Lesson 3 Part 3
THE MILITARY and REGULAR ORDERS
This category comprises the Orders that started during the times of the Crusaders, (they) figure as Religious Military Orders, with the aim to defend the faith, many times with Hospitaller functions, founded generally by private initiatives, (are) very rarely by the wish of the Holy See or by Kings.
These Rules, important especially to the monastic ones, demanded or rather imposed on the Knights a special way of life: inside a convent or commanderie - like that of S.M.O.M. - or very rarely, in their secular lives: the obligation to say special prayers and of abstinence, often the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and always the duty to assist the sick, the pilgrims and the poor, to protect the widows and the orphans, and to take up arms for the defense of the Church.
These Military Orders or Religious adopted different monastic Rules. The famous SANTAMARIA reveals that under the Rule of Saint Basil were the following Orders: that of "THE LILLY", of Saint Catherine of Mount Sinai"; of "SAINT BIAGIO", The "Orthodox Order of the Holy Sepulchre” (Later Order of the Holy Sepulchre), and the Order of the Holy Sepulchre instituted by Henry II King of England in 1174 and many others.
The Rule of Saint Augustine of Hyppo was followed by the Knights of Saint Lazarus, of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of JERUSALEM, of the Holy Spirit of Rome, the Teutonic Knights, those of Saint John of the Sword (both Portuguese and the Spanish) (and) that of Saint Domenic of Militia of Christ.
The Rule of Saint Benedict was followed by the Knights of the "AVIS", of "CALATRAVA", of "ALCANTARA", of "LIVONIA" and others.
The Carmelite Rule was followed only by the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (see SANTAMARIA (OA) O. "Diserzione Storiche, Critiche, sopral la cavalleria antica e moderne, secolare e regolare". Gascape' 1761 translation from the Original which appeared in Paris in 1718.
To this category from the Middle Ages and from the early years of the modern ages, belong also the so called "BRANCHE MILITRI" (military offshoots) of some of the Religious Orders - e.g. the MERCEDRI - who in the second period, as soon as their military function ceased, they became typically "Honorary" and so we must put them under the classification of the Knighthood of Honor.
Those who wanted to be accepted in the Military Orders, had to serve for a period of time as novices, then, they were allowed to have an investiture, which took place under a severe and solemn ceremony in Church, in the presence of a Bishop or the Grand Master, or an Abbot, or at least a Prelate. After taking the vows and completion (of) other formalities the neo knight was given the sword, the military cordon, (and) the golden spurs.
A typical example of the Military Orders or Military Regular Orders is the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, called also of Rhodes, of JERUSALEM, who effective members to this day are obliged to profess Religious Vows same as those taken by monks.
THE HONONARY KNIGHTHOODS OF THE CHURCH
The honorary Chivalry, instead belong to the institutions and the Orders of prevalent honorary nature (mostly instituted by Popes or Sovereigns as a reward for good deeds, without special duties or ties), the already mentioned Chivalric Order branches of some Religious Orders, after their transformation to a pure honorary character, and last the "Noble Orders", and in general the Chivalric Nobility. This is well known and accepted as either personal or hereditary. Those accepted in this category, were endowed of the privilege more of an aristocratic and honorary than strictly chivalric, which means that the title of knighthood in these cases reenters in the category and qualification of nobiliar status true and proper.
While the Military and Regular Orders had their origin generally during the XI and XII centuries, and were regarded as quasi autonomous but under the protection and vigilance of the Holy See, the Pontifical honorary Chivalry, according to the opinion most accepted by the jurists did not start before XIV century, and were always directly or indirectly conferred by the Holy See. Exceptionally, some Popes had instituted Orders with the Regular and Military Character, but these have ceased to exist or later were modified to the extent to become truly and properly honorary.
The honorary Chivalry of the Church, at first destined to be given only to Kings, Princes, Ambassadors, high dignitaries, generals, etc., was later extended to personalities who distinguished themselves in the Arts and Science fields, and in general to others who have performed special services to the Church of the Pope; during the XVII and XVIII centuries, during which the decadence of Chivalry took place. Some of the equestrian titles were annexed exjure to special high ranking offices of the Holy Roman See or the Pontifical State, to the College of Jurisconsultants, and other similar institutions, to University Professors (in some cases also to Laureates) accentuated the difference between the honorary Chivalry from the Regular one.
Finally, during our times, some of the equestrian institutions of the Holy See, ceased to exist, others were modified, and some new ones were instituted, with more the Character of Decorations, to reward persons for services rendered to the Church (e.g. The P.E.P. PRO ECCLESIA ET PONTIFICE.)
On the distinction between the Regular and the Honorary Chivalry is based the distribution of the arguments in this dissertation. We will now consider some useful notes about some of the Orders. We will not touch the origins of the history of fetes of the Orders, but we will touch certain valuable information that is pertinent to this work.
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