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
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