11 Things You Should Know about the Sovereign Military Order of Malta

stpeterslist ^ | November 10, 2014 | SPL Staff

[NYer]

Listers, the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta has a long and rich history. The Sovereign Military Order of Malta or “SMOM” for short, traces its origins to a crusade-era hospital in the Holy Lands charged with caring for not only Catholics but for Jews and Muslims as well. The Order was further charged with the military defense of those hospitals – especially for the poor and suffering inside – and for Catholic pilgrims. While other military orders faded as their military purpose was no longer needed, the Order of Malta marched on by carrying out their hospitaller mission – to build hospitals (and defenses) wherever they go. Under this auspice, the Order not only survives but thrives as an Order of the Church showing Christ’s merciful love to the poor and suffering.

The following text and images are taken verbatim from either the SMOM International Website or from the Official Website of the American Association save the titles and organization provided by SPL unless otherwise cited.

 

Mission of the Order

 

1. Defense of the Faith & Service to the Poor

“The eight-pointed Cross which symbolises the Order represents the eight Beatitudes and is thus a visual memento of its spirituality.”

The Order of St John of Jerusalem is one of the oldest institutions of Western and Christian civilization. Present in Palestine in around 1050, it is a lay religious Order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. Its 13,500 members include Professed Friars and others who have made the promise of obedience. The other Knights and Dames are lay members, devoted to the exercise of Christian virtue and charity. What distinguishes the Knights of Malta is their commitment to reaching their spiritual perfection within the Church and to expending their energies serving the poor and the sick.

The Order of Malta remains true to its inspiring principles, summarised in the motto “Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum”, nurturing, witnessing and protecting the faith and serving the poor and the sick representing the Lord, which become reality through the voluntary work carried out by Dames and Knights in humanitarian assistance and medical and social activities. Today the Order carries out these activities in over 120 countries.

The Sovereign Order of Malta is a sovereign subject of international law, with its own constitution, passports, stamps, and public institutions. The 79th Grand Master, Fra’ Matthew Festing, was elected Head of the Order for life on March 11th 2008. The Order has diplomatic relations with 104 countries – many of which non-Catholic – and missions to major European countries, as well as to European and international organisations. The Order of Malta is neutral, impartial and non-political, which is why it can successfully act as a mediator between States.

The Order has recently returned to Malta, after signing an agreement with the Maltese Government which granted the Order the exclusive use of Fort St. Angelo for a term of 99 years. Located in the town of Birgu, the Fort belonged to the Knights from 1530 until the island was occupied by Napoleon in 1798. Today, after restoration, the Fort hosts historical and cultural activities related to the Order of Malta.¹

 

2. Being a Hospitaller in the Third Millennium

“Knight of Grace and Devotion, SMOM” via Maciej Szczepańczyk, wiki.

The Order of Malta has been a religious Order since 1113, the year it was recognised by Pope Paschal II. As a religious Order, it is linked to the Holy See, but at the same time it is independent as a sovereign subject of international law. In this respect the religious character of the Order coexists with its full sovereignty. The Grand Master is at the same time head of a sovereign State and head of a religious Order. In this second capacity the Holy Roman Church gives him the rank of Cardinal.

The Order of Malta is a lay religious Order according to Canon Law, where some of its members are religious – they have professed the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience – and others have taken a special vow of obedience, while the great majority of the knights and dames are lay members. The Grand Master of the Order is elected from among the Professed Knights of Perpetual Vows.

The eight-pointed Cross which symbolises the Order represents the eight Beatitudes and is thus a visual memento of its spirituality.

According to the Constitution, members of the Order of Malta are required to maintain exemplary Christian behaviour in their private and public life, contributing to the maintenance of the Order’s traditions.

The Pope appoints a Cardinal as his representative to the Order, the Cardinalis Patronus, whose duty it is to promote the spiritual interests of the Order and of its members and to maintain relations with the Holy See.

The Pope also appoints the Prelate of the Order from the three candidates proposed by the Grand Master. The Prelate is the ecclesiastic superior of the Order’s clergy.

The Order remains true to its inspiring principles: defence of the Faith and service to the suffering. Its members share the same vocation and strive together for solidarity, justice and peace, based on the teaching of the Gospels and in the closest communion with the Holy See. They are involved in active and dynamic charity supported by prayer. No Knight or Dame is such by privilege of birth or merits acquired, but for having answered to the call to be where there is a material or moral need, where there is suffering.

Wherever they settled, the Knights Hospitallers always established first a Hospital and Hospice and then, if they needed to, built defence fortifications. What does being a Hospitaller mean in the Third Millennium? It means dedicating oneself to easing suffering and to bringing the balm of Christian charity to the sick, anywhere in the world, not only in hospitals but also in private homes and nursing homes in the shantytowns of destitute populations. The Order does not only dedicate itself to the sick, but also to the socially isolated, the victims of persecution and the refugees of any race and religious faith.²

 

The History

 

3. The Founding of the Order – 1048 AD

Blessed Gerard, Founder of the Order of Malta.

The birth of the Order of St. John dates back to around 1048. Merchants from the ancient Marine Republic of Amalfi obtained from the Caliph of Egypt the authorisation to build a church, convent and hospital in Jerusalem, to care for pilgrims of any religious faith or race. The Order of St. John of Jerusalem – the monastic community which ran the hospital – became independent under the guidance of its founder, Blessed Gérard. Pope Paschal II approved the foundation of the Hospital with the Bull of 15th February 1113, and placed it under the aegis of the Church, granting it the right to freely elect its superiors without interference from other lay or religious authorities. By virtue of the Papal Bull, the Hospital became a lay-religious order. All the knights were religious, bound by the three monastic vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The constitution of the Kingdom of Jerusalem obliged the Order to take on the military defence of the sick and the pilgrims, as well as guarding its medical centres and main roads. The Order thus added the task of defending the faith to that of its hospitaller mission. As time went on, the Order adopted the white eight-pointed cross that is still its symbol today.³

 

4. Loss of the Holy Land – 1291 AD

After the fall of Saint John of Acre and the loss of the Holy Land in 1291, the Hospitaller Order of St John transferred its seat and hospital to Limassol on the island of Cyprus, where it had been present since 1210 thanks to the concession of important properties, privileges and commercial rights. It continued to build new hospitals faithful to its hospitaller mission, and benefitted from the strategic position of the Island to constitute a naval fleet to protect pilgrims on the sea route to the Holy Land. The number of members coming from all over Europe continued to grow and contributed to the strengthening of the Order’s structure, acquiring new possessions on the Mediterranean shore. Amongst these were the important port of Famagusta, the city of Nicosia and numerous Commanderies.

Due to the consequences of increasing instability in Cyprus, which resulted in restricting their expansion on the island, the Hospitallers sought to consider a more suitable base for the seat of the Order of St John on the Island of Rhodes. Nevertheless, Magistral Lieutenants remained present in Cyprus to govern the Priories and Commanderies (said to have been over sixty by 1374) for another century until the middle of the fifteen century, when the Knights were recalled to the Conventual Seat in Rhodes.

 

5. The Naval Defense at Rhodes – 1307 AD

Knights Hospitaller via Catholic Encyclopedia.

Under the leadership of Grand Master Fra’ Foulques de Villaret, in 1307, the Knights of the Order of St. John landed with their fleet in Rhodes, completing the acquisition of the island by 1310 when it transferred its seat there. Besides offering natural ports for its fleets, the island was a strategic location that linked the eastern and western worlds. From then, the defence of the Christian world required the organisation of a naval force. Thus the Order built a powerful fleet and sailed the Eastern Mediterranean, fighting many famous battles.

The Order’s independence from other nations granted by Pontifical deed, and its universally recognised right to maintain and deploy armed forces and to appoint ambassadors, has constituted the grounds for its international sovereignty. In the early 14th century the institutions of the Order and the knights who came to Rhodes from every corner of Europe were grouped according to the languages they spoke. There were initially seven groups of Langues (Tongues): Provence, Auvergne, France, Italy, Aragon (Navarre), England (with Scotland and Ireland) and Germany, and later on an eighth: Castille and Portugal. Each Langue included Priories or Grand Priories, Bailiwicks and Commanderies.

The Order was governed by its Grand Master (Prince of Rhodes) together with the Council, it minted its own money and maintained diplomatic relations with other states. The senior positions of the Order were given to representatives of different Langues. The seat of the Order, the Convent, was composed of religious members of various nationalities. After six months of siege and fierce combat against the fleet and army of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, the knights were forced to surrender in 1523 and left Rhodes with military honours.

 

6. The Island of Malta – 1530 AD

Battle of Lepanto (Ottoman Ship Sinking), 1762.

The Order remained without a territory of its own until 1530, when Grand Master Fra’ Philippe de Villiers de l’Isle Adam took possession of the island of Malta, granted to the Order by Emperor Charles V with the approval of Pope Clement VII. It was decided that the Order should remain neutral in any war between Christian nations.

In 1565 the knights, led by Grand Master Fra’ Jean de la Vallette defended the island for more than three months during the Great Siege of the Ottomans.

Following this victory the city and port of La Valletta was built and named after the Grand Master, its founder. The knights transformed Malta, undertaking urban construction projects: palaces and churches were built, as well as formidable new defence bastions and gardens. Architecture flourished as well as artistic patronage. The island was given a large new hospital, considered to be one of the best organised and most effective in the world. A school of anatomy was also founded and the faculty of medicine followed. In particular, the Order contributed to the development of ophthalmology and pharmacology.

As well as these activities, for centuries the Order of Malta’s fleet took part in the most important manoeuvres in the Mediterranean against the Ottoman fleet and against North African pirates. In 1571 the fleet of the Order of Malta took part in the Battle of Lepanto, contributing to the victory of the Christian fleet against the Ottoman Empire’s expansion into Europe.

 

7. From Malta to Rome – 1798 AD

Two hundred years later, during his Egyptian campaign in 1798, Napoleon Bonaparte occupied Malta for its strategic value. Because of the Order’s code prohibiting them from raising weapons against other Christians, the knights were forced to leave their island. The Treaty of Amiens, signed in 1802, which established the sovereign rights of the Order over the island of Malta, was never applied. After having temporarily resided in Messina, Catania and Ferrara, in 1834 the Order settled definitively in Rome, where it owns, with extraterritorial status, the Magistral Palace and the Magistral Villa on the Aventine Hill.

 

8. The 20th and 21st Centuries

In the second part of the 19th century, the original hospitaller mission became once again the main focus of the Order, growing ever stronger during the last century, most especially because of the contribution of the activities carried out by its Grand Priories and National Associations in so many countries around the world. Large-scale hospitaller and charitable activities were carried out during World War I, and World War II under Grand Master Fra’ Ludovico Chigi Albani della Rovere (1931-1951).

Under the Grand Masters Fra’ Angelo de Mojana di Cologna (1962-1988) and Fra’ Andrew Bertie (1988-2008), the projects expanded until they reached the furthermost regions of the world.

 

Modern Mission & Membership

 

9. Modern Mission to Help the Sick & Needy

SMOM Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem, Palestine.

Following its historic mission to help the sick, the needy and the most disadvantaged in society, the Order of Malta continues its work today, operating in more than 120 countries. Its programmes include medical and social assistance, disaster relief in the case of armed conflicts and natural catastrophes, emergency services and first aid corps, help for the elderly, the handicapped and children in need and the provision of first aid training, and support for refugees and internally displaced persons regardless of race, origin or religion. The Order of Malta has been operating with this impartial perspective for over 900 years, caring for people of all beliefs – muslim, orthodox, catholic, protestant, jewish.

The Order relies on the involvement of its 13,500 members, as well as approximately 80,000 trained volunteers and 25,000 employees, the majority of whom are medical personnel. The Order’s organisations worldwide (Grand Priories, National Associations, relief organisations and foundations) are responsible for carrying out its activities, both in its the permanent institutions – such as hospitals, outpatient medical centres and old peoples’ homes – and with its socio-medical and humanitarian programmes.⁴

 

10. The Cardinal

The Supreme Pontiff appoints a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church as His representative to the Order of Malta, the “Cardinalis Patronus” (Cardinal Patronus), vested with special authority. The Cardinal Patronus is in charge of promoting the spiritual interests of the Order and of its members, as well as the relationships between the Holy See and the Order of Malta.⁵

 

11. Modern Membership

Order of Malta by Giorgio Minguzzi, Flickr.

According to the Constitution, the members of the Order of Malta are divided into three Classes. The members are to conduct their lives in an exemplary manner in conformity with the teachings and precepts of the Catholic Church and to devote themselves to the humanitarian assistance activities of the Order.

Members of the First Class are Knights of Justice, or Professed Knights, and the Professed Conventual Chaplains, who have made vows of “poverty, chastity and obedience aspiring to perfection according to the Gospel”. They are religious for all purposes of Canon Law but are not obliged to live in community.

The members of the Second Class, by virtue of the Promise of Obedience, are committed to living according to Christian principles and the inspiring principles of the Order. They are subdivided into three categories:

Knights and Dames of Honour and Devotion in Obedience
Knights and Dames of Grace and Devotion in Obedience
Knights and Dames of Magistral Grace in Obedience

The Third Class consists of lay members who do not profess religious vows or the Promise, but who live according to the principles of the Church and the Order. They are divided into six categories:

Knights and Dames of Honour and Devotion
Conventual Chaplains ad honorem
Knights and Dames of Grace and Devotion
Magistral Chaplains
Knights and Dames of Magistral Grace
Donats (male and female) of Devotion

*For more information on the Knights of Malta visit the Official International Website and for those in America the Official Website for the American Association.

********************************

In researching the Order of Malta, SPL stumbled across the Flickr page of Giorgio Minguzzi. Mr. Minguzzi’s page displays many impressive photographs with the Order as their subject. The following are a few that caught our attention and that we found worth sharing. Please support Mr. Minguzzi by visiting his Flickr page. Thank you.

Order of Malta by Giorgio Minguzzi, Flickr.

Order of Malta by Giorgio Minguzzi, Flickr.

Order of Malta by Giorgio Minguzzi, Flickr.

Order of Malta by Giorgio Minguzzi, Flickr.

Order of Malta by Giorgio Minguzzi, Flickr. – CISOM, Italian Relief Corps of the Order of Malta.

Order of Malta by Giorgio Minguzzi, Flickr.

[NYer]

Cardinal Burke will find himself in good stead, ping!

[beebuster2000]

very interesting, thanks

[kaehurowing]

I foresee the Final Battle between Cardinal Burke and the Knights of Malta and Francis and the Society of Jesus.

[PetroniusMaximus]

Eleven! It’s the new Ten!

[Buckeye McFrog]

From what I understand most of the Christians have been driven from Bethlehem.

I wonder if the Muslims living there now appreciate their Christian hospital?

[defconw]

I love the outfits.

[VanDeKoik]

“The Sovereign Order of Malta is a sovereign subject of international law, with its own constitution, passports, stamps, and public institutions. The 79th Grand Master, Fra’ Matthew Festing, was elected Head of the Order for life on March 11th 2008. The Order has diplomatic relations with 104 countries – many of which non-Catholic – and missions to major European countries, as well as to European and international organisations. The Order of Malta is neutral, impartial and non-political, which is why it can successfully act as a mediator between States.”

But is there any actual piece of land that thy have as a “country”?

[Hugin]

Nigel Tufnel: The numbers all go to eleven. Look, right across the board, eleven, eleven, eleven and...

Marty DiBergi: Oh, I see. And most amps go up to ten?

Nigel Tufnel: Exactly.

Marty DiBergi: Does that mean it’s louder? Is it any louder?

Nigel Tufnel: Well, it’s one louder, isn’t it? It’s not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You’re on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you’re on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where?

Marty DiBergi: I don’t know.

Nigel Tufnel: Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is, if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do?

Marty DiBergi: Put it up to eleven.

Nigel Tufnel: Eleven. Exactly. One louder.

Marty DiBergi: Why don’t you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?

Nigel Tufnel: [pause] These go to eleven

[Jimmy Valentine]

The knights castle and several churches are still on Rhodes and great to see

[cloudmountain]

But is there any actual piece of land that thy have as a “country”?

No.

They were just brotherhoods in Christian cities and towns. They were of more importance in small, out of the way places. They are still around in very small places in northern California, for example. I DID see their "lodge" from the road, driving by.

There are still fraternal orders of Elks and Moose...and, of course, the Masons. The latter weren't terribly fond of Catholics, were they?
I'm sure the Masons aren't like that today. Way too much communication available for EVERYONE.

[cloudmountain]

The knights castle and several churches are still on Rhodes and great to see

YES!

[cloudmountain]

From what I understand most of the Christians have been driven from Bethlehem.

No, they still are there because they own many shops and restaurants.

*They make many things from the olive tree wood because they know how significant that is for Christians.
They have the Christian work ethic too and think work is good.
We had "Peter's fish" at one of these Catholic Palestinian Arab restaurants right near the Sea of Galillee.

In 2011, my Presbyterian friend and I went on a FOOTPRINTS OF GOD Pilgrimage tour to the Holy Land with former Evangelical Baptist minister-convert-to-Catholicism (Author of the book: Crossing the Tiber) Steve Ray and his lovely wife, Nancy.

Our last stop, before Jerusalem, was to the establishment of a PALESTINIAN CATHOLIC (Roman Catholic) Arab. He was our tour guide and gave us a marvelous tour. He also spoke HEBREW.

Over there the Jews and Arabs work together BECAUSE there simply AREN'T enough Jews there to do the work that Jews (MANY American Jews, who have an "Israel" HOME over there, as well as a home in the USA) didn't want to do yet NEEDED doing: farming, picking fruit/vegetables, waiting tables, cleaning toilets, etc.

Thus, all the Muslims, Arabs, Jews, Christians, Palestinians AND Israelis co-exist.

The trouble is in GAZA...but that's another ball of wax/horse of a different color.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Yes, they are at our Church each Christmas selling items made of olive wood.

They are the ones who told me that Christians there are basically under siege by the Muslims.

[Parmy]

Ping

[cloudmountain]

Yes, they are at our Church each Christmas selling items made of olive wood.
They are the ones who told me that Christians there are basically under siege by the Muslims.

Yes, I know. They make the circuits of much of the USA where there are many Catholics. They have been coming to the USA for generations. We don't get too many of them over here on the west coast of the USA.

I THINK, as this is only an opinion, that there are waves of problems that appear, cause a stir, then melt away. The near and middle east REALLY, really need Christians because Christians are almost INFINITELY more and better educated and skilled (as in labor) than Muslims.

On our tour our guide took us to a Jewish Israeli "employment agency." There were THREE windows to go to:
1. B.S. = Bachelor of Science
2. M.S. = Master of Science
3. PhD = Doctor of Philosophy
Some Jewish Israelis were so desperate for work that they would do highway maintenance. They were grossly over-educated for the work that had to be done. No one needed a "professor" to shovel road tar/gravel, wash toilets, cook meals or repair cars.

We also ran into a Muslim man who STILL had the key to his grandmother's home in Gaza. He was barred from going there at the Israeli checkpoints.

We were there in 2011 and the ENTIRE region is an ARMED police state, armed by tons of Uzi-toting soldiers. I don't blame the Israelis for defending the land that God gave to THEM only (I surmise.) but living in an ARMED police state is a HECK of a way to live.

I don't blame the Israeli Jews for having a home THERE and a home HERE. It's wonderful to go to the "land God gave to them" but it's not so nice to HAVE to live in that ARMED CAMP for one's entire life.
Nice to have choices.

There are 1.6 billion Muslims (Google), mostly Asians, and NOT Arabs. Islam won't be going away too soon.

Besides, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia still has another (estimated) 200 year supply of petroleum. Saudi ARAMCO (Arabian-American Oil Company) isn't going to be going away too soon, at least, not in MY lifetime.

[Salvation]

Great post. Thank you.

[LadyDoc]

I met a nun who was working for their leprosy program in Liberia, before the civil war. She traveled into the rural villages to diagnose and check on leprosy patients who were taking medicines to cure the disease.

What I found interesting is that they had their own passports, and a local ambassador...