Newsletter of the District of Asia  September-October 2000 The Order of the Knights of Our Lady OBSERVANCE OF THE HOLY HEARTS OF JESUS & MARY When was the Order of the Knights of Our Lady (in Latin: ‘Militia Sanctae Mariae’) founded? In 1945, when the founder, Gerard Lafond, who had been thinking about it for two years, received the full support of Abbot Dom Gabriel Gontard, of St. Wandrille, in Normandy. The first knights received liturgical dubbing in 1947, and the following year Gerard Lafond entered that benedictine abbey. He was immediately followed by three other knights. When was the traditional branch of the Order formed? After the Order had finally accepted the new Mass and reformed the Rule, at the end of 1969, a group of knights left or were expelled from the Order, because of their resistance. In 1970, Br. Jacques de Moustiers and Br. Raoul de Beaunay organised, with others, a Catholic Fraternity of Secular Knights whose new members were all dubbed by Archbishop Lefebvre, who knew the Order quite well: members of the Order had joined his seminaries in Rome, Fribourg and Econe, and some Swiss knights gave him Econe which they had purchased and where several international chapters of the Order had taken place, etc. On March 18, 1989, however, the Order was consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and a Charter of Restoration was signed by four knights: one from the Order, two from that Fraternity, and one who had successively belonged to both. A traditional obedience was set up, based on the pre-conciliar Rule (1958) and called ‘Order of the Knights of Our Lady, Observance of the Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary.’ On what is the legitimacy of the Order based? ·        On the sacramental of the ‘Benedictio Novi Militis.’ ·        On the 1965 ‘imprimatur’ of the Rule. ·        On the canonical approbation given in the diocese of Chartres (France) in 1964, then in those of Regensburg (Germany) in 1968, Sion (Switzerland) in 1969, Braga (Portugal) in 1975, and Santander (Spain) in 1984. On what is the legitimacy of its traditional branch based? ·        On the keeping of the true end of Knighthood, which is the social and political reign of Our Lord, now denied by the Conciliar Church and her followers. ·        On the example set by traditional branches of religious orders, as well as of lay organisations. ·        On the fact that two knights of the Order have been amongst the four founders of its traditional branch. ·        On the canonical approbation of its Constitutions given by Bishop Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, as President of the Canonical Commission of the Society of St. Pius X. ·        On the liturgical dubbing made by Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta and Bishop Bernard Tissier de Mallerais. ·        On the acceptance of Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta to become its Protector-Bishop. What is the general aim of Knighthood and of the Order of Our Lady? ·        “To widen here on earth the frontiers of God’s kingdom” (Léon Gautier – Rule, I, 4), i.e. in extending or restoring a Christian Social and Political Order, also called Christian Civilisation or Christendom. ·        “The Order of Our Lady consequently works for the coming of the Social Reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rule, I, 4). What are the 3 particular ends of the Order of Our Lady? ·        To “serve the Faith” (Rule, I, 4 & XX, 1). ·        To “defend” “the Church” (Rule, I, 4). ·        To extend or restore “the Christendom” and “the Peace of Christ” (Rule, I, 5-6).  Santa Barbara, September 2, 2000, at the Provincial Chapter of the Knights, Province of the Philippines        Singapore, September 12, 2000.  Reception of the first 3 squires in the Order, in the new Province of Continental Asia.  Here they are seen swearing, hand on the Gospel, ready to “serve the Faith, defend the Church,” and to extend or restore “the Christendom and the Peace of Christ”. “To the Christian about to read this Rule, detach your mind for a moment from earthly cares, and gaze into the depths of the mystery of God. It is in the perspective of the Divine plan that you are invited to choose a new way of life, the characteristic of which is a total fidelity to Our Lord. For this little book is not only addressed to your intelligence, but also to your will, your body, and your actions. If you accept the way of life which it proposes, you will have to become a new man, a knight ready to fight hard battles for the honour of God, and determined to build a Christian world in harmony with the Divine plan. If you fear the effort and seek only your own comfort, if without revolt you accept the reign of mediocrity, hypocrisy and vice, this book is not for you: close it, and remain in your false peace. Otherwise, recollect yourself and listen…” (First lines of the Prologue of the Rule of the Knights of our Lady) For more information contact