries.
What Are the Obligations?
In addition to being an honour of our Church, membership carries with it certain spiritual and temporal responsibilities first among them being daily prayer for peace in the Holy Land. The Holy Father has given the Order the two-fold modern day mission of fostering the practice of the Christian life in the modern world, and, the preservation of the Faith in the Holy Land. In an unbelieving world, Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre express and protect the very idea of what it means to follow Christ. This is accomplished by prayer, evangelization and alms giving.
There is a fixed honorarium required of each Knight and Lady at the time of investiture or promotion within the Order. Additionally, members make an Annual Contribution to support the Order’s works in the Holy Land. The Lieutenancy Council sets the amount and most Knights and Ladies are generous according to their means.
There is a fixed honorarium required of each Knight and Lady at the time of investiture or promotion within the Order. Additionally, members make an Annual Contribution to support the Order’s works in the Holy Land. The Lieutenancy Council sets the amount and most Knights and Ladies are generous according to their means.
What Are the Time Commitments?
Attendance at the Annual Vigil and Investiture Mass is a high priority. Many dioceses have a yearly dinner to honour their bishops and Knights and Ladies are occasionally asked to participate in ceremonies of the dioceses or parish and provide an honour guard at the funeral of a deceased member. A pilgrimage to the Holy Land should be the goal of every Knight and Lady. Members are urged to attend Mass on the feastdays of the Order:
- Our Lady of Palestine (The last Sunday in October)
- Triumph of the Cross (September 14)
- Saint Pius X (August 21)
- Saint Helena (August 18)
What Being a Knight or Dame Really Means
Anyone present today at an Investiture Ceremony of the Knights and Ladies of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre is profoundly moved and uplifted and left with the impression that time has stopped in the year 1100. The ceremonies do indeed take place in ancient abbeys and imposing cathedrals and follow a ritual which has remained nearly the same throughout the centuries.
“The religious character of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre comes to the fore not only in the description of its objectives and the required qualifications of its members, but also in the ceremonial investiture of the newly elected which was approved by the Congregational of Sacred Rites. The ceremony combines a profession of faith with the ancient ritual used for the dubbing of knighthood. The candidates do not take monastic vows but promise to live an upright Christian life in accordance with the commandments of God and the precepts of the Roman Catholic Church, in absolute fealty to the Supreme Pontiff, as true soldiers of Christ." -- The Ecclesiastical Orders of Knighthood, James Van der Veldt, Catholic University Press, 1956.
“The religious character of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre comes to the fore not only in the description of its objectives and the required qualifications of its members, but also in the ceremonial investiture of the newly elected which was approved by the Congregational of Sacred Rites. The ceremony combines a profession of faith with the ancient ritual used for the dubbing of knighthood. The candidates do not take monastic vows but promise to live an upright Christian life in accordance with the commandments of God and the precepts of the Roman Catholic Church, in absolute fealty to the Supreme Pontiff, as true soldiers of Christ." -- The Ecclesiastical Orders of Knighthood, James Van der Veldt, Catholic University Press, 1956.