Grand Master Speech
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ORDO MILITARIS ET HOSPITALARIS SANCTI LAZARI HIEROSOLYMITANI MAGNUS L MAGISTER CITRA ET ULTRA MARIA, PRÆCEPTOR BOIGNACI, IOANNES NEPOMUCENUS IOSEPHUS COMES DOBRZENSKÝ DE DOBRZENICZ SUB ALTO PATROCINIO DOMUS REGIÆ FRANCIÆ EMINENTISSIMUS DOMINUS DOMINICUS CARDINALIS DUKA O.P., CAPELLANUS GENERALIS Éminences, Monseigneur, Excellences, Confrères et Consœurs, My Dear Friends. Every three years we call all members of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem to come together to meet at the Chapter General. This is such an important moment in our life as an Order and provides an opportunity for us to reaffirm our identity, traditions and to set out a plan for future projects. It is important that our mission, as an historic Catholic Order of Chivalry, is underpinned by a personal commitment to Christian values and is supported by effective administration. I am pleased to address so many of you as we unite in this wonderful, historic city of Warsaw, the Capital of Poland, a fervent and courageous nation. It is only right that we should take this opportunity to extend our sincere thanks to the Grand Priory of Poland and to H.E. Chev. Krzysztof Polašik-Lipansky, its Grand Prior, for such effective organisation in preparation of this event. As members of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem we take this opportunity to explore our rich history, celebrate our unique identity, share our common aspirations and to exchange such a wealth of culture. It is a beautiful moment for us to reflect and consider the important role that we, as individuals, play in the life of the Order. It is also a moment to renew our faith in the Office of the Grand Master, Grand Officers and Heads of Jurisdiction. Fundamentally, it is a time to examine our strategy and to receive an update on policies and governance. On this occasion, it is not only my duty but a real privilege, as your Grand Master, to present an overview of the state of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem in 2019. Assessing the work we have accomplished over the last three years I have examined detailed reports submitted from each Grand Priory and, after considering the most recent financial audit, am pleased to be able to speak about the fantastic work we are engaged in at both international and national levels. I remind you all that the Order of Saint Lazarus is an ancient Order of Chivalry and not a “club” or “social association”. We are obligated to demonstrate in our actions the perfect example of Christian behaviour. Furthermore, we are called upon to be respected citizens in the countries in which we reside. Our lives must reflect an interior spirituality, showing no contradiction with our defining characteristics of Christianity, Chivalry and Charity. Our Temporal Protection is provided by The Royal House of France, represented by H.R.H. Prince Charles-Philippe d’Orléans, Duc d’Anjou. Our Spiritual Protection is assured by H.Emm. Dominik Cardinal Duká, Primate and President of the Czech Bishops’ Conference, who acts as the Order’s Chaplain General. It is within this context that our Faith informs our charitable activities. The basic tenets of our Christian life, spirituality and charity, contribute to and clearly define the Order of Saint Lazarus. Embodied in our Constitutional Charter and expressed in the Declaration of Legitimacy, one cannot go without the other. Since my election as Grand Master, one of my main objectives has been to reposition the Order of Saint Lazarus so as to bring its unique spirituality once again to the fore. Each day I maintain a clear focus to respond effectively to the challenges of this role, as defined by my duties and responsibilities. In particular the task of maintaining the three vocations and ends of the Order, spirituality, charity and tradition, forms the vast majority of my role. At every opportunity, I believe that it important to reiterate these basic fundamentals so that we never forget our mission, to work with those in need for the greater glory of God. By tradition the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is a Catholic Order which has continued, from the moment of its formation, to remain true to the Doctrines and Teachings of the Holy Catholic Church. To fulfil our vocation, in recent times we have admitted into our rank those who profess membership of other Christian ecclesial communities; namely Orthodox, Protestant and Anglican. In the original spirit of the Order we work under the banner of Jesus Christ, our unseen Captain, to promote the Church’s vision of Christian Unity. In this mission the Order has framed its work around the Lord’s call for us “to be salt to the earth” so that, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church exhorts us to do, we may “illuminate and order all temporal things … to the glory of the Creator and Redeemer.” In 2010 I established an extraordinary Commission within the Grand Magistry to examine the Order in the light of Canon 322 of the Catholic Church’s Code of Canon Law. Its purpose was to set a clear path towards acquiring juridic personality for the Order of Saint Lazarus in order to secure permanent recognition as a Private Association of Christian Faithful. Nine years on official recognition has been secured, at both Diocesan and National levels, in the Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Poland and the United States of America. We know that this recognition can only be achieved through a formal decree from the competent Ecclesiastical Authority as prescribed within the Code of Canon Law. It is important, therefore, that we continue to pursue the principle of ‘one Commandery, one Diocese’. I reiterate, it is imperative that a strong link is established with the Catholic Church. In this way we are able to demonstrate the Order’s role in supporting important projects and show its commitment to the local Christian community. We already have several incredible examples of this in Poland, Sri Lanka, France and other countries where the close cooperation between the Order of Saint Lazarus and a local Bishop is bearing great fruit. In this way our works of charity and spirituality, the two major characteristics of our Order, cannot be challenged. During the annual meeting of the Grand Magistry and Governing Council I was presented with a detailed overview of the activities undertaken by each Jurisdiction. I heartily commend the devotion of our members in working with the sick, the poor and the needy. The level of material and spiritual assistance we provide year on year, with relatively limited resources, is tremendous. I am proud of the charitable projects we have pursued over the last 12 months and encourage our membership to act with renewed vigour to this end. Preparing for the Solemn Mass of Investiture, the Most Reverend Jan Tyrawa, Bishop of Bydgoscz, commended the fact that: The Order of Saint Lazarus brings a rich Catholic tradition with its spirituality and social message. [It] remains faithful to the principles of helping the sick, injured, infirm and all in need … Let the continued celebration and participation in the Eucharistic Sacrifice become a source of power for the implementation of the charism of the Order, which should take root and spread its wings. These impassioned words of Bishop Tyrawa firmly resonate in the life of our Order and should be central to our understanding of the positive impact we have on a global scale. We must, with concerted effort, continue our cooperation within the wider civic society. I remind you that the Order of Saint Lazarus is registered as a participant within the United Nations and this in itself sets high expectation for our mission. We will continue to seek all potential partnerships with other charitable organisations and hope this year to be able to cement positive working relationships on a global scale. Let us be clear, our raison d’être is to promote spirituality and charity. Our compassion should have no bonds. With this in mind, it is the intention of my Government to increase the Order’s commitments to those affected by war, devastation and displacement. At the same time, not only are we committed to continue to support SUROL in Sri Lanka and Flying Doctors in Indonesia but we are also researching similar large scale projects to engage with in other countries. It is my desire that effective partnerships should be established with our wider Christian family and so I encourage Heads of Jurisdiction to reach out, with fraternal conviction, to Catholic Orders of Chivalry. In particular I would like to see effective collaboration on issues supported by The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and The Knights of Columbus among others. Today the Order is compromised of fifteen loyal Jurisdictions and with several vibrant Commanderies, which in the near future I hope will be raised to the Status of Grand Priory. I am overjoyed to see that petitions for admission and transfer to the Order are only submitted after scrutiny, by the Grand Prior and national Chaplain, of the candidate’s suitability as a “Quality Christian”. I am also pleased that we continue to welcome back brethren from the Spanish Green Cross Organisation who look to reunite with a faithful model of chivalry in the modern age, informed by a Catholic mission. So that we can achieve this mission effectively I wish to stress the need to continue to upgrade the way in which we communicate our message. We must employ all appropriate technological instruments available to this effect.