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How might one define the Order of Malta? This is a very important question, for any discussion of the nature and role of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta can only be considered in view of a realistic definition of what the Order is and is not. What the Order is: Founded circa 1100 as the Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, the Order is the world's oldest continuously-operative medical aid service ("hospitaller") institution, and also the oldest continuously-existing order of chivalry. True, it is a sovereign entity (a "micro-state") having diplomatic relations with a hundred countries, but today it is also the second-largest international medical aid and relief organisation not sponsored by a major national government (i.e. it is recognised by the United Nations as an observer and NGO) or directly by the United Nations (for example, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF). While the Order is a Roman Catholic organisation, as reflected in the spirituality and ethos of its members, its works are directed toward the sick and needy around the world regardless of religion. Reports of the Order's international activities, as well as its financial accounting (verified annually by outside auditors), are made available to the public through the Grand Magistry in Rome. What the Order is not: Although the comportment of its knights and dames is presumed to conform to Christian values and culture, the Order of Malta is not exclusively a religious institution per se (as, for example, the Benedictines or Jesuits) but a predominantly lay organisation which includes as chaplains some Catholic clergy ordained outside the Order and, as a religious order, a small number of knights who have chosen, through solemn religious vows, to live a monastic life --though not, by virtue of those vows, accepting holy orders (ordination). In other words, these professed knights are monks rather than priests. In addition to these "knight-monks," other knights (and dames) "of obedience" take less restrictive vows. While the history and traditions of the Order reflect certain military origins rooted in the Middle Ages, it is not today an actively military institution in anything but name, nor is it connected with any. The Order is not, strictly speaking, a human rights advocacy organisation but a medical relief and hospitaller service composed of tens of thousands of medical professionals and volunteers working daily to meet the needs of "our lords the sick" in over a hundred countries. The Order of Malta has no political interests or objectives. What is the difference between the Order of Malta and other charities? Essentially, it is the Order's religious nature and spirituality that distinguishes it from these other organisations. Being a knight or dame of Malta implies Christian obligations assumed for life, not simply during one's brief tenure as a volunteer or employee of a charitable initiative or relief organisation. The charitable objectives of the Order are unchanged over the centuries; one can be certain that they will be the same tomorrow as they were yesterday --something which cannot be said of every registered charity, either in the UK or internationally. There are also particular "structural" differences between the Order of Malta and many other relief and medical aid organisations. Its diplomatic status, for example, often facilitates more immediate access to areas where there is urgent need, and thus prompt relief. Apart from this, the Order has less bureaucracy than most large charities, and in many cases its officers are paid less than their counterparts elsewhere (some are not compensated at all). This means that, speaking generally, a larger percentage of the funds donated to the Order's works end up directly aiding those in need than would be allocated by organisations having greater administrative expenses. That said, the Order of Malta often cooperates with other organisations and, of course, with governments around the world. Our emergency aid arm, which is just one part of the Order, is Malteser International. How many knights and dames of Malta are there? Presently (2008), there are approximately 12,500 around the world, with around 300 in the United Kingdom. However, there are tens of thousands of personnel involved directly with the Order's aid programmes --everything from doctors and paramedics to support workers and volunteers. There seem to be many other Orders of Saint John, Hospitallers and Knights of Malta. Are they all connected in some way? Most have no connection with the SMOM or its history. In the 1960s, concordats of recognition were signed by certain Orders of Saint John, namely the Order of Malta based in Rome, the Venerable Order of Saint John based in London, and the Johanniterorden of certain northern European countries. These are the recognised orders of Saint John. Why don't most of the other Alliance orders describe their heads as Grand Masters? Most tacitly recognise the Order of Malta as the mother of all orders of Saint John, and the only one having direct historical continuity (grand magistral succession) from the Order of the Hospital founded in the eleventh century. An analogy of sorts may be drawn between this practice and the historical perspective of Protestant theology, which recognises Henry VIII and Martin Luther as leaders of the Reformation movement, but without refuting their Catholic origins or claiming that they were ecclesiastical figures comparable in importance to the early Popes. Aren't there non-religious organisations called the "Knights of Malta?" Yes. In particular, there are Masonic organisations that use this name as one of their degrees, but they have no connection, historically or otherwise, to the chivalric orders of Saint John. In libraries, and especially on the Web, there are quite a few sites dedicated to the "Order of Saint John" and "Knights Hospitaller." Are they all affiliated in some way with the Alliance orders? No. Most of these organisations were established by private initiative by individuals seeking to emulate the genuine orders, and particularly the Order of Malta. Though many such organisations (sometimes called "false" or "self-styled" orders) have proliferated during the last few decades, several were established early in the twentieth century. To bolster their claims, several purport to have been founded by the Heads of now Why are such organisations permitted to usurp the name and identity of the Order of Malta? As there are many reasons for this, we shall describe a few: One is that the law in the matter of usurpation of titles of nobility and orders of chivalry is both unclear and unsatisfactory in most countries. The official names of such organisations are usually similar (but not identical) to the names of the genuine orders; if ordered by a court of law to cease using one name they can simply re-establish themselves under another appellation. Some are chartered as charitable organisations, and thus are legally entitled to use certain names in certain nations, states, counties or provinces. As the Order of Malta is not represented diplomatically in every nation (it has no ambassadorial representation in the United States, for example), it sometimes encounters legal difficulty in its defence of a national identity that is not recognised officially in these places; establishing a false order of Saint John is considerably more difficult in Rome than it would be in New York. It is not always practical to sue an organisation for unauthorised use of a certain name, and few law courts are competent to decide cases involving historical facts outside their jurisdictions. The present situation is akin to that of certain "Catholic" churches (such as the Old Catholics) which exist in spite of their not being sanctioned by the Pope, and certain "Orthodox" churches which exist outside the canonical protection of the Orthodox Patriarchs. The primary goal of the Order of Malta is the care of the poor and sick, not the prosecution of imitation orders of Saint John. Yes, and several usurp the history or identity of orders of the Church or those orders bestowed by royal dynasties historically close to the Order of Malta. Two examples will suffice here. The only order "of Saint Lazarus" traditionally recognised by the Order of Malta is the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus bestowed by the Head of the Royal House of Savoy, the dynasty that ruled Italy until 1946. The Order of the Temple (Knights Templar) ceased to exist during the Middle Ages, its only continuity being in the Order of Christ subsequently bestowed by the Kings of Portugal and the Supreme Pontiffs. Are the Knights of Columbus, Knights of the Southern Cross and Knights of Saint Columbanus actual orders of chivalry similar to the Order of Malta? No. These Catholic laymen's organisations have never claimed, implicitly or otherwise, to be orders of chivalry. In the United States there exists such an organisation called the "Knights of Saint John" that has never purported to be associated in any way with the Order of Malta. These fine organisations should not be confused with the false orders described above. How is one admitted to the Order of Malta? He or she must be extended an invitation. Many knights and dames are accepted by the grace of the Grand Master in the category of Magistral Grace. A European nobleman can make a petition on his own initiative with the sponsorship of knights in his local Association. This presumes noble ancestry over several centuries. At all events, the candidate must be a Roman Catholic in full communion with the Church, and have demonstrated by past acts his or her willingness to serve the poor and sick through the Order. He must also demonstrate a Christian lifestyle. In accordance with the statutes, a candidate to the Order is accepted through the Association that has jurisdiction where he lives. How does a candidate prove that he is a nobleman? It must be remembered that in the Europe of the ancien regime this was a recognised legal qualification with certain privileges. Ancestral nobility is determined by the Order itself based on genealogical and historical facts submitted by the candidate and reviewed by genealogists and heraldists in the region where his ancestors lived. (For example, if he wished to join the British Association a candidate of Neapolitan ancestry born in London would submit a genealogy to be reviewed by a competent genealogist in Naples.) What are the financial obligations? Cirumstances vary greatly, but a donation of from £700 to £1250 is expected. This includes the cost of church robes and insignia, and a capitation fee called passage money because it represents the original cost of the journey to the Holy Land, payable to the Grand Magistry. This is to cover administrative expenses, and any surplus is devoted to the charitable work of the Order. Each Association charges an annual subscription. This varies from country to country and is influenced by the wealth of the country. It might be expected that a candidate in Eastern Europe does not pay as much as one in the United States. This covers administration, charitable activity, and an annual payment to the Grand Magistry. In Great Britain the subscription is currently about £250 per annum. In addition members are very active in fund raising for the charitable purposes of the Order. What's the difference between an order of knighthood and an order of chivalry? Some distinguish between the two by identifying the Order of Malta and similar institutions having a military and religious structure as orders "of chivalry," while referring to dynastic and state orders bestowed for merit (for example, the Order of the British Empire) as orders "of knighthood" or even "orders of merit." However, these distinctions can be quite subtle and even troublesome when one attempts to define certain institutions, and in many languages, such as French and Italian, the distinction between the terms for "order of chivalry" and "order of knighthood" is all but non-existent. On this site, we use the terms "order of knighthood" and "order of chivalry" interchangeably, desiring to avoid the kind of arcane semantics that would confuse most visitors. Chivalry comes from the French chevalier, i.e. knight or horseman. Knights constituted a social class. When some were formed into a religious body we had the Order of Saint John. Many people find it helpful to classify the orders this way: 1. The Military-Religious orders; 2. Court Orders - the Garter, Golden Fleece, Annunciation, etc; 3. Orders of Merit - Legion of Honour, British Empire, etc. This web site refers to the Order of Malta as the world's oldest extant order of chivalry, but the press often refers to the Order of the Garter in the same terms. Who is right? The Order of the Garter, founded in the fourteenth century, is Britain's oldest order of knighthood (or, if you prefer, its premier order of chivalry). Indeed, it is the oldest of the world's dynastic orders, though, strictly speaking, it is an order of the British Crown rather than of any dynasty in particular. In considering statements about such matters, it is always best to consider the author's intended historical or social context, and remember that journalists are not always very well informed in such matters. Many are virtually unaware of the very existence of the Order of Malta. Is the Order of Malta recognised in the United Kingdom? Not diplomatically (as a sovereign state). The Queen agreed limited recognition as a religious order. Members may wear insignia at Order of Malta functions and those of the Venerable Order of Saint John. On this basis the Lord Lyon King of Arms recorded the arms of the Order in Scotland, as the original order, and allows members to have the insignia round their coats of arms in his register. What's the difference between a priory and a national association? In simplest terms, a priory consists of professed knights (those who have taken vows), considered the modern successors of the medieval knights present in Palestine and Malta. A national association counts among its members all knights and dames of the Order in a certain country or region. Territorial jurisdictions of a priory and association are not always identical. In some countries there are several priories (Italy) or associations (United States of America). As an example, Italy has several priories but only one national association. The historical langues (a form of organisation based on knights' languages) could not be compared directly to today's priories or associations. What is the Order of Merit of the SMOM? Founded in 1920, the What is the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem? This is a Roman Catholic The Papal (or Pontifical) orders What are Catholic dynastic orders? A number of orders Are there "secret" Catholic orders? No. The very nature of the knightly orders argues against the existence of such organisations because our religious functions (held in churches) are very public events which anybody may attend. Often, the "secret" orders described by journalists or novelists are, in fact, self-styled (false) orders rather than genuine ones bestowed by legitimate founts of honour --or even imaginary "fantasy" orders that never actually existed. A "secret" order would not publish a website about itself. References to the Order of Malta as "arcane" are rather misleading considering that we are an international organisation represented diplomatically in numerous countries, enjoying observer (and NGO) status at the United Nations. Today's knights and dames support hospital works in an unostentatious, pragmatic and discreet manner, in the true spirit of Christian chivalry. |
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Faqs
How might the Order of Malta be defined?
The Order of Malta is Roman Catholic, though its Order of Merit may be bestowed on non-Catholics. The Venerable Order is open to Catholics but is primarily Protestant, with members drawn largely from the Anglican Communion. The Johanniterorden were established as Lutheran orders by knights of Malta following the Reformation. The Venerable Order and the various Johanitterorden eventually received the patronage of royal families in their respective nations. Because they are allied with each other, these orders of Saint John are sometimes referred to collectively as the "Alliance" orders of Saint John.
non-reigning royal dynasties, particularly those of Russia and Yugoslavia. Both have disclaimed any connection with
these organisations.
order pro Merito Melitensi is bestowed upon those who have contributed materially to the Order of Malta, to its objectives or to the support of Christian ideals generally, particularly as expressed by the Holy Father. Persons bestowed this distinction need not be Roman Catholic, and the cross of merit does not imply actual membership in the Order of Malta. It may be compared to certain Papal orders (see below) and the civil orders of merit awarded by many states. A medal of merit is also awarded in gold, silver and bronze.
military-religious order of knighthood which, unlike the Order of Malta, is under the direct administration of the Church, and headed by a Cardinal Grand Master approved by the Holy Father. Though it is part of a tradition begun in the Middle Ages, the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, as it exists today, was re-founded in the middle of the nineteenth century. It was one of the first orders to accept women (dames), a practice dating from the nineteenth century. The Order of the Holy Sepulchre is under the direct protection of the Holy See, but it is not a "Papal" order (see below). Like the Order of Malta, the Order of the Holy Sepulchre supports numerous charities. The Teutonic Order was formerly an order of knights but today it is more "clerical" in character and its members are no longer known as knights.
are bestowed for merit by the Holy See. The two ranking highest in precedence might be compared to the court orders mentioned above, while the other three are orders of merit. The premier order, the Supreme Order of Christ (shown here), was founded in the fourteenth century to supplant the suppresed Order of the Temple and is bestowed upon Roman Catholics. The Order of the Golden Spur was formerly known as the "Golden Militia" and had an aristocratic character. (Until the nineteenth century most Papal bestowals were in this order.) The Order of Pius IX, the Order of Saint Gregory the Great and the Order of Saint Silvester are of more recent foundation.
are bestowed by the heads of reigning or non-regnant Roman Catholic dynasties, and some of these institutions are Catholic in foundation, which is to say that they have been recognised by some form of Papal approval (typically a Bull) and that, at least in some cases, only Roman Catholics may receive them. The subject is rather complex because some orders founded centuries ago as exclusively Roman Catholic are now bestowed irrespective of the conferee's religion, while others have evolved into something resembling orders of merit. Though too numerous to list here, these orders are important elements in the spiritual lives of Europe's Catholic dynasties. Some knights and dames of Malta have been decorated with these orders, while some Catholic sovereigns (or the heads of non-regnant dynasties) are knights of Malta. Though largely internationalised today, many dynastic orders naturally have a distinctly nationalistic character.