Restoration of the Knights
Templar
Richard Salbato - June 13, 2007
http://www.ordo-militiae-templi.org/
In the ninth volume of the
Dictionary of the Institutes of Perfection (Edizioni Paoline, Rome, 1997) to
the Militia Templi is dedicated the third section of the word
"Templars", the one entitled "the restoration of the Templars"; the
Militia Templi is today the only one legitimate Templar Institution.
THE RESTORATION
During the centuries, in Europe and in
Quite different, on the contrary, is the
situation of the foundation arose in 1979 in Poggibonsi
(
CHURCH APPROVAL
The Association, after being civilly
recognized in 9.21.1979, was, with its knightly formulated Constitutions and
with explicit references to the ancient Order, was approved (9.8.1988) by the
archbishop of Siena Mons. Mario Jsmaele
Castellano, as a private association of the faithful
under the name of “Milizia del
Tempio” (Ordo Militiae
Christi Templique Hierosolimitani).
On 11.24.1990, the same
APPROVED RULE
According to the rule, the new Militia, includes three categories of members: the Knights with solemn profession, who consecrate themselves perpetually to the Militia with the investiture and the promise to observe the three classic evangelic counsels with the public testimony of faith (fourth promise), and the Non Professed Knights (or “in obedience”), who, with the investiture, commit themselves to tend to the perfection of Christian life; the women (ladies) who, remaining in their state, desire to collaborate in various ways with the Militia, always under the authority of the Grand Master of the Militia; the third category is composed by that men and women who, because of their young age and inexperience, are not considered ready to assume a definitive pledge: they serve the Militia as Donates, but delivering just a temporary promise, that must be renewed every third year. To be admitted at profession or at the investiture a novice must serve a novitiate for three years and must be 21 years of age.
According to the rule and the constitutions
the Militia is ruled by a Grand Master (Master of the poor knights of Christ,
leader of the Militia of the
The General Chapter, composed by knights and ladies, has the legislative task; the consulta (or court of honour) has the disciplinary and control task; the Magisterial Grand Prior Council the formulation of the government policy.
Five ministry support the central organs for the fulfilment of Militia’s tasks: the prelature (the general prelate is named every three years by Siena’s Archbishop) for the spiritual and doctrinal forming; the general lieutenancy for discipline administration, to call and regulate new Grand Master’s election; the magisterial Preceptory (captain) for the ideal and knightly forming; the magisterial chancellery for the government, the administration and general organization; the governorship for the maintenance of the Magisterial See and the preservation of the patrimony.
The rule prescribes only the common recitation
of vespers (the profess knights have the obligation of daily breviary), but the
possibility of forming also houses of conventional life is under consideration.
THE KNIGHTS HABIT
The knights with solemn profession (religious) or in obedience (secular) wear, according to the case, the white habit composed by a tunic, a scapular with a red octagonal cross on the breast and a mantle where the same cross is placed on the left shoulder; the ladies, a white veil with the cross without the superior arm; the chaplains, a white mozzetta with red border and buttons and octagonal red cross on the left front part. The other members have no habit, but just decoration or distinctive.
FINANCES
The Militia support herself financially with
her member’s contributions, with donations of public and private bodies and
with her activity.
SMALL AND GROWING
Actually, the Militia, that has about thirty knights with solemn profession, some hundreds of knights in obedience and a lot of members in other categories, has constituted about ten national preceptories (grand priorates) and a lot of local priorates and commendas; has promoted and affiliated scout groups and youth organizations in Italy and in other countries. The magisterial see is in the Castello della Magione in Poggibonsi (Siena), an extraordinary monumental romanesque construction of the XI century, that belonged to the Templars till 1312 and, after their suppression, to the Hospitallers of S. John in Jerusalem; on the 20th of January of 1979, after being passed into the hands of various owners, it was acquired by Count Marcello Alberto Cristofani della Magione, who made of it the patrimonial endowment of the magistral see of the Militia Templi.
GENERAL
PURPOSE
The general purpose of the Militia Templi is to promote and to constitute communities of Faith
and Christian life in order to follow, in full communion with the
SPECIAL PURPOSE
The care of Liturgy, in
conformity with the Tradition and the Papal Teaching, and the prayer of the
Divine Office, as a service to God
The study in depth of the
spirituality and the culture of the Knighthood, as a testimony and in defense
of the traditional human and Christian values This as
a service to the ideal of the Knighthood.
The defense and the reception
of the pilgrims and generally the moral and material support of the
neighbor, in conformity with the tradition of the old Order, together with the
education of the youth This as a service to the Church
and to the Society.
RULE OF THE POOR KNIGHTS
OF CHRIST
Rule of the poor Knights of Christ
1st Edition December 2002
Deo gratias
et Mariae
Marcellus Albertus Cristofani
della Magione Comes Sen. clementissimi Dei gratia
Pauperorum Militum
Magister ac Dux Militiae
Templi et Comes Palatinus & The old Order of the
Poor Knights of Christ found in the writing of Saint Bernard „Liber ad Milites Templi de laude
novae Militiae“ the
necessary basis for the new monastic and knightly spirituality, contemplative
and combative, that would have characterized it in its almost two hundred years
of glorious life at the service of the Church and of the neighbor.
The „Liber“ was the source of the Rule with
all its norms for personal, community and hierarchical life, a means of
personal sanctification and of realization of the Reign of Christ, in whose
name, and in the name of the Virgin, the life of each Templar shall have a
meaning and an aim.
A Rule had to be dictated also for the new Order of the Poor Knights of
Christ of the reborn Militia Templi, and Our General
Chapter has unanimously approved its text based on the old Rule, adapted to
today’s requirements and to the aims of a modern Christian testimony through
the ideals of Knighthood.
Therefore, in consideration of articles 10 and 24 of Our Constitutions,
by Our power and right and by Our magisterial
authority we have decreed and we hereby
DECREE:
1) The text of the „Rule of the Poor Knights of Christ of the Order of
the Militia Templi is ratified as approved by Our Most Excellent General
Chapter.
2) The Rule shall have to be submitted to and approved by the competent
Ecclesiastical Authority, His Excellency the Metropolitan Archbishop of Siena-Colle di Val d’Elsa-Montalcino,
Ordinary for the Militia Templi, whose only future duty shall be the approval
of possible modifications requested by the General Chapter.
From Our Magistral See in Castello
della Magione
on November the 12th, 1990, commemoration of Saint Jehoshaphat, bishop and
martyr, Eleventh of the Militia and of Our Office.
This Decree, to which the seal has been affixed, is transcribed in the
archives of H.E. the Master and Duke of the Militia Templi. The Chancellor
(dom. Santo Bruzzone)
CAJETANUS
BONICELLI, DEI APOSTOLICAE SEDIS GRATIA, ARCHIEPISCOPUS METROPOLITA
SENENSIS -
COLLENSIS - ILCINENSIS
In the name of the Father,
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
DECREE
Considering that the Order of the
Militia Templi, founded
on May the 17th, 1979, with Magistral See in the Castello della
Magione of Poggibonsi (
- seeing that the request submitted by
H.E. the Master and Duke of the Militia Templi, Count dom. Marcello A. Cristofani della Magione, with which he requests us to approve the Rule of
the Order of the Militia Templi, called “Rule of the Poor Knights of Christ“, written in compliance with the
spirit and the indications of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
for the old Order of the Temple, a Rule formerly approved by the General Chapter
of the same Order of the Militia Templi;
- Having examined the aforesaid Rule
and having found it worthy of approval; by Our Ordinary Authority
WE HAVE
DECREED AND WE DECREE:
1. The “Rule of the Poor Knights of Christ“
of the Order of the Militia Templi, composed of 20 Chapters and attached to
this Decree is approved.
2. The extract of this Decree shall be
published on the Diocesan Bulletin.
THE
METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOP
(+ Gaetano
Bonicelli)
The Archiepiscopal Chancellor
(Sac.
(Published
on the Official Bulletin of the Archdiocese of Siena-Colle
di Val d’Elsa- Montalcino no. 11-12 of November-December 1990)
Prologue
Our word is addressed in
particular to those who contemn to follow their will and wish to serve with
purity and courage in the Knighthood of the true and supreme Sovereign,
preferring to wear the most excellent armor of obedience, fulfilling their duty
with assiduous diligence and perseverance so as to finally achieve their goal.
We thus exhort you to hasten to be
united for eternity with those whom the Lord has chosen amongst the sinners and
has ordained out of his generous mercy to
defend the
Above all, whoever you are, Knight
of Christ, you who choose such a holy way of life, it is necessary that you
apply in your profession a pure attention and a firm perseverance: it is
acknowledged by God as so very worthy, holy and sublime that, if observed with
perseverance, it shall reward with the grace of being one of the Knights who
gave their souls for Christ.
In this profession, the Order of
knighthood in fact re-flourished and was resplendent, until when, having
refused the love for justice, it no longer
accomplished its task, neglecting to defend the poor and the Church.
We put down in writing what has
been diligently examined by the Most Excellent Chapter of the Militia of the
Temple, so that it shall not get lost and shall be safeguarded in its entirety;
so that the Poor Knights of Christ, following a righteous course, may reach the
excellent Creator they fight for, whose sweetness exceeds the one of honey so much
that compared to Him the latter is as bitter as absinthe, and may fight for Him
until He returns.
Amen
Rule of the poor Knights of Christ
Chapter One
(Of the different categories of
those who serve Our Lord in the Militia of the
There are three categories amongst
those who serve Our Lord and pay due homage to Our Lady in the Militia of the
The first is the very glorious one
of the Knights, who comprises those who, on the day of their investiture, have
chosen before God and His Saints to bind themselves to the Militia, to be
sanctified in it and to fight without reprieve
for the rights of God and of Christianity.
Amongst them, called Knights of
Obedience owing to their conduct in life, the Master chooses the Knights of
Justice who are not to exceed twelve in
number. They are wise, devout men who assist the Master of the Militia as
requested by him. They shall gather in Chapter and, after having prayed the
Holy Spirit for a long time, they shall elect the Master of the Militia amongst
themselves, or amongst the Knights of Obedience.
The second category comprises
women of good will who, kindled by a sincere devotion for the Lord and Our
Lady, and wishful to enhance their Christian life, while remaining in their
state, dedicate part of their energies and their prayers to the Militia and,
collaborating actively with the Knights, serve their Supreme King together.
They are called Ladies: before
God, the Master of the Militia and the Chapter, they solemnly undertake their
responsibilities the day on which they receive the habit and the Cross.
The third category is composed by
men and women who, due to their young age and inexperience, are not considered
ready to undertake a definitive responsibility without the possibility of
receding: they serve in the ranks of the Militia as Knights and Ladies, and
they, too, pronounce the simple Profession or the temporary Donation; this
shall be renewed every three years.
When the Master of the Militia and
the Chapter, having acknowledged their grown maturity, shall express a favorable
opinion, God willing they shall be allowed to bind themselves to the Militia perpetually,
through both the Donation and the knightly investiture.
Chapter Two
(The Master of the Militia)
The Master of the Militia, once
elected, shall accept his charge without in the least making boast of it, but
rather strengthening his humbleness because, if his honor is great, the
responsibility he takes upon himself before God and Our Lady is just as great.
He shall endeavor to teach all
that is good and holy more through deeds than through words, thus confirming
his teachings with his conduct. He shall not, for no
reason whatsoever, reserve a partial or preferential treatment to anyone, and
this in order that rumors may be avoided: he shall use the same rule of behavior
for all.
He shall endeavor to show,
depending on the circumstance, the severity of a preceptor together with the
tenderness of a father. He shall vigorously correct the undisciplined and the
restless and shall lovingly exhort those who obey to make further progress.
He shall above all take care that
those who are subject to him keep close to their heart and be faithful to the
ideals of the Militia, that is serving Our Lord and the Holy Virgin Mary and
defending Their Sovereign Rights and those of Christianity the world through,
conscious that, if one seeks the Reign of God and its Justice, all the rest
shall be given for good measure.
He shall remember that, if he
wants to be first in authority, he shall also be first in sanctity, first in
the observance of the Rule and the most zealous in combat and in practicing
good deeds.
Once the Master of the Militia has
been elected, faithfulness to the Promises and love for the Militia exact that
everyone obey him, trying to overcome personal
difficulties for the good of the Militia.
Therefore, all those who belong to
the Militia of the
Chapter Three
(Of the consultation of the
Chapter)
Each time an important issue needs
to be discussed, and when the Master considers it opportune, he shall summon
all the Knights in Chapter, shall personally state the matter at issue and
shall hear the advice and the opinions of everyone, from the youngest to the
oldest. He shall then do what he deems most fit. And everyone shall obey him in
total humbleness.
Chapter Four
(The instruments of good deeds)
Above all love God Our Lord with
all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength; and then your neighbor
as yourself. Deny yourself completely to
follow Christ; mortify your flesh, do not seek comfort, love fasting.Relieve the poor, clothe the naked, visit the sick,
bury the dead, alleviate all sufferings, comfort those
who are in distress.
Get estranged from the worldly mentality;
do not prefer anything to the love for Christ. Do not give free play to wrath,
do not bear anyone a grudge, do not nurse deceit in your heart, do not give a
false greeting of peace, do not abandon charity.
Do not swear to avoid perjury,
speak the truth with your heart and your lips, do not render evil for evil, do
not wrong anyone; love your enemies, do not return insults and slander, but
rather respond with benevolence towards our offenders; endure persecutions for
justice.
Do not be haughty, do not be given
to drinking nor be ravenous, do not sleep excessively nor be lazy, do not be a
grumbler nor a backbiter.
Set your trust in God, attribute
to Him, and not to yourself, whatever good you discover within you, but be
aware that evil comes from us and accept the ensuing responsibilities
Fear the day
of Judgment, quiver at the thought of hell, yearn for eternal life with all
your soul. Keep the possibility of death in mind at all times. Watch your
actions continuously, be convinced that God watches us
everywhere.
Immediately break into Christ all
evil thoughts that arise in your heart. Beware
of evil and unbecoming conversation, do not love to speak much, do not speak
light or silly words, do not laugh immoderately.
Willingly listen to the reading of
the word of God, dedicate yourself frequently to prayer; in this confess your
past sins to God every day with deep sorrow and endeavor to mend your ways in
the future.
Do not satisfy the desires of
corrupt nature, loathe your own will, obey the Master.
Do not wish to be called a saint
before being one, but truly become such so that there may be more ground to say
so. Fulfill God’s commandments each day.
Love chastity, do not envy anyone,
do not be jealous, do not nurse envy, do not love quarrels, shun haughtiness
and respect the elderly, love the young, pray for your enemies in the love of
Christ; should you quarrel with your brother, make peace before sunset.
And never despair of God’s mercy.
These are the instruments of
spiritual art! If we shall make use of them day and night and return them on
the Day of Judgment, we shall obtain from the Lord the reward that He himself
promised: “No eye has ever seen, nor ear has ever heard what God has prepared
for those who love him”.
Chapter Five
(Of the Divine Office)
The Knights, and those who with
them - for the salvation of their souls - militate under the banners of Our
Lord Jesus Christ and Our Lady in the Militia of the
The Knights shall recite the
Office according to the custom of the Roman Church, possibly all the Daily
Hours, but should this not be possible they shall at least propose to always
recite Lauds or Vespers.
Recalling what the Lord said: “Where
two or three shall meet in my Name, I shall be amongst them“,
the Knights shall endeavor to recite the Offices together as much as possible,
in precise compliance with the prescribed ceremonial. And this shall be valid
in particular for the hour of Vespers.
When a Knight is unable to recite
the Office, he shall say a Pater Noster,
ten Ave Maria, a Gloria Patri and a Requiem Aeternam.
The Ladies shall join the Knights
as often as possible to recite the Office, and it is commendable that they also
recite it alone. But they can also say a mystery of the Holy Rosary for the
good of the Militia.
Chapter Six
(Of brotherly correction)
If a brother has committed a fault
against the Rule or against the noble ideals of the Militia, he shall be
reproved above all in secrecy, with humbleness and charity, exhorting him in a
brotherly way to correct himself.
If, even after this admonishment,
he shall commit the fault again, the Master shall be informed so that he may
correct him secretly with authority.
Should this also not be
sufficient, his case shall be brought before the Chapter, where the Master
shall publicly contest his faults and his errors. If at this point the bother
shall express the will to correct himself and to
pursue in obedience, the Master shall accept without hesitation this good
proposition and shall be the first to give him the greeting of peace, followed
by all the members of the Chapter.
But if he shall persevere in his
bad conduct, the Master shall have to send him away lest he should involve in
his errors the others who are faithful. And he shall not be readmitted.
Should someone who has already
pronounced the Promises or the Donation be no longer willing to serve in the
Militia, he shall take no decision in his heart without having confided in the
Master and having humbly asked his advice. He shall not act on impulse, because faithfulness is truly such if it overcomes
trials of all sorts.
Should the Master decide to
dispense him from obedience, this brother shall give back the habit and the
Cross of the Militia and, after having exchanged a greeting of peace with all
the members of the Chapter, he shall go freely.
Should that brother ask to be
readmitted, the Master shall question him for a long time and if necessary he
shall impose a trial period on him. Should the disposition of that brother have
truly changed, and should he be ready to stably serve the Lord and the Blessed
Virgin in the ranks of the Militia, he shall be readmitted in the Chapter. But in
the last place, as if he were the youngest.
But, should someone abandon the
Militia following his own council, without consulting the Master, he shall be
considered out of the Militia and shall not be readmitted. And he shall be
aware that he is not dispensed from any of the Promises that he has freely
pronounced.
Chapter Seven
(Of the admission of Novices)
If someone shall ask to the
accepted as member of the Militia, his intentions are to be taken into
consideration above all other things, that is if he truly desires to serve the
Lord and the Blessed Virgin in humbleness and poverty, or if he is trying to
satisfy very worldly wishes.
Then, if his intentions are truly
righteous and devout, he shall read the Rule once. Should he still persist in
his wish to postulate, he shall be accepted as a Novice for his preparation for
the Profession or the Donation.
During this period, that may vary
at the Master’s discretion, and that can never be less that one year, the
Master, or the person who shall be charged with the task, shall first of all
have to augment and fortify the knowledge of the Novice with respect to the
Holy Catholic Faith so that he may later defend it in this world with greater vigor
and effectiveness.
The aptitude of the Novice for
prayer shall thus be examined, and he shall in particular be directed towards
the constant practice of reciting the Divine Office, whether with others or
alone.
Finally, his Knightly forming
shall be seen to, teaching him the history of Chivalry and its true ideals, so
that its memory shall be his patrimony.
On the contrary, in the female
Novice the aspects to be taken into consideration are her aptitude for serving,
her willingness to collaborate in a sisterly way, her spirit of devotion and
the authenticity of her Christian life, nevertheless without totally neglecting
doctrinal and knightly teachings.
At the end of the noviciate, the Novice shall be admitted to the knightly
Profession or the Donation, which shall be celebrated with the greatest
solemnity.
Chapter Eight
(Of the Squires)
The example and the good
reputation of the Knights could attract young men desirous of taking on the
same way of life and of embarking on the same enterprises, but who are
prevented from doing so by their young age.
The Militia cannot ignore this desire, on the contrary it shall strive to enhance it to
help the young men embark on the difficult undertaking of serving in the
Militia.
After having accurately inquired
into their motivations, the Master shall thus accept their request and shall
entrust them to the Knights so that they may see to their full growth until
when the young Rule of
the poor Knights of Christ men,
having at least come of age, shall request to become Novices or to follow another
course instead.
They are called Squires and to be
entrusted to a Knight they must be sixteen years old, or younger with the
Master’s dispensation. Each Knight shall periodically report to the Master the
progresses of his Squire.
The Master may decide to appoint a
master of Squires to coordinate the life shared by all, but the Knight shall
the one personally responsible for the young man entrusted to him.
The Master may entrust one or more
Squires to one Knight on the basis of his judgment and of necessity, he may
entrust the Squires he desires to himself and change previous entrustments
after having heard the opinion of the Knights concerned and having taken into
consideration the desires of the Squire.
The Squire follows his Knight in
his undertakings and his life with total and filial devotion, as a disciple
does with his master; the Knight shall take care of him as of the most precious
gift given to him by God in this spiritual paternity sought and desired by
both.
The same may occur for a young woman
who wishes to follow the same course as the Ladies: she shall be called
Aspirant Lady.
Chapter Nine
(Of the deceased Master and
brothers)
When the Master cedes to death,
that spares no one, what is impossible to deny her, for three days the whole
Militia shall offer anywhere and with pure sentiments the due Office and the
solemn Mass to Christ, and alms shall be given to the poor for his soul; the
Chapter shall thus make arrangements for solemn obsequies together with all the
Chaplains who charitably serve the Supreme Priest in the Militia with the
Knights; for another seven days each brother shall recite for him the Holy
Rosary and each year the whole Militia shall venerate his memory with prayers
and alms.
If a professed brother dies, the
due Office and the solemn Mass shall be offered, and alms shall be given to the
poor for the good of his soul.
If a non professed brother, or one
who serves for a fixed period of time, or a Chaplain dies, then they shall be
recalled during the Office and the community Mass that follow the announcement
of his death, and alms shall be given to the poor.
The Master and the professed
brothers shall be buried with their habit.
Chapter Ten
(No brother shall make offerings)
No brother shall presume to make
other offerings, but day and night, with a pure heart, he shall remain in his
state until he shall be compared to the wisest of prophets, the One who said “I
shall take the chalice of salvation“ (Ps. CXV, 4) and
shall, with death, imitate the death of the Lord, because as He gave His life
for him, he, too, shall be ready to give it for his brothers.
This is the offer that is convenient, this is the living victim that pleases God.
Chapter Eleven
(How the Knights should eat)
When the Knights meet, they shall
consume meals together in a single hall, the refectory, where, should gestures
made to draw attention go unnoticed, if the need arises to ask something one
shall do so gently and in a whisper.
The brothers shall eat and drink
moderately, so that they shall not overburden their spirit along with their
body, and they shall rise from the table not completely filled to satiety;
however, they shall not exceed in discipline or unauthorized abstinence so that
the service to be performed shall not suffer as a consequence.
In the refectory a free place
shall be ready at all times to welcome a pilgrim.
Every day, after dinner or supper,
thanks shall be given with a humble heart to the Supreme Benefactor, Christ, in
Church if it is in the vicinity, or in the refectory.
Chapter Twelve
(Of abstinence and fasting)
The brothers shall abstain from
meat as prescribed by the
Sick brothers shall neither
observe abstinence nor fast.
The amount that corresponds to the
unconsumed food and drink shall be given to the almoner to be distributed to
the poor.
Chapter Thirteen
(How the brothers should dress)
The Capitular
habit of professed Knights shall be a white mantle with the red octagonal Cross
on the left arm, so that those who have abandoned the life of darkness may
acknowledge to have reconciled themselves with their Creator through a pure and
chaste life. What is white if not uncontaminated chastity? And red the blood
shed by Our Rule of the
poor Knights of Christ
Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross for
everyone’s redemption? And the eight tips the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the
Mount?
Those who serve for a fixed period
of time as simple professed shall be given a white tunic with the Cross of the
Militia on the breast as service habit.
The Ladies, as symbol of their
donation and good disposition at the service of the Militia, shall be given a
white veil on which the Cross of the Militia shall be missing the upper arm, as
the whole Cross is reserved to the Knights.
The squires shall wear a simple
white tunic without the cross.
The Garderobe
Attendant shall ensure that the habits given to the brothers are neither too
long nor too short, but suitable for the brother who shall wear it.
And when they shall take the new
habit they shall return the old one to the Garderobe
Attendant so that it may be given to the Squires.
No one else shall be permitted to
wear white habits.
The Chaplains and all those who
serve in the Militia for other reasons shall not presume to receive anything
unless the Master shall donate it spontaneously or charitably.
All the brothers have the precise
obligation to take care of their aspect and to dress decently and with clothes
suitable for any circumstance and respectful of social conventions, so that
their presence may never offend anyone, but without yielding to the frivolity
of fashions as evidence of poverty.
Chapter Fourteen
(Of spiritual nourishment)
Like the body, the soul, too, must
have its daily nourishment and this is the praise that the Knight give unto God and Our Lady with the Divine Office.
But this is not sufficient and all
the brothers must have recourse as often as possible to the confession of their
sins, to the Master and in the Chapter for public faults against the Rule, to
the confessor when God’s law has not been observed; and the day shall never
fade away without having reconciled oneself with God and one’s brothers.
But is opportune and advisable for
each brother to select and keep one sole spiritual adviser, so that he may more
easily mend his faults and more readily travel the road that leads to a perfect
donation.
And, as often as possible, each
brother shall nourish himself with Christ in semblance of the Sacred Bread so
that creature and Creator may become one more and more.
Conscious that silence lets God’s
voice be more audible and prepares the soul to listen to it, each brother shall
retire yearly to pray and meditate in solitude for at least two whole
consecutive days; similarly he shall prepare for Holy Christmas and for the
glorious Resurrection and the Profession with one day of silence and penance to
pray and meditate on the mysteries of Faith and on his knightly vocation.
And yet, since we are conscious
that every idle word generates sins, all the more reason to abstain from foul
talk for the punishment of sins. We therefore prohibit that a brother dare to
recall with another brother or any other person the foolish actions he did when
he was in the secular chivalry, and the pleasures of the flesh and other
arguments of this sort; and should he hear by chance someone who recounts such things
he shall silence him or lead him back to obedience as quickly as possible.
Chapter Fifteen
(How to recite the Office)
When the Chapter
gathers to give praise unto the Almighty God and Our Lady it shall do so with
humbleness and reverence, and observing the liturgical prescriptions. At the Gloria Patri
and whenever the Holy Trinity is named, all shall stand and bow deeply, as at
the Pater Noster that the
Master or his representative shall recite alone as head of the community until
„...et ne nos inducas in tentationem“ so that everyone may respond „sed
libera nos a malo“.
Chapter Sixteen
(Of brothers who travel)
Brothers who travel shall endeavor
to observe the rules on eating and drinking and the other prescriptions, as far
as their strength shall allow them, and they shall live in an irreproachable
way so that strangers may give evidence on behalf of them.
They shall not profane the spirit
of the Militia, neither with words nor with deeds, but shall offer, with their
example, the salt of wisdom and the seasoning of good deeds.
The person they shall lodge with
shall have an excellent reputation and the house of the host for that night
shall not be left without light so that the dark enemy, God forbid!, may not cause damage.
We urge our brothers who travel to
make proselytes to behave in this way: both (the Templar and the postulant)
shall go before the Bishop of the Diocese and the Bishop shall hear the will of
the postulant. Having heard the request, the Knight shall send him to the
Master and the Rule of
the poor Knights of Christ Chapter
and, if his life is honest and worthy of such company, he shall be welcomed
with mercy, if the Master and the brothers shall think fit.
But should he die on his trip to
reach the Master and the Chapter, he shall receive all the brotherly
benevolence of the poor Knights of Christ almost as if he were one of the
brothers.
Chapter Seventeen
(Of sick and elderly brothers)
The sick brothers shall be very
attentively taken care of as no others, as if Christ was being served through
them, so as to keep alive in one’s memory the evangelic saying „I have been
sick and you have visited me“ (Mt. XXV, 36), and they
shall be tolerated with patient diligence, because it is doubtless that divine
praise shall thus be received.
It is necessary to tolerate the
elderly with pious sympathy depending on the frailty of their strength, and to honor
them zealously: they shall in no way be deprived of what is required by their body,
with the exception of what is prescribed by the Rule.
Chapter Eighteen
(Avoid rumors)
Following the divine admonition,
we teach you to shun and escape rivalry, envy, malignity, rumors, slander,
discord (II Cor., 20; Gal. V, 20-21). Each one shall
therefore endeavor with a vigilant soul not to strike his brother, but meditate
within himself upon the words of the Apostle:
“Not to be a slanderer I do not whisper in a crowd“ (Lev.
XIX, 16).
Blind indeed are those who speak
ill of others, and very unhappy are those who do not
counter envy, wherefore they are submerged by the antique perversity of the
shrewd enemy.
Chapter Nineteen
(No one shall act of their own
will)
It is convenient that the Knights,
who cherish nothing more than Christ, for Whose
service they have made their Profession and for the glory of the Supreme
Goodness or fear of the fire of hell, firmly obey the Master and seek his
advice before making any choice, even a private one. They shall therefore obey
readily when an order has been given by the Master or by the person authorized
by him. On this subject the Truth says: “He obeyed me the moment he heard me“ (Ps. XVII, 45).
Chapter Twenty
(All must respect this Rule)
We order for ever that everyone respect
this Rule in every part, even in respect to what may be unjustly taken from
you.
THE
MASTER OF THE POOR KNIGHTS OF CHRIST
DUKE
OF THE MILITIA OF THE
Copy given to
_____________________________
This text of the Rule is the final
one approved by the General Chapter of the Militia Templi; approved and
solemnly presented to H.E. the Master and Duke of the Militia Templi by H.E.
the Most Reverend Mgrs. Gaetano Bonicelli,
Metropolitan Archbishop of
Sunday, November the 18th , 1990
Solemnity of the Consecration of
the Cathedral
THE CHANCELLOR
To
contact the Knights Templar:
Web Site:
http://www.ordo-militiae-templi.org/
If you
have questions send an e-mail, specifying your name, surname, address and
telephone number.
Magistral Seat: Castello della Magione
I-53036 Poggibonsi (
Tel: 0039/0577/936009 - Fax 0039/0577/992363
E-mail: cancelleria@ordo-militiae-templi.org
Preceptory of North
America:
Friar Charles
Adams, Pro-Preceptor
Glen
e-mail:
usa@ordo-militiae-templi.org
Friar
Rodger Phillips, Master of Novices
203 Fairfield Avenue,
e-mail:
info@catholicauthors.com
Magisterial
Delegation for
Friar
Gerard Brady, Magisterial Delegate
"An Carraig", 37 Elm Vale,
L6 8NY Liverpool (
e-mail:
bradybunch@clara.co.uk
Note:
I am very interested in Militiae Templi because I have read and believe in many
prophecies that predict the return of the Knights Templar and that they will
become one of the best orders in the Church; and in fact, save the Church in
end times.
By default it has to be this
order.
Richard Salbato