Chapter I: Foreword

Widespread interest in the Ecclesiastical Orders of Knighthood has been demonstrated by continual requests for information pertaining to them on the part of libraries and individual persons, particularly those who have been knighted. In the United States this interest lies chiefly in those Orders most familiar to Americans, such as the Order of Malta, the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, the Order of St. Gregory, and in the medals Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice and Benemerenti. Such interest prompted the publication of this booklet which contains reprints of four articles originally published in the “American Ecclesiastical Review.”

The booklet gives a description of the history, organization, emblems and membership requirements of the various Orders connected with the Catholic Church and which are still in existence.

By way of introduction, Part One deals with the historical background—the origin and development of Knighthood in general. Parts Two and Three treat the Religious Military Orders which originated in the Holy Land—The Order of Malta, the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, the Teutonic Order—and the Military Orders of Spain and Portugal. Finally, Part Four treats of those Orders which are directly bestowed by the Holy See—the Order of Christ, the Order of the Golden Spur, the Order of Pius, the Order of St. Gregory, and of St. Sylvester. In addition the papal decorations are described.

The final pages of the booklet display the insignia of the three ecclesiastical groups: Military Orders of Knighthood, Pontifical Orders of Knighthood and Papal Decorations, with a brief description of shape and color. The pictures present the Knight’s cross, unless otherwise designated. Since the emblems of the Orders of Calatrava, Alcantara and Montesa are identical in form, only one picture is used for all three with a specification of the respective colors. Under the heading of Pontifical Decorations a picture is given of the Lateran Cross which is recognized, although not directly bestowed, by the Holy See.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

_Page_
Part I
Historical Background 1
Development of the Orders of Knighthood 7
Part II
The Sovereign Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem 14
The Order of the Teutonic Knights 23
Part III
The Iberian Military Orders 28
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem 33
Part IV
Pontifical Orders of Knighthood 41
The Supreme Order of Christ 42
Order of the Golden Spur 47
The Order of Pius 49
Order of St. Gregory the Great 50
The Order of Saint Sylvester, Pope 51
The Papal Decorations 52
Illustrations 55

THE ECCLESIASTICAL ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD