The Pope and the Order of Malta -- Here Comes Another Commissar

by Roberto de Mattei

Has the Pope appointed an external commissioner to the Order of Malta? Pope Francis undeniably likes the strategy of appointing external commissioners as he has already adopted this draconian measure against two religious communities considered too “traditional”: the Franciscans of the Immaculate and the religious of the Incarnate Word.  Further, it is not by chance that the announcement of a commission to “gather suitable elements to inform the Holy See thoroughly and swiftly with regard to the matter which has recently involved the Grand Chancellor of the Order of Malta, Mr. Albrecht Freiherr von Boeselager”, was given by the Vatican Press Office on December 22nd, precisely while Pope Bergoglio was transforming his traditional Christmas greetings to the Curia into a bitter chiding against those who are resistant to his project of radical change in the Church, with implicit reference to Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, Patron of the Order of Malta. However, in this case, the appointing of an external commissioner is not at all possible. - 

Rorate...

Nato-General: "Without Faith I Couldn't Be a Soldier"

Faith is not only a pragmatic help in crisis, but first and foremost, a gift. The general said: "In concrete terms, the regular practice of the faith  has helped me in the difficult operations."

Brussels (kath.net / CBA) for NATO-General Josef Blotz (photo) his belief is  inseparable from his military career. "Without being  a Christian, I could not be a soldier," said Blotz, one of the highest-ranking German generals of the Brussels NATO headquarters on Sunday in an interview with the Catholic News Agency (KNA). Faith is not only a pragmatic help in crisis, but first and foremost a gift. The general said: "In concrete terms, the regular practice of my faith it has helped me in the difficult operations."  In Afghanistan he had tried to  hear Mass every Sunday.

Blotz admitted at the same time that there is a strong tension between a soldier between the Christian prohibition against killing and which is not excluded by extreme situations: "For me it is ultimately the picture of the 'miles protector', the soldier protector  is an apt description for my job."  Blotz has already taken part in several missions abroad; among other things, he was twice in Afghanistan. 

The soldier protects others from danger. For this purpose, the use of force could be necessary, and also  putting yourself in danger.  Blotz was four years a member of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK). He is a member of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the Union of Catholic soldiers (GKS). 

(C) 2014 Catholic News Agency KNA GmbH. All rights reserved. Josef Blotz Photo © Wikipedia / ISAF Headquarters Public Affairs Office (Photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Mark O'Donald / Released). This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Link to Kath.net...

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMGD

900th Anniversary of the Maltese Order Celebrated in Switzerland

Schwyz, 22.6.13 (Kipa) Over 100 knights and ladies of the Maltese Order in Switzerland as well as 50 members of the Maltese Emergency Service are meeting on Saturday and Sunday in Schwyz for their anniversary meeting. According to media reports it is entirely in recognition of the 900th Jubilee of this religious lay order, which operates numerous hospitals and elder hostels.

The Maltese Order was recognizes in 1113 by Pope Paschalis II.. He also simultaneously granted them their independence from secular and ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Ever since the order abei verlieh er ihm gleichzeitig die Unabhängigkeit von weltlicher und kirchlicher Gerichtsbarkeit. Seither ist der Orden with the charismata tuitio fidei (»Defense of the Faith») und obsequium pauperum (»Service to the Poor») is sovereign and ha sthe rank of a subject of international law.

Worldwide There are Over 13,500 Knights and Ladies

Today the Maltese Order is among the most important organizations active worldwide. It operates hospitals and elder hostels in over 120 different countries and employs around 25,000 employees. Worldwide there oder has about 13,500 Knights and ladies.

The Maltese Order of Switzerland is called in its full name «Helvetische Assoziation des Souveränen Ritter- und Hospitalordens vom Hl. Johannes zu Jerusalem, genannt von Rhodos und von Malta». Today's Swiss Order was reestablished in 1961 and has its headquarters in Luzern. It has about 200 knights and ladies as well as over 1,000 volunteers in all of Switzerland.

Reception of New Members

The Jubilee Celebration began on Saturday with an address about the first rule of the Maltese Order, which had been written by Grandmaster Raymond de Puy in 1120. From this start the first written rule from 1153, which is held in the national archive of the Canton of Aargau in the National Document Museum in Schwyz. On Sunday, the Solemn High Mass will be celebrated in the parish church of St. Martin, in Schwyz, celebrated by the Chur Auxiliary Bishop Marian Eleganti.

New members will be received at the Mass. Future knights and ladies will also be presented to the delegation. The Grand Master of the Order will eventually decide in consultation with the sovereign council.

The president of the «Helvetischen Assoziation des Souveränen Malteser Ritter- und Hospitalordens» is Gilles de Weck.

Hinweis: www.malteserordenschweiz.org

(kipa/com/job)

900 Years of Chivalry

Edit: this from nobility.org on one of the most venerable charitable and military organization now in existence.

by Raymond Drake

Nine hundred years ago, on February 15, 1113, Pope Paschal II issued the bull Pie Postulatio Voluntatis approving a hospitaller religious order that today is Christendom’s oldest order of chivalry: The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta. The Pope made the order independent from all temporal power and dependent directly on the Holy See.

Papal bull Pie Postulatio Voluntatis confirming the foundation of the Knights of Malta

It all began a year or so after the 1099 conquest of Jerusalem by Godfrey of Bouillon and the First Crusade, when Blessed Gerard Tum (aka Thom, Tenque) was made provost of the Men’s Hospice in Jerusalem. Little is known of his ancestry and early years. Some say he hailed from Amalfi, Italy, while others claim him for Provence, in France. In Jerusalem, Brother Gerard recruited the Order’s first members, and later secured papal approval for it.

In 1118, Blessed Gerard was succeeded in the Order’s government by Raymond du Puy de Provence. It was under du Puy that the Order, which had been dedicated at its founding to the nursing of the sick, added its military wing to provide armed escort to pilgrims coming to and returning from the Holy Places. The ever-present Muslim menace against the Crusaders’ small kingdom in the Holy Land would turn the Order into a formidable fighting force. It was also Raymond du Puy who chose the white eight-pointed cross atop a black surcoat as the Order’s symbol.

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