‘Given the lay nature of the Order, the inclusion of the Clergy has as its purpose the growth and spiritual progress of its members.’ 1
INTRODUCTION
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is the only lay order under the protection of the Holy See charged with the task of providing for the needs of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and for all the activities and initiatives to support the Christian presence in the Holy Land.
The Order gives primary importance to the vocation to holiness of every Christian and aspires to be an instrument for the development and deepening of personal sanctification’. (FD #15) Although membership of the Order is, in the first place, for the lay faithful, it is also open to the clergy, especially those engaged in fostering the spiritual growth of all its members. The Order aspires to be an environment in which faith is practised and lived in all its aspects. Ecclesiastical members are encouraged to nurture their own personal holiness, cultivating a heart that pulsates with love and respect for Christ and our fellow human beings, the living stones.
Ecclesiastical members of the Order offer a pastoral service to its members by ‘providing opportunities for community and liturgical prayer at every level, continuous spiritual opportunities, and catechesis for ongoing formation and for the growth of all members of the Order. 2
With that in mind, the following booklet offers context and guidance for ecclesiastical members (cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, deacons & religious) striving to consolidate their own relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ and their support of the aspirations of the Order in the Irish Lieutenancy.
I Formation & Prayer
1. Devotion to Our Lady
Cardinal Filoni, the Cardinal Grandmaster, remarked, ‘It is essential for every child to love their mother, listen to her as a good teacher, welcome her as an incomparable gift and support her in the task entrusted to her to give Jesus and to bring to Jesus.’ 31
Members of the Order are encouraged to invoke the intercession of ‘Our Lady of Palestine’. Pope Francis reminds us that She [Mary] is ‘the caring Mother and the Help of Christians, for whom she obtains from the Lord strength and comfort in sorrow.’4 Membership of the Order carries with it the responsibility of daily praying for peace in the Holy Land.
Pope Francis noted three aspects of the Rosary that should motivate us to pray it regularly: it is a “compendium of the entire history of our salvation,” a completely biblical prayer. It is a powerful weapon against evil, and it is an effective means of obtaining true peace in our hearts.5 It combines vocal prayer, mental prayer, and meditation on the Mysteries in the life of Our Lord and His Mother.
Ecclesiastical members of the Order are invited to foster a deep devotion to Mary under the title, ‘Our Lady of Palestine’. They are encouraged to institute opportunities for communal recitation of the Rosary among members of the Order.
Ecclesiastical members must pray daily for peace.
Ecclesiastical members ought to prepare reflections/meditations on the mystery of salvation preached by Jesus Christ: His Incarnation, His Life, His redemption, and His Triumph, as revealed in the Mysteries of the Rosary.
2. Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross or Via Crucis, hold a profound place in the hearts of Knights and Dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. The Way of the Cross offers believers a powerful opportunity for prayer, reflection, and meditation on the mysteries of Christ’s suffering and death. The inextricable link between the Cross and the Empty Sepulchre’ must never be forgotten. (FD #5)
Each station invites participants to enter into the drama of Jesus’ Passion, contemplating the physical and spiritual agony he endured for the sake of humanity’s redemption. It, therefore, shapes the spiritual journey of Knights and Dames, deepens their understanding of Christ’s suffering and sacrifice, and intensifies their appreciation for the depth of God’s love and mercy revealed in Christ’s sacrifice. ‘
The Stations of the Cross are a physical, mental and spiritual exercise.6
Physical: The movement from station to station. Believers make the sign of the cross, kneel, listen and reply, rise again. Moving, stopping, falling to their knees, and rising again recalls Jesus on his way to Calvary and the physical pains he endured.
Mental: Believers contemplate with their mind’s eye what Jesus reveals in each station. They see an image of the world, the actions or suffering of others, the sinfulness of humanity, or peoples compassion, and it draws them deeper into prayer. This helps fill the mind with the truth of what Christ did for the world.
Spiritual: When the believer’s personal encounter with Christ is deepened, they are drawn to love and sacrifice more, and repent.
Ecclesiastical members of the Order are invited to forge opportunities for communal prayer and reflection on the Stations of the Cross, drawing members together in solidarity with Christ and with one another. Reflecting on the signs of the times, in the light of prayer and faith, ecclesiastical members are encouraged to prepare reflections/meditations that nourish the spiritual lives of members, drawing them closer to Christ.
3. Eucharist
The Mass, or celebration of the Eucharist, is the principal liturgical action in the Church and ‘is to be the central focus in the spirituality of the Order.’ (FD #29). The word “Mass” comes from the Latin word, missa meaning “mission” or “sending” because the liturgy is to send forth the faithful to proclaim the Good News of Jesus and to be His sacramental presence in the world. 7
In celebrating the Mass, the faithful continue to follow the example of the early Christians who gathered as a community of believers to participate in the sacrifice of Jesus and be nourished and healed through the presence of Christ in His body and blood.
In Eucharistic adoration, the priest nourishes his own personal holiness as he sits at the feet of the Master and learns.
Ecclesiastical members are encouraged to actively participate in the celebration of Mass during gatherings of the Order. The liturgy should be celebrated with reverence and dignity with due concern for the liturgical norms prescribed by the Church.
Ecclesiastical members should manifest a profound love for Christ in the Blessed Sacrament in Eucharistic Adoration.
Ecclesiastical members should agree to preside at Masses of the Order, and where necessary prepare and deliver a homily.
The Ecclesiastical Masters of Ceremonies should arrange with the cantors, assistants, ministers and celebrants the actions to be carried out and the texts to be used. The Master of Ceremonies should carry out his responsibilities with reverence, patience, careful attention, and discretion.
4. The Homily
After the proclamation of the Word of God in the readings, an ordained minister gives the homily. The homily serves as a moment of reflection, instruction, exhortation, and consolation during the celebration of Mass which shines the Word of God on both our lives in this world and our lives in the world to come. The homily will always challenge and help; it will inform and direct, and it will always bring Scripture to bear on the real lives of God’s people. The homily should invite the assembly to conversion, reconciliation and the sacraments.
Ecclesiastical members should be willing to preach at liturgical celebrations of the Order.
Pope Francis has asked that homilies “touch the heart of the people because they come from your heart”. In their homilies, ecclesiastical members should reflect a living relationship with God, rooted on the scriptures and the mission of the Order.
Ecclesiastical members should prepare the homily with diligence, grounding their preparation in prayer, looking at the signs of the times through the eyes of faith.
During liturgical celebrations of the Order, particular attention should be given in the homily to the feast days of the Order as a source of inspiration and encouragement for members in striving to live the Christian life. Reference should also be made to the conditions for and granting of Plenary Indulgences (See 12. Plenary Indulgence, P.13).
In their respective parishes, ecclesiastics are encouraged to allude to the feast days of the Order in their homilies or reflections on a given day as they occur in the liturgical calendar.
5. Retreats/Recollection
Spiritual retreats have played a pivotal role in nurturing the spiritual journey of the faithful. Jesus invited his disciples to “come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest awhile.” (Mk. 6:31) Retreats or Days of Recollection are a time set apart from the ordinary activities of our lives to be in quiet, rest and solitude with God in whom “we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)
Through structured spiritual exercises: Mass, confessions, stations of the cross, study of scripture, silence, rosary, benediction, solitude, and guided reflection, a retreat restores the fundamental posture of the heart which refocuses our gaze on Him and reunites our efforts to His Spirit in our mission as disciples.
In consultation with the Lieutenant and the Ecclesiastical Master of Ceremonies, ecclesiastical members should propose themes for retreats for members of the Order. Themes should nourish the spiritual lives of members and bring them up to date with contemporary issues affecting the Holy Land and the Church.
Ecclesiastical members are encouraged to recommend appropriate retreat directors, and where possible, they should agree to lead Days of Recollection, celebrate Mass, preach the homily, and propose formats conducive to reflection and prayer.
6. The Prayer of the Church
From ancient times the Church has had the custom of celebrating each day the Liturgy of the Hours or the Divine Office. The Liturgy of the Hours is a form of prayer that follows the rhythm of the day through hymns, psalms, scripture, and prayers. It is first and foremost a prayer of praise, then a prayer of intercession for the salvation of the whole world, for the needs of all the members of the Church and the people of the world. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Christ himself continues his priestly work through his Church of praying for and interceding for His people before His Father.
The Liturgy of the Hours is the prayer of the whole People of God and as such members of the Order are encouraged to recite the Divine Office alone, communally in their local parish, on retreat or pilgrimage, and especially at gatherings of the Order.
Ecclesiastical members should first and foremost ‘celebrate faithfully the Liturgy of the Hours with and for the People of God and indeed for the whole world. 8 The Liturgy of the Hours is part of the daily prayer of clergy and religious, the purpose of which “includes the sanctification of the day and of the whole range of human activity”. 9
In addition to fulfilling their own obligation to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, ecclesiastical members should instruct members of the Order in praying the Liturgy of the Hours. Where possible, they should preside over the Liturgy of the Hours in a liturgical context.
Where possible, ecclesiastical members should encourage the prayerful chanting of the psalms during the communal praying of the Liturgy of the Hours.
7. Sacrament of Reconciliation
Confession, like all other sacraments, is a gift through which God has made His saving love and mercy real and present to us. In his desire to set all people free and draw them into the authentic peace that is communion with God, Christ entrusted his ministry of reconciliation to the apostles and their successors. 10 As the Catechism reminds us, “In imparting to his apostles his own power to forgive sins the Lord also gives them the authority to reconcile sinners with the Church”. 11 From the Wood of the Cross, Jesus ‘performed the act of true reconciliation, surrendering his Spirit to the Father and opening the way for all of us.’ (FD #7)
The discipline of Confession is to be encouraged among all the faithful. Through prayerful meditation over our sins before confession (examination of conscience), the confession of sin, and the imparting of absolution, sacramental grace fortifies us as we strive towards a life of holiness.
Ecclesiastical members should be available for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confession on Days of Recollection, the Annual Retreat, and other occasions deemed appropriate. In certain instances, individual members may request Confession, and where possible, this should be facilitated.
Ecclesiastical members may on occasion be invited to prepare and lead a Service of Reconciliation as per the prescribed norms laid down by the Church.
Ultimately, ecclesiastics should avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation themselves in order to be men of mercy.
8. Deacons
Deacons are called by God and ordained by a bishop for a lifetime of ministry. Coming from the Greek word diakonos, meaning servant, deacons are called to serve the people of God through the ministries of liturgy, word, and charity. They serve as a witness to God’s Word, especially to the marginalized, the oppressed and the suffering.
A deacon performs a number of liturgical duties within a diocese/parish. Deacons assist priests at Mass by proclaiming the Gospel, preaching the homily, and serving as ordinary ministers of the Eucharist. Deacons can also baptise, witness marriages, and preside at funerals or burial services. They may also be called upon to lead the celebration of the Liturgy of Hours, Eucharistic Adoration, and benediction, and offer blessings in the name of the Church.
As ecclesiastical members, deacons are called upon to assist at the altar during the celebration of Mass. They proclaim the Gospel and where appropriate preach the homily. Deacons are encouraged to lead prayer services and popular devotions which nurture the faith of members of the Order.
Deacons must never forget their primary call to service in their support for the living stones in the Holy Land.
9. Pastoral Care of the Sick
Inspired by the Gospel, Pope Francis encourages the faithful to imitate the Good Samaritan in our care for every suffering person. 12 Through the celebration of the Anointing of the Sick, the infirm person encounters the Risen Lord, who comes to strengthen, forgive, console, and heal them with great mercy and compassion.
Ecclesiastical members are invited to give special care to the visitation of sick members of the Order in hospital, care facilities, or their own homes.
Depending on the circumstances, the wellbeing of the sick person, or restrictions on visiting, ecclesiastics are encouraged to reach out to the sick person or members of their family via phone call.
Where visitation is possible, members may administer the Sacrament of Anointing, pray traditional prayers and the Rosary with the sick person.
When visiting the dying, ecclesiastics may administer viaticum and/or the Sacrament of Anointing, pray with the sick person, reminding them of God’s love and mercy, and pray with their family.
10. Funerals
‘Life is changed, not ended.’ (Preface I for the Dead)
At the funeral liturgy, the Church gathers with the family and friends of the deceased to give praise and thanks to God for Christ’s victory over sin and death, to commend the deceased to God’s mercy and compassion, and to seek strength and comfort in the promise of the Paschal Mystery.
For members of the Order, the Holy Sepulchre takes on a particular significance during the celebration of a funeral liturgy. As Christ was buried in the tomb, and rose on the third day, body and soul, with a glorified body, He ‘made the grave a sign of hope that promises resurrection’. 13 In that sure hope in His promise to raise our bodies in glory like His Risen Body, we commend our dead in faith.
According to the Catechism, 14 ‘The bodies of the dead must be treated with respect and charity, in faith and hope of the Resurrection. The burial of the dead is a corporal work of mercy; it honours the children of God, who are temples of the Holy Spirit.’ 15
While the primary responsibility for the pastoral care of grieving families falls to the local pastor, ecclesiastical members honour fellow-members and support their families by con-celebrating the Funeral Mass. In some instances, they may be invited to celebrate the funeral Mass and/or preach the homily. In that context, mentioning the deceased’s contribution to supporting the ‘Living Stones’ might offer solace to the deceased’s family, and encouragement to members.
If concelebrating a funeral Mass, the wearing of the Order’s mozetta should be considered.
In the case of family members of Knights and Dames who are not members of the Order, ecclesiastical members are encouraged to con-celebrate the funeral Mass, visit the family in the weeks/months following the funeral, or suitably convey their condolences.
11. Scripture
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps 119:105).
The Catechism encourages all the baptised to read, study, reflect and pray on the Sacred Scripture “as strength for our faith, food for the soul, and a pure and lasting font of spiritual life”,16 whereby we “learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ”.17
“When the Sacred Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself speaks to his people, and Christ, present in his word, proclaims the Gospel”. 18 Sacred Scripture, the Holy Bible, is the inspired word of God. The Old Testament prepares for the New and the New Testament fulfils the Old; both shed light on each other. 19 The Word of God, which is living and active, calls us individually and collectively for a response that moves beyond what we read, hear, and pray, to a committed, loving service to Christ.
The first ministry of bishops, priests and deacons is to be ministers of the word. Scripture is central to pastoral preaching, catechesis and religious education. Ecclesiastical members, called to proclaim the Good News, should break open the Word through homilies, reflections, prayer services and liturgies of the Word to unite members more closely with the land where the Risen Lord lived and walked and God’s plan for salvation.
Pope Francis encourages bishops and priests ‘to be guides to their fellow-Christians who seek to enter into the Bible’s riches but are sometimes overwhelmed by its ‘strangeness’. 20 Through preaching and workshops, ecclesiastical members should assist members of the Order in their appreciation of the historical, geographical, cultural, lingual, and literary contexts of the Sacred Scripture so as to deepen their appreciation of God’s Word as a living gift.
As and when required, ecclesiastical members should guide and form members in the practice of Lectio Divina – the prayerful reading of the Sacred Scriptures – as a support to their spiritual life.
12. Plenary Indulgence
A Plenary Indulgence may be gained by members, as long as the criteria of the indulgence are met:
- Attending Confession
- Receiving Holy Communion
- Praying for the intentions of the Holy Father
and they make or renew, at least privately, the promise of faithfully observing the statutes of the Order on the following Feast Days:
- 18 August: Feast of St. Helen
- 21 August: Feast of St. Pius X
- 14 September: Feast of The Triumph of the Holy Cross
- Sunday following 25th October: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Palestine.
Other Feast Days Associated with the Order include:
- 2 February: Blessed Andrea Cardinal Ferrari, Archbishop of Milan (1894 – 1921)
- 7 February: Blessed Pius 1X
- 10 February: Blessed Aloysius Viktor Stepinac
- 4 April: Blessed Giuseppe Dusmet,
- 30 August: Blessed Alfredo Ildefonso Cardinal Schuster, Archbishop of Milan,
6 October: Blessed Bartolo Longo, Grand Officer.
Ecclesiastical members should enlighten members of the Order as to the doctrine and practice of indulgences in the Church and their close association to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Where possible, they should be available for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confession and Eucharist.
II Mission
1. Daily Prayer of the Order
St. Therese of Lisieux said “For me, prayer is an aspiration of the heart, it is a simple glance directed to heaven, it is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy; finally, it is something great and supernatural, which expands my soul and unites me to Jesus.”
As Pope Francis reflected, ‘Prayer is the basis of our life. The breath of faith is prayer: we grow in faith inasmuch as we learn to pray’.
(FD #25)
Prayer is not so much a disciplined duty or fervent activity, but a way of walking and working with God. Membership of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem requires of its members an active interior life which transfigures into evangelical love of neighbour in support of the Church and Christian people in the Holy Land.
Ecclesiastical members are encouraged to recite the daily prayer of the Order, to lead others in prayer, to witness to the aspirations contained within the Order’s prayer and become ambassadors of the plight of fellow-Christians in the Holy Land.
2. Pilgrimage
Pilgrimages in the footsteps of Jesus in the Holy Land are foundational for our Christian faith, where most biblical events occurred, and most biblical characters lived. The ultimate purpose of a pilgrimage is not just to see sacred sites, but to grow in faith, become better disciples of Jesus and encounter God more deeply.
All members of the Order are encouraged to embark on a prayerful pilgrimage to the Holy Land and pray at the site of the Holy Sepulchre of our Risen Lord at least once in their lifetime. Pilgrims in the Holy Land walk in the footsteps of Jesus and the first disciples. They experience firsthand the districts where Jesus walked, taught, ministered and healed, the places where he was crucified and raised from the dead. Walking in the footsteps of Jesus brings to life the vivid way in which God spoke in time and place.
A pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a sign of solidarity and support whereby members offer spiritual, financial and moral support to their Christian sisters and brothers. Pilgrims learn about the political, economic and religious landscape of the Holy Land and the Order’s efforts to promote interreligious dialogue, mutual respect and understanding, educational and social opportunities, and humanitarian support.
Ecclesiastical members are encouraged to accompany pilgrims from the Order to the Holy Land.
By invitation of the Lieutenant, ecclesiastics are invited to lead the pilgrimage from the Irish Lieutenancy.
On pilgrimage, ecclesiastical members should be willing to lead the Liturgy of the Hours, celebrate Mass, direct Holy Hours or times of prayer at the sites associated with the life of Jesus. Ecclesiastical members should prepare homilies for Mass, reflections on the Stations of the Cross, celebrate the renewal of baptismal promises, wedding vows, priestly commitment etc., at sites appropriate to the celebration.
The Ecclesiastical Master of Ceremonies, or those deputed in his place, should prepare the liturgical celebrations in advance of the pilgrimage and where possible resource pilgrims with texts, prayer, etc.
3. Special Care for the Holy Land
St. Paul encouraged believers to ‘take the ‘saints’ of Jerusalem to heart’(1 Cor 16:1; Acts 11:27-30; 2 Cor 8:3-4). All members of the Order are encouraged to express their ‘Love for the Land of Jesus and the Mother Church of Jerusalem’.
It is incumbent on ecclesiastical members to express their solidarity with the local Church in the Holy Land. Coming before all others in importance is prayer, praying particularly for peace in the Holy Land.
Clerics are encouraged to raise awareness of the plight of Christians in the Holy Land in their local church communities. They should explore various possibilities through which they can support the Church’s enterprises, apostolates, and pastoral services in the Holy Land.
In particular, ecclesiastical members should actively promote and support the work and projects of the Order in the Holy Land. Ecclesiastics should promote the Pontifical Good Friday Collection in their respective parishes and encourage the faithful to support the ‘Living Stones’ in the Holy Land.
Ecclesiastical members are encouraged to support the mission of the Latin Patriarchate and work in conjunction with the Custos of the Holy Land in maintaining a Christian presence in the Holy Land and protecting the sites and places of pilgrimage associated with the life of Jesus.
Clerical members should foster encounters with the living Church in the Holy Land, showing solidarity with the local Church in the Holy Land by becoming acquainted with the faithful, being attentive to their stories, and by sharing their living faith.
III Ceremonial & Recruitment
1. The Vigil at Arms and the Investiture Ceremony
The Vigil at Arms precedes the Investiture Ceremony at which the Knight or Dame to be invested in the Order sign the ‘Oath’ and the ‘Promise’. They commit themselves to service and charity in support of the Church and the Holy Land and strive to behave as exemplary Christians. While it is a public ceremony, it manifests a private character in which the Knight and Dame reflects on the deep significance of entering the Order.
The Investiture Ceremony is the solemn event – usually held in the presence of the Cardinal Grand Master or the Grand Prior of the Lieutenancy – characterized by the ancient and solemn rite of the imposition of the crozier and the taking of the habit. The newly invested Knights and Dames publicly confirm their commitment on becoming members of the Order and receive the Order’s insignia.
In a spirit of fraternal support, ecclesiastical members are encouraged to participate in the Vigil at Arms and the Ceremony of Investiture of new Knights and Dames.
Ecclesiastical members should attend the Chapter meeting.
Ecclesiastical members, particularly the Ecclesiastical Master of Ceremonies, have a responsibility to ensure the Religious Rite of the Investiture is executed in compliance with the Liturgical Ceremonial of the Order.
On occasion, ecclesiastical members of the Order will be invited to preside and/or preach at ‘The Arms and Prayer Vigil’. The Lieutenant of the Order may invite ecclesiastical members to preach the homily during ‘The Investiture Ceremony’.
2. Recruitment
According to the mandate entrusted to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, all members of the Order commit ‘to promoting initiatives to preserve the Christian presence in the Holy Land in a dynamic of dialogue and peace with followers of other religious traditions.’ 21 The generosity of members supports the work of the Latin Patriarchate in preserving religious, charitable, educational, cultural and social institutions.
Membership in the Order presumes a firm willingness to develop and deepen the three characteristic virtues of the Order: zeal for self-renunciation in the midst of a society of abundance, generous aid to the weak and those without protection, and a courageous struggle for justice and peace. 22
While all members of the Order are encouraged to identify and nominate potential candidates for admission into the Order, ecclesiastical members have a particular role in the selection of candidates. As the ‘Formation Document’ reminds us, ‘Selection is a process of discernment’. (FD #59) Ecclesiastics should identify potential candidates for:
- Their assiduous practice of Christian faith,
- Their exemplary involvement in the activities of the Church at the parish and diocesan levels,
- Their standards of moral conduct,
- Their willingness to engage in the specific lay apostolate of the Order at the service of the Church,
- Their ecumenical spirit, and
- Their active interest in the needs and problems of the Holy Land.” 23
Ecclesiastical members should actively promote the work and mission of the Order.
The Ecclesiastical Master of Ceremonies, or a deputed cleric, has an integral role in the formation of postulants.
Where appropriate, and after due diligence, ecclesiastics should process the necessary paperwork (nihil obstat, references, baptism certificates etc) to support the application of a potential candidate.
3. Dress Code
The use of decorations is regulated by international protocol that does not permit subjective or personal interpretations or exceptions.
At religious functions of the Order, clergy should wear the mozetta and neck cross. Mozettas should be worn over the alb and stole during the celebration of Mass and over the surplice and soutane when other functions take place, e.g. chapter meetings, processions.
The Pilgrim Shell is the most significant decoration of the Order. It may be awarded by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem to any Knight or Dame of the Order in good standing, who makes a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This decoration consists of a scallop shell, the ancient badge of a pilgrim, in oxidized silver, in the centre of which is placed the cross of the Order in red fired enamel bordered with gold. In all instances, the Pilgrim’s Shell (in the middle of the Jerusalem Cross) is worn as a testimony of the bearer’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Ecclesiastical members attending Mass without concelebrating shall wear:
cardinals, archbishops, bishops: choir dress with surplice or rochet and mozzetta of the Order and decorations;
priests/deacons: cassock with surplice or rochet and mozzetta of the Order with decorations;
religious: the habit of their order with surplice or rochet and mozzetta of the Order with decorations.
4. Institutional Fee
Membership of the Order presumes an active personal commitment to sustain and aid the charitable, cultural and social works and institutions of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, particularly those of and in the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem with which the Order maintains traditional ties. In its fundamental aspect, it is an ‘act of love for the Mother Church of Jerusalem and the Holy Land.’ (FD. #14)
On an ongoing basis, all members, including ecclesiastical members, are expected to contribute to the mission of the Order through an annual charitable contribution determined by the Council of the Lieutenancy.
Members also contribute to the mission of the Order in the Holy Land through the organisation and support of the annual Pontifical Good Friday Collection.
References
1. Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, General Regulations.
2. Instructum Laboris Consulta, 2023, n. 82.
3. Fernando Cardinal Filoni, A Meditation for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.
4. Address of his Holiness Pope Francis to members of the Consulta of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Friday, 16 November 2018.
5. Pope Francis, Catechesis on Prayer, Courtyard of San Damaso, 19 May 2021.
6. Sri Edward, Pocket Guide to the Stations of the Cross, February, 2022.
7. Understanding the Mass, www.bostoncatholic.org/the-catholic-mass.
8. Rite of Ordination of a Deacon, n.228.
9. General Instruction for the Liturgy of the Hours, n.11
10. Banasiewicz SJ., Noah, The Jesuit Post, 22 July 2022.
11. Catechism of the Catholic Church n.1444.
12. Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, 3 October, 2020.
13. Rite of Committal, Order of Christian Funerals, 1998.
14. Catechism of the Catholic Church n.2300.
15. Catechism of the Catholic Church, n.2447.
16. Catechism of the Catholic Church n.131.
17. Catechism of the Catholic Church n.133.
18. General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n.29.
19. Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, n.20-23.
20. Scripturae Sacrae Affectus – Apostolic Letter – The Love of Sacred Scripture, 30 September 2020.
21. https://holysepulchre.ie/membership
22. Guidelines for the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem for the Third Millennium, December, 2000.
23. Constitution of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
F D—Formation Document, July 2024. Distilled from the ‘Formation Document’ of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem by Very Rev. Derek Darby KCHS, Ecclesiastical Master of Ceremonies, Lieutenancy of Ireland.