Templar Knights Revived

Most Catholics are familiar with the glorious deeds of the Templar Knights of the Crusades, as well as their not so glorious demise at the hands of Philip the Fair of France in 1307. However, did you know that they have been reconstituted and are in existence today? I'm not talking about some weird Masonic group based on the Templar Knights, or the Templar Knights of the KKK of Rancho Cordova, California, but a bona fide Catholic restoration of the Templar Knights sanctioned by Rome.

The Templar Knights were restored to the Church in 1979 under the name Christi Pauperum Militum Ordo, also known more simply as the Ordo Militiae Templi. It was founded in Siena and blessed by the Archbishop of that city (the current Cardinal Protector of the Militia is Édouard Gagnon). It was founded by Count Marcello Alberto Cristofani della Magione, who is also the current Grand Master.

The new Templars are faithful to the perennial traditions of the Church, and their members make the following committments: recite the traditional Divine Office daily in Latin, to recite the (traditional) Rosary daily in Latin, to assist the traditional Mass as frequently as possible, to study assiduously and live out the spirituality and culture of Christian chivalry, and, in general to invest our energies in the restoration of Catholic tradition. It is open to lay persons as well as ordained and religious.

After a two year novitiate, those found worthy to join the order travel to Castello della Magione near Siena where they are formally enrolled as a Knight (or a Dame, if you are a female). The order follows a modern adaptation of the original Templar rule written for the order by St. Bernard of Clairvaux. They observe the three evangelical counsels, as well as a fourth vow to publicly defend the faith. Their current members include hundreds of Knights in Obedience (lay persons), about 30 Knights with Solemn Profession, 10 national preceptories, many local priorates and scout groups. The headquarters of the order is in the Tuscan village of Poggibonsi, in an 11th century compoud that used to belong to the original Templars. The Tridentine Mass is celebrated there daily.

The symbol of the Militiae Templi is a Red Octagonal Cross, symbol of the Eight Beatitudes of the Gospel, while the symbol is a white flag with Red Octagonal Cross. The cross is not to be confused with that of the medieval Knights Hospitaller, which is known as the Maltese Cross. The Grand Master has as its coat of arms just and symbol. The habit of the Professed Knights is white and consist of the tunic, the scapular with the octagonal red cross on the chest and a mantle with a cowl and the same cross on the left shoulder. The Knights in Obedience wear a mantle without cowl but with an octagonal cross on the left shoulder. The Ladies wear a white mantle and a white veil with the cross without the upper arm The Chaplains are dressed with a white Mozzetta with red edge, red buttons and an octagonal red cross on the left front part. The Oblati (Knights and Ladies of Devotion) have a gray mantle with the red octagonal cross on the left shoulder.

There are currently preceptories established in Italy, Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Ireland, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Spain, United States of America, and Puerto Rico. The American contact for the order is Bro. Charles Adams, CPMO (he can be reached at this address: usa@ordo-militiae-templi.org. Fellow Traditionalist Francisco Romero Carrasquillo, from the excellent blog Ite ad Thomam, is a postulant in this order, and it is from him that I got much of this information. Please pray for him and his wife as they prepare to enter this more excellent Catholic order.

Check out the Templar's website here for more information.