Wednesday 4 January 2012

MSM Rule: Chapter XXI: Belonging to Other Organisations

CHAPTER XXI - BELONGING TO OTHER ORGANISATIONS

1. Alongside the common activities of the Order, the Rule leaves to the individual initiative of the Knights their private activities, that is to say, apart from the duties of their state in life which come before all else, any activity which their zeal and devotion to the Church and their neighbour may inspire. Of course, these activities should be carried out in the spirit of the Order and according to the Code of Honour.

Let these two principles be borne in mind:

(a)           One is a knight of Our Lady before all, in all, always and everywhere.
(b)           It is primarily within the Order that one is a knight.

2.  If a knight believes he should belong to a certain movement, he will first seek the agreement of his commander. In the same way, before accepting an important responsibility, whether social or apostolic, he will inform his commander first and get his approval. He will bring to these activities all the spiritual and intellectual resources with which the Order equips him, without in any way detracting from his obligations to the Order, for as Saint Benedict says: We serve the same Master and we fight under the same King wherever we are[1] (173), and the Order is above temporal success as well as failure, as it is written: Anyone who has been begotten by God has already overcome the world; this is the victory over the world our faith[2].(174) And Saint Paul says too: We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him.[3] (175)

3.  The knights of Our Lady may belong to Catholic Action movements or to similar organisations whose aim is apostolic or charitable; they may also belong to religious confraternities.

4. The same holds good with regard to social movements which follow the Church’s doctrine, even though these are not specifically catholic.

5. As for political movements, the knights will readily understand that the Order places itself on quite a different level, and that its struggle is not on the same plane as that of party politics. Nevertheless, as individuals they may give their support to any political party or movement whose objects conform with the teaching of the Popes and the principles of the Order, in order to serve the common good and to defend the Faith and the Church, at least indirectly.

They should be prepared to withdraw from political activity if asked to do so for a good reason by the Prior or their commander. If necessary advice may be sought in Chapter, and the Master may be consulted for a final decision.

6.  Adherence to any party, association, society or movement condem­ned by the Church is of course forbidden.

7.  The knights may not belong to any other Order of Chivalry without the express authorisation of the Master.

8.  They may not join a Third Order, after reception into the Order of Our Lady, but they may be oblates of an abbey.

Let the knights of Our Lady accomplish their mission everywhere illumined by her light, strengthened by her food, guided by her spirit, supported by her arm, and sheltered under her protection, they will fight with one hand and build with the other.”[4] (176) AMEN.

EXPLICIT REGULA MILITUM


[1] 173.       Rule, ch. 61
[2] 174.       I Jn.5, 4
[3] 175.       Rom. 8, 28
[4] 176.       St. Louis M. Grignion de Montfort: “True Devotion”, 48

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