Observantia
SS. Cordis Iesu et Mariae
About the Order of the Knights of Our Lady
Militia Sanctae Mariae
The Church and Christendom
In order to promote Christendom, i.e. the
social and political reign of Our Lord, Holy Mother Church has
established two main institutions. First of all, the royal or imperial
coronation (anointing the emperor or the king), a sacramental which
gives a participation in the Kingship of Christ and
graces in order to fulfil the corresponding mission. However, faced
with the lack of central power after Charlemagne’s death, and resulting
social chaos, the Church reminded princes, barons and knights that they
had, at their own level, the same mission and duties as the emperor or
the king. Consequently, She christianised the rite of military dubbing
and added to it a liturgical version (IXth century) today known as the
Roman Pontifical’s Benedictio Novi Militis and modelled on the
coronation rite. It is also a sacramental conferred by a bishop, and
thus gives an official mission and the necessary graces. It is mainly
thanks to these institutions that Christendom reached its full
development. However, in order to defend and protect this flourishing
Christendom and Christian civilisation, the Church also founded two
other institutions: the Crusades, with the temporary vow of the Cross,
and the Military Orders, or Orders of Chivalry, permanent by nature,
with religious vows for religious knights and private vows for secular
knights. So, how could the social and political reign of Christ be
restored today? Probably through the institutions the Church has
established for that very purpose. By definition, they are the best
means to reach the goals they were given: they are excellent, perennial
and universal, i.e. good for all times and everywhere.
The Order of the Knights of Our Lady
It is upon two of these institutions (the
liturgical dubbing and orders of knighthood) that the Order of the
Knights of Our Lady (OKOL) was founded in 1945 in France, where it was
canonically established, as well as in Germany, Switzerland, Portugal
and <>Spain. The Order nevertheless suffered a
break-up after Vatican II. Finally some faithful members founded a
knightly brotherhood (FCCS) in 1970, whose new knights were all dubbed
by archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. That same year a few knights, who
had purchased Ecône, had given it to him in order to open a
seminary. In 1989, a traditional branch of the Order was formed, based
on its original Rule, and its Constitutions were approved by the
Canonical Commission of the Society of St. Pius X presided by H. Exc.
Bernard Bishop Tissier de Mallerais. Of course, one
does not join the Order as one would join an association. The postulant
is received as a squire after a minimum formation of 6 months. After
another 2 years, he can make his temporary profession as donate for a
2-year period that is indefinitely renewable. Then, at the call of the
Master in Council, he may be admitted to final profession and to
dubbing. He receives the white mantle after taking the three private
vows of Conversion of life (new life according to the Rule), Fidelity
to the Order (obedience within the limits of this Rule and fraternal
mutual aid), and Defence of the Church (similar to the vow of Crusade,
to defend the Church and Christendom, even at the peril of one’s life).
The next day, after the all-night vigil of arms and the Bishop’s Mass,
the pontiff girds him with the sword.
The Order Today
The knights pledge to recite the Little
Office of the Our Lady and the entire Rosary every week, to set aside a
certain time for daily mental prayer, to go on a yearly retreat, to
continue their doctrinal and spiritual education, to train physically,
to attend the monthly chapters of their local commandery, and to
participate in the struggles of the Order for the reign of Christ the
King. The wives and daughters of members can also be admitted. Young
pages and cadets may be prepared to knighthood and remain all their
life in the Order, without having to change orientation or
spirituality. Today, the Order has members in Europe, Asia, Australasia
and North America. The knightly vocation certainly is the vocation par
excellence for laymen. Archbishop Lefebvre solemnly called upon them
during the Jubilee of his priesthood in 1979 when he said: “We must
make a Crusade... in order to restore Christendom, as the Church
desires it to be... with the same principles… You must act… You should
organise yourselves...”
