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WELCOME
TO THE ORDER OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR! We
are happy to have you here, because we feel that we have something good to
offer you. God has called you here. He wants to live closer to you. He
wants you to rid your life of all the things which separate you from Him.
In return, He wants to give you His gifts of love and joy and peace. God
has singled you out to commit yourself more deeply and generously to Him,
to let yourself become involved in His work.
THE
POSTULANCY + THREE MONTHS TO “LOOK IT OVER”
You
become a “Postulant” or “Candidate”, one who is asking for
admission to the OSMTH Order. During these three months, you will be
merely “looking around” to see if you like it. We will try to give
you enough information to judge for yourself whether this is the way of
life you wish to lead according to the life and spirit of St. Bernard.
You
will be completely free to decide for yourself. There is no obligation of
any kind. But we would urge you to go a bit beyond first impressions. Think
it over carefully, so that you make a real decision.
THE
NOVITIATE + ONE YEAR TO “TRY IT OUT”
After
this postulancy of three months, the next step is the “novitiate”. You
will become a “novice”, a beginner, in a special public ceremony called
“Investiture”. You will receive the tertiary “habit”, which is the
tabbard and cord. This is the symbol of your commitment to Christ, a sign
that you are “set-aside” for the service of Christ.
The
novitiate is a time of formation and training in tertiary life through a
Home Study Course. Both novice and Commandery will discover whether they are
suited for each other. The novitiate will last for one full year. You will
be asked to undertake the basic practice of the Third Order, the most
important of which are:
attendance
at the regular meetings,
wearing
the cord,
praying
a daily office.
Even
more important, you will begin to study not only the outer features of the
Templar Order, but also its ideals and spirit. According to these ideals,
you will pattern your life. This is what we mean when we say that you will
“accept the tertiary way of life.”
St.
Francis stated “Man becomes acquainted only with that which he tries. He
truly knows only that which he practices.” To gain deep and intimate
knowledge of the Order, you will study it, pray over it, and live it. And
then decide for yourself whether this is the life you wish to lead. You will
then freely commit yourself to this life out of the love of God.
PROFESSION
FOR LIFE
- At the end of
the novitiate year, you will formally accept this new way of life in a
special ceremony called “Profession”. This is a renewal of your
baptismal promises and a self-commitment to Christ, a self-involvement in
Christ’s work. You will become a shining example in the work of leading a
Templar life.
OBLIGATIONS
ASSUMED
- The obligations
willingly assumed are not binding under sin. Nor are they heavy or
cumbersome. Certainly not enough to make anyone fearful. Templar obligations
are easy enough to adapt to any life in the world, but challenging enough to
lead you to Christ like holiness.
Since
the novice promises to observe the tertiary rule till the end of his or her
life, and since this promise is accepted by the priest in the name of the
Church in a public ceremony, he or she is expected to do their best.
The
Templar tertiary is a lay Christian committed by promise to the pursuit of
personal holiness and the apostolate according to a pattern approved by the
Church and expressed in the letter and spirit of the Templar Order Rule and
Constitution. You are the one that has followed the call, your vocation, to
bind yourself by a special rule to Christ.
WHO
FOUNDED THE RULE
OF THE ORDER OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR?
BERNARD
of Clairvaux
![[Saint Bernard holy card]](the_or1.jpg) Also
known as
Mellifluous
Doctor of the Church; Last of the Fathers of the Holy Church
Memorial
20
August
Profile
French
nobility. At age 22, fearing the ways of the world, he, four of his
brothers, and 25 friends joined the abbey of Citeaux; his father and another
brother joined soon after. Benedictine. Founded and led the monastery at
Clairvaux which soon had over 700 monks and 160 daughter houses. Revised and
reformed the Cistercans. Advisor to, and admonisher of, King Louis the Fat
and King Louis the Young. Attended Second Lateran Council. Fought
Albigensianism. Helped end the schism of anti-Pope Anacletus II. Preached in
France, Italy, Germany. Helped organize the Second Crusade. Friend and
biographer of Saint Malachy O'More. Spritual advisor to Pope Eugenius III,
who had originally been one of his monks. First Cistercian monk placed on
the calendar of saints. Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius VIII.
Every morning Bernard would ask himself, "Why have I come here?",
and then remind himself of his main duty - lead a holy life.
Born
1090
at Fontaines-les-Dijon, Burgundy, France
Died
20
August
1153 at Clairvaux
Canonized
1170
by Pope Alexander III
Patronage
beekeepers,
bees, candlemakers, chandlers, Gibraltar, Queens College Cambridge,
wax-melters, wax refiners
Prayers
Rythmic
Prayer to the Sacred Members of Jesus Hanging on the Cross
Representation
Cistercian
having a vision of Mary; Cistercian with a beehive; Cistercian with a
chained demon; Cistercian with a mitre on the ground beside him; Cistercian
with a swarm of bees nearby; Cistercian with a white dog; Cistercian writing
and watching Mary; beehive; bees; book; instruments of the Passion; pen;
white dog .
WHAT
IS THE TEMPLAR
ORDER? As
you study the Order of Knight Templar, its organisation and structure,
its ideals and way of life, you will see the very real benefits for your
life. For the present, we’d like to point out what the Order is.
The
Order is a School +++ A school of perfection in which lay people are
formed and trained in the spiritual life.
The
Order is a Brotherhood +++ You will belong to a group within the OSMTH
Order called a “Commandery”. This is a group of lay Christians who are
living according to the ideals of Christ in the way of St. Bernard, while
living in the world. This is a brotherhood of lay people who can depend on
each other for help and prayer, in the struggle for holiness. The tertiary
belongs to the Commandery, just as a parishioner belongs to a parish.
The
Order is an Army of the Lay Apostolate +++ When St. Bernard found out
what Christ wanted him to do, he did it without question. A mature spiritual
life which excludes or minimizes work in the apostolate is simply not
possible for either a Christian or Templar. The tertiary must be deeply
involved in the world and in the Church.
Let
us explain. This is not to say that every tertiary must be doing everything
in the Church. At times, this may mean just being a good father or mother.
Or it may mean giving extra time to one’s parish. It may also mean going
to the Missions on home soil or in foreign lands. Exactly what the tertiary
does, depends on his or her own conscience, their talents, time and station
in life. Every tertiary must train themselves to be alert to the needs of
the Church and the world, to do what Christ wants them do do.
THE
TERTIARY IDEAL
Perhaps
the ideal tertiary is summed up in the Peace Prayer of St. Francis. Such
tertiary is not satisfied to merely “squeeze” into heaven, but wants to
fill themselves with God’s love.
Lord,
make me an instrument of Your peace;
Where
there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where
there is injury, pardon;
Where
there is doubt, faith;
Where
there is despair, hope;
Where
there is darkness, light;
Where
there is sadness, joy.
O’
Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To
be consoled, as to console;
To
be understood, as to understand;
To
be loved, as to love;
For
it is in giving that we receive;
It
is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And
it is in dying
That
we are born to eternal life.
FOR
WHOM IS THE ORDER INTENDED?
The
Order is intended for any lay Christian who is serious about
developing maturity in their spiritual life living in the world, becoming
like Christ in their daily living, and bringing Christ to those with whom
they live and work and to those they meet.
The
qualities pointed out by the tertiary rule are these: “ Only those may be
received as members who have completed their 18th year and are of
good character, peace-loving and above all of tried fidelity in the practice
of the Christian Faith and in loyalty to the Church."
These
should be explained a bit more carefully:
AGE
+++ Reception into the Third Order must be one day after the postulants 18th
birthday. He or she should be young enough to be capable of formation and
old enough to be serious about their spiritual life. The Order is especially
effective for those who are in the formative years of life, when direction
is needed toward spiritual ideals. Young couples benefit greatly from the
Order’s programme. Those in positions of leadership in business or civic
life can do great good for Christ with the guidance of the Order. Ordinary
every day people from all walks of life,
receive the energy and direction for a really effective Christ-like
life.
GOOD
CHARACTER +++ You do not have to be a saint to be a tertiary. But you will
try. You should have a sincere desire for spiritual growth, and a solid
moral foundation for spiritual development.
PEACE
LOVING +++ St. Bernard was a man of peace. So it must be a characteristic of
each tertiary. Each must actively seek peace within the Order, in their
family, among their neighbours, in their parish, their community, at school
and at work. People who make trouble by gossip, quarreling, revenge and
carping criticism are doubtful candidates for the Order.
TRIED
FIDELITY IN THE PRACTICE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH +++ The postulant is
expected to know the fundamentals of the Faith and the duties of his
position in life. From this foundation, he or she is then capable of further
development and knowledge of their religion.
LOYALTY
TO THE CHURCH +++ While St. Bernard was very original and even daring in his
new ideals, at no time did he fail to give his complete and whole-hearted
obedience to the Church. Each tertiary is expected to see Christ in the Holy
Father, his Bishop, his parish priest, and give them obedience. This does
not exclude reasonable differences; it does exclude stubborn resistance.
MARRIED
WOMEN +++ These may not be received without the consent of their husbands
unless their priest judges otherwise. The reason for this curious
requirement is peace in the home, as well as recognition of the father as
head of the home.
HOW
MUCH WILL IT COST?
The
basic “dues in the Order are £40 per year. Your good standing is
never determined by your contributions. The Rule requires tertiaries to
contribute “according to their means.” You will be asked for
contributions to support the activities and apostolates of the Commandery,
the Grand Priory and also Missions of the Order. Any contribution must be
free on your part. And most important, they must contribute to your
spiritual health. They should be the result of some real sacrifice as a
result of your life of moderation. Your contributions will then be made holy
and worthy of God’s blessing, and a source of merit.
WHAT
MAKES A MODERN TEMPLAR?
First and foremost, to seek true faith in our lives.
To promote love and respect for our community.
To help pilgrims visit holy places and to maintain a presence in the
Holy Land.
To support the poor, the sick, and the unjustly accused.
To stand against oppression and protect freedom of speech.
To encourage the noble ideas of Chivalry.
To maintain the artifacts, archives and history of the Knights Templar.
Truth:
The foundation of virtue. One who seeks out the truth within him or her
self will surely develop other Knightly virtues, such as justice, courage,
strength, and humility. Without truth, there is no light, but rather the
spiritual darkness of self delusion and self deception, which must surely
lead to other vices.
Honour:
The standard against which we measure ourselves, and are measured by
others. It is a treasure which if kept grows in value and grandeur; but
once squandered can but rarely be regained, and only at great cost in time
and effort. The Templar's word must be more certain and sure than any
written contract. And let every Knight and Dame consider carefully before
making any Oath, and never do so lightly or without due reflection; but
rather let every Templar strive to fulfill every Oath undertaken or stand
bereft of honour.
Justice:
Since time immemorial, the Knight's duty has been to protect the innocent
from harm and to punish the guilty, as is symbolised by the sword. In past
times, fulfillment of this duty often required physical combat; today, the
battles are fought differently but are no less important. In all areas of
life, the Knight must strive so far as possible to fight injustice and
help the right prevail.
Charity:
Also known as largesse. A Templar will seek to aid those in need, giving
succor and assistance to such as may need it, giving as his or her means
permit, and without ostentation or display. True charity encompasses more
than the material; a word of encouragement can mean more than gold, and a
friendly ear more than jewels. The spirit of Charity may cause the Knight
to forgive a wrong done himself, if the act is truly repented. Charity
will help the Knight to avoid the errors of gluttony and avarice.
Loyalty:
The brother and sister of Honor. When once a Knight has made a commitment,
let him or her not waiver or withdraw. But, realising that a Knight does
not compromise his or her loyalty, let no such commitment be lightly made.
Courage:
The Knight is charged with the duty of fighting for the right and good,
and is thus destined to face many opponents. The battles may be of the
body, and the dangers faced by the Knight may be physical; but courage is
as greatly in demand with the more subtle opponent of the mind or spirit.
Whichever circumstances the Knight enters, he or she must always face the
enemy with valor.
Nobility:
A man may be ennobled by a Prince; but a soul can thus be elevated only by
living according to standards higher than those of the common man. To
achieve the Chivalrous ideal is not possible; but the very striving
uplifts the spirit and purifies the soul, and marks the true Knight.
Humility:
The Knight who looks upon his or her life without evasion or
self-deception, and exercises the virtue of Truth, will surely be humbled
by the vast gulf that lies between the Chivalrous Ideal and the reality of
what is. Thus chastened, the Knight will surely avoid the error of pride!
Excellence:
The Knight and Dame strives always to do and be their best , no matter what the
area of endeavor. They do so not for pride's sake, but rather to infuse
even the most mundane task with nobility, and thus uplift themselves.
Faith:
The Knight or Dame must be true to that which he or she believes in above all
else, for with faith comes strength against every adversity and reverse.
Faith is the lifeblood of Courage and Nobility; without it, life has no
meaning. With faith, no force, not even death, can defeat the Knight.
Non
nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed Nomini Tuo
da gloriam
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