Militia Templi - Misuse of ritual

2007-04-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

I received a response from Ecclesia Dei regarding the use of the Benedictio novi militis from the Pontificale Romanum. The Militia Templi uses this for their investitures.

Msgr. Perl said that this rite has been suppressed. I wonder how long the Militia Templi has known this?...

The Militia Templi - Stay away from them...

2006-07-11T06:58:00.000-07:00

About a year ago, when I ran this blog, I wrote an interview about the Militia Templi. I, myself, had been very supportive of them for about a year and a half and was happy to do my part in spreading word about this group. I then went to a retreat/meeting sponsored by the group in Spring of 2006...

Sadly, what I learned about the group then was such that I had to renounce my membership therein and I would advise all well-meaning Catholics to do the same. While they appear solid on one side, Traditional Catholics should be aware that dangers are present and that they should not join this group. Not only do they have severe schismatic leanings, but a priest does their investiture... a priest who was not given permission from their bishop to be incardinated into the diocese... The list goes on and I won't mention each item point-by-point as what I have said is enough for a Catholic to stay away from them. If they do tell you that are supported by the Church, their bishop is no longer friendly towards them and even the old Secretary of State, for the Vatican, was against their existence. So, as the saying goes... "buyer beware!"

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2005-12-14T08:44:00.000-08:00

Franciscan missionary in the Sahara. (I think that is a crucifix sticking out of the camel's pack!)

ReColored Tool Example

2005-12-13T22:02:00.000-08:00

A hat tip to GFVonB for his comment on the really cool photo-coloring software tool. I gave it try on a black & white picture I have of my great grandfather who died, in combat, serving the Austro-Hungarian empire. I tried to get the ribbon on the mobilization cross to come out in the proper yellow color, but no matter how yellow I made it, it always came out greenish. Otherwise the end product is pretty good. What a neat product! The uniform color was the closest to the grey-blue that it would have been...

I was honored to get an interview with Fra. Rodger...

2005-09-02T07:03:00.000-07:00

I was honored to get an interview with Fra. Rodger Phillips, who is a member of the Catholic lay order Militia Templi/The Poor Knights of Christ. He holds the title Vice Magistral Delegate to the United States wherein which his role is to assist the U.S. Delegate (Fra. Charles Adams) who is the Grand Master's representative in the U.S. Fra. Rodger is also the founder of Catholic Authors Press

The Catholic Monarchist: Greetings and thanks for accepting the request for an interview. To begin, can you give us an overview about the Poor Knights of Christ?

Fra. Rodger: The Poor Knights of Christ is a Catholic order of laymen in the knightly and monastic traditions of the great chivalric orders of old, particularly the Templars. Our community was founded in 1979 by Count Marcello Alberto Cristofani della Magione who is besides our founder, our current Grand Master. The Grand Master first founded the order, with ecclesiastical approval, as a means for Catholic Scouts to have a path toward sanctification to follow as they became adults and were to old to be scouts themselves. The mold was the ancient Templar Order, and the community has grown under the guidance of our founder upon this model.

Today we are a brotherhood of several hundred knights around the world. Our community consists of 'Brothers' who take a vow of obedience to the Grand Master and the Rule and 'Doms' who take vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience.

Knights in the courtyard at the Magistral See,
Castello della Magione in Poggibonsi (Siena)

The Catholic Monarchist: How did you come to hear about the Order and what attracted you to them?

Fra. Rodger: It was in 1998 or 99 that I was reading a lot about the Medieval period and was, for the first time I think, understanding the vivacity and spirit of Medieval Catholicism with its great "unity with diversity" thanks to the works of Belloc and Chesterton particularly. I happened across an article on the Knights of Malta in New York and was astounded that they were still in existence and...in New York! That one could, today, follow a vocation to knighthood was a real revelation for me.

I did much research at that time into the history of the chivalric orders, particularly in modern times. I sought out information on joining the Hospitallers but found, to my disappointment at the time, that the order was not for me. They are, of course, a most noble and illustrious organization with great history and do much good work, but I had felt that there was something missing in the organization for me, some certain traditional ideas of knighthood that had been lost or abandoned over the years.

So, I found myself, like so many of my brothers have told me they felt in the past, that I had a vocation that does not exist. To be a knight, in a community of brothers, for the sanctification of my soul and the defense of the Catholic Church was most likely not going to happen. The traditional concept of a military order is not exactly politically correct today, and the majority of the orders out there are quite like clubs for the rich or the nobility (two things which I am not!)

Bird's eye view of Castello della Magione which was donated
to the Templars in 1140. Today it belongs to
the Militia Templi.

Then, thanks to the wonders of the Internet, I stumbled across an article with photos of a beautiful Ambrosian Rite Mass in Milan. In the photos of the procession there were several young knights that I had never heard of before and the caption just said they were the "Poor Knights of Christ". I wrote around and found the address of the order in Italy and began a long process of corresponding with the order. I found the order to be very traditional, using the Missal and Breviary of 1962, fully approved by the Church and possessing an authentic charism of knighthood. But the first thing that attracted me was the Rule of the order.

I think they were a bit wary of me at first because I was an American, but after much prayer, patience and writing letters overseas, I finally entered the novitiate program and was put under the care of my novice-master Dom Andrea Conti.

The Catholic Monarchist: I'm sure that the distance and language were initial barriers, but I understand that the American side is now growing steadily?

Fra. Rodger: Yes, distance was one of the issues. I think the Grand Master was wise to use caution in accepting applicants from overseas at that time and to wait to see what God had planned for the order in the United States. We have four knights in the United States now and about a dozen novices, one of whom will make his investiture in the order this Autumn. We have also been graced with two holy priests joining our community as chaplains: Fr. John Fritz of the Diocese of Rockford, IL and Msgr. Russell Smith of the Diocese of Richmond, VA.

We are still new in the States and distance still poses a problem as all of us are so spread out geographically. Despite this we have managed to gather several times in the past two years for retreats, meetings and pilgrimages, to have the opportunity to know one another and pray the Office together. It is, again, simply a matter of putting the future in God's hands and seeing what unfolds.

The Investiture ceremony

Language always poses a difficulty to a group that is as diverse as we are. For instance there was a great deal of difficulty in communication between our Hungarian Preceptory, which is quite large, and the offices at the Magistral See (our 'headquarters') where no one speaks a drop of Hungarian. A professional translator was hired for some time to translate letters back and forth but it did not work out as the translator had many problems understanding and translating terms relating to the Church and the order. Then the problem was solved as there came to Rome for study a young and very traditional hungarian priest who joined the order as a chaplain and could also speak: Italian.

The Catholic Monarchist: Amazing how God's Providence works... I have heard many stories like that where some specific task or person was needed and then when the time was right, someone just walked in the door, so to say.

The original order of Templar knights was suppressed by Pope Clement in 1312. How does the new militia work in light of the modern world and since the Templars have not existed for the last several hundred years? What is the charism of the Order, then, for today's world?

Fra. Rodger: You are right of course, about providence. This instance was particularly amazing because there are no licit traditional Masses in Hungary and now, through this priest and the order's strong presence in Hungary, the situation may soon change. The order recently held a conference on the traditional Mass in Hungary, and our next General Chapter will be held in Budapest.

As to your first question, there are the obvious things first. If you should compare the rule of the reconstituted Templar order with the ancient one, you will find that certain items are left out today such as passages on dealing with horses, but the essence is the same. The path and the Rule are the same for the old and new Templars and the bond between the two is in the shared ideals of both.

Holy Mass in the Magistral Church

The ancient order was founded at a time of great trial for the Church and she was besieged on all sides. It is reminicent of today in fact, where anti-Catholic sentiment abounds and has been growing for centuries, and of course there are the dangers coming from within the Church from her members who have for various reasons been seduced by the world or from old heresies popping up anew. The central mission of the old Templars was the defense of the Church, and this is the same mission undertaken today by the new foundation, yet with a balance between action and contemplation, under the same spirit and banner.

Regarding the charism of the order, I would point to three things: the care of the liturgy, the adherence to the ideals of knighthood and the love of neighbor. All three are connected with each other, the goal being the establishment of the Kingdom of Christ in the society and the individual. These things are "services" and our Grand Master always teaches us to seek not honor, but service, service with self sacrifice and generosity. This is what we aim for.

This applies to the modern world as well as the Medieval, but the battle is waged on different fronts. For instance, one could also look at the vocation of the knight as to go into the wild places and clear the way for the priest to come and bring the Grace of God in the Sacraments. The order works today to bring the Traditional Mass to those places where it is forbidden, like in Hungary. Today a great battle rages within the Church against tradition, against the deposit of the faith, so a different battle calls for new strategies. This is one example.

The Catholic Monarchist: Yes, Catholic Tradition truly seems assaulted as never before. As the original Templar order was monastic, can you tell us what differentiation there is among the men that join. I mean, do all that join take the same vows? Do they live, and pray, in common? Will new monasteries be built in the future?

Fra. Rodger: We have several different categories of members in the Militia, the "knights in obedience" who's name comes from the single vow they take, and the knights with solemn profession who take the three vows. The knights in obedience may be married men. In the ancient order there were also married knights who wore a black habit instead of the white one. We have a third category of conventual chaplain for any knight who should be ordained to the priesthood and choose to stay in the service of the order.

Fra. Rodger Phillips, Vice Magistral Delegate to the United States

Besides these there are also the 'knights of honor' who are the chaplains and then also the oblates. The oblates make a promise of fidelity to the Constitutions and keep the order in their prayers.

There have been plans to build a house of conventual life for the knights with solemn profession - so those knights who have taken the three vows and wish to devote their life to God in the service of the Militia may live, work and pray in common. I believe the plan is to establish the house adjacent to the Magistral See, which besides offices, guest rooms and the Grand Master's residence, is also home to our church. One could also be built elsewhere, but time will tell.

For now though you will find at the Magistral See that the knights gather every day for Holy Mass and to sing Vespers in common. Masses on Sunday are usually followed by lunch in the refectory where you will find the families of the knights as well and many hands helping to prepare the food. Always very merry. I was touched by my first visit there and it struck me as a truly Catholic community, with the Eucharist at the center, bustling with activity, with the catechism classes for the young, the scout groups, guests and visitors, young and old all together.

In our communities outside of Italy knights are bound to gather regularly for prayer. We are obliged to recite the Hours of the Divine Office together. So, overall, yes monastic, not in the strictest sense but in that we are a community, or a 'religious family', bound together by the Rule. Actually, our Rule was written by St. Bernard and you can read the Benedictine spirit in it.

The Catholic Monarchist: And you do wear a habit, correct?

Fra. Rodger: Yes, we receive our habit at the time of investiture or profession. In the ceremony we are clothed in the habit by the preceptor while the Grand Master says "Put on the color of light, the white tunic of the Templar, habit of prayer and combat." It is a tunic and mantle with the red eight pointed Templar cross, representing the beatitudes. The knights with solemn profession also wear a monastic scapular with a hood over the tunic. The habit is worn whenever the brothers gather, at chapter, in church and so on. But other times as well. Brother Charles, our delegate, and myself both wear the habit while serving at Holy Mass.

The Catholic Monarchist: Wow, what a wonderful sight that would be to see at Mass! Speaking of the Holy Mass, the Order uses the liturgical celebration as known before Vatican II. Why was this chosen as part of the Order's charism? What has been the reaction from people/the hierarchy in Italy when they see the knights and the Tridentine Mass together?

Fra. Rodger: We believe that the Traditional Mass most perfectly expresses the Faith of the Church and the sacrificial nature of Christ's sacrifice. Today the truths of both Scripture and Tradition - the Deposit of the Faith - are under attack on all sides. To preserve and defend the traditional liturgy is indicative of the deepest nature of what it means to be a knight and a necessary action for the Templar who is sworn to defend the Church and therefore its Tradition. And it is not just a liturgical preference in choosing the old Mass and Breviary because it also involves the Church's traditional theology and spirituality. You cannot have one without the other.

Poor Knights of Christ on Pilgrimage in the U.S.

It was the late Cardinal Oddi, who was a great patron of the order, that came and helped us bring the Traditional Sacraments to the order. There has been much support for the Militia from the hierarchy. Cardinal Gagnon is our Cardinal patron and Cardinal Stickler and other well known prelates have visited the order. The local ordinary allows us the use of all of the Sacraments, including Confirmation.

Unfortunately there have been times where there is hostility towards the Tradition. There was a retreat last year for the German speaking knights at a monastery in Germany or Austria. Every effort was made to make the knights as uncomfortable as possible. I believe they were told that they could not uses the main chapel to say the Office because it was being cleaned, then they tried to use the smaller chapel and were forced out until they were left saying the Office in one of the guest bedrooms. There was more to the story, and it is very sad. This year, instead, the German knights went to Le Barroux in France where they were welcomed.

The Catholic Monarchist: That is quite sad that the members have had some small areas of hostility but then we see that throughout the traditionalist movement, as you have noted. I think it is a good sign and one that the knights are doing their "jobs" well. I understand that the knights also hold "academic" conferences that focus on such items as the theology of Mass, sacred archictecture and so on, to help retain a proper understanding of the Churchs' rich history and liturgical beauty?

Fra. Rodger: Yes, and frequently these conferences are held in places where there is no traditional Mass allowed, quite on purpose, as a sort of a boost to get an indult Mass started.

Besides the conferences on the topics you mentioned, the order has also put together conferences on the military orders with some of Europe's great Medieval scholars such as Sylvia Schein, Jean Leclercq, Anthony Luttrell and others.

The Catholic Monarchist: Women can join the Order as well, correct? How do they support the knights?

Fra. Rodger: Yes, ladies can join the order as oblates and they are called the "Dames of Devotion". Many times they are the wives of knights in obedience, but not always. The responsibilities of the oblates are not as great as those of the knight, but involve prayer, support and collaborative activity with the knights. The Dames may wear a grey veil with the cross of the Militia on it.

Some knights making an Act of Consecration

The Catholic Monarchist: Ok, let's say a person contacts the Order with interest. What can they expect in terms of the process towards becoming a member?

Fra. Rodger: Those called by God to serve the Church as a knight with solemn profession, a conventual knight, after enquiries, should expect to be able to visit our mother house outside Siena to discern his vocation. Later, there is a novitiate which lasts two years that will be fulfilled there. Those called to serve as a knight in obedience complete a two to three year novitiate program that involves traveling to retreats two times a year. There are more details of course and we are always seeking vocations. Any of your blog readers who wish to seek more information on the life of the Militia may contact Bro. Charles Adams in the United States and Canada, or in the U.K. the Magistral Delegate to Great Britain, Bro. Gerard Brady. Those outside these countries should contact the Magistral See directly.

The Catholic Monarchist: Again, thanks so much for your time. You have provided us with a fascinating, and heartening, glimpse into a world of dedicated men who love Tradition and want to see the reign of Christ spread far and wide. Are there any last words of wisdom you would like to leave us with?

Fra. Rodger: Thank you, Robert. It was a pleasure. I would only say, in closing, that really, all Catholics who love Holy Mother Church are called to be crusaders. Priests, laymen and religious. Through our Baptism and Confirmation we are all called to be "Soldiers of Christ" in our daily lives and to always defend the Church when she is attacked. Now, more than ever perhaps, we need good Catholics to raise the banner of Christ in defense of the true Faith.

The Catholic Monarchist: Well Dear Readers, I hope you have enjoyed this interview and have found it interesting. If you would like more information on the Poor Knights of Christ, you can visit the Preceptory website.

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catholicmonarchist

Militia Templi - Misuse of ritual

The Militia Templi - Stay away from them...

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ReColored Tool Example

I was honored to get an interview with Fra. Rodger...