What is a Sub-Priory? A Brief Report from John Dunlap, KJ, Regent of the Sub-Priory of Our Lady of Lourdes

I thought that it might be a good idea for me to give you, especially the new members, a brief idea of what a Sub-priory is.

The Order is broken down into various administrative entities. There are six Grand Priories: Rome, Lombardy and Venice, Naples and Sicily, Bohemia and England which was only restored in 1993 after 450 years in abeyance.

There are currently five Sub-Priories: one in Germany, Ireland, Spain, Western USA, and our Sub-Priory, the Sub-Priory of Our Lady of Lourdes which includes the territory of both the Federal and American Associations. Australia will soon become the sixth sub-priory.

The Order has forty-two National Associations in thirty-nine countries and fourteen national organizations that are not yet associations.

The Order of Saint John was the first religious order to have centralised administration and control. Because it covered the whole of Europe and much of the Middle East, it was divided for administrative purposes.

1 Throughout its history, the government and administration of the members, employees, servants, volunteers, and others in any way connected with the Order, and of its properties were exercised through commanderies, usually grouped into priories. Priories were “religious” organizations to guide and assist the members in their spiritual lives, and the Priors were local religious superiors.

As you are aware, there are three classes of Knights in the Order of Saint John. Today some of you will be invested into the Third Class of the Order. Ninety-nine percent of members are in the Third Class.

Within the Third Class there are three different types of knights and dames. Knights and Dames of Honour and Devotion, Knights and Dames of Grace and Devotion and Knights and Dames of Magistral Grace. The first two categories are nobiliary in nature and require that certain noble proofs for one’s family be submitted to the Order. Requirements for both vary widely depending upon country of origin. Generally, Honour and Devotion requires a much longer pedigree of nobility.

Knights of Magistral Grace who form the vast majority of knights in North America are admitted pursuant to the Grace of the Grand Master and are not required to submit noble proofs.

Knights, and now Dames, of the Third Class after having been active in the Order for over five years can petition to make the Promise of Obedience.

2 Up until quite recently the category of Obedience was only open to those from the noble ranks.

Entry into Obedience requires a year of preparation with a spiritual advisor, generally a Chaplain of the Order or a Professed Knight, and five-day spiritual retreats at the beginning and at the end of the year. If approved, the Knight or Dame makes the Promise of Obedience. In Obedience one promises to live a life leading to Christian perfection in the spirit of the Order and in the sphere of its works, to attend mass frequently and to recite certain prayers daily. The Knight or Dame in Obedience must also take part annually in spiritual exercises for three days. You must remember that being admitted to the Second Class is NOT a promotion nor is it an honour. It is a commitment to a deeper personal spirituality within the Order and the availability to perform further duties for the Order.

The First Class of the Order is made up of professed knights and chaplains who have made the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. These knights are known as Knights of Justice. They are required to undergo a novitiate under the guidance of another senior Knight of Justice and also have as a Novice Master, normally a Chaplain of the Order. The novitiate may last from one to two years. One then is simply professed and must renew his vows each year for three years. After three years one can petition

3 to make perpetual vows. The knight is then known as Fra, meaning Frater or Brother.

During the 19th Century, the reduction in the number of Professed Knights and the increase of non-professed resulted in the establishment of National Associations. The first National Association was created in Germany in 1859. National Associations were not religious organisations, but were for the administration of the members and the conduct of the Order’s works. Presidents of National Associations are not religious superiors.

With the development of the Second Class, Knights of Obedience, in the 1950’s, the Sub-Priory was created to serve the spiritual needs of the members of the second class and any First Class knight present. A Sub- Priory does not substitute for the administrative or charitable operations of the National Associations, but only for the development of the spiritual lives of its members. Only members of the First and Second Class can belong to a Sub-Priory.

In our case the Grand Master and the Sovereign Council approved the foundation of the Sub-Priory in June 2006. All Knights of Justice and Knights and Dames in Obedience in both the U.S. Federal and American

4 Associations immediately became members of the Sub-Priory. The Sub- Priory was instituted this very weekend one year ago.

For the establishment of a Sub-Priory, there must be at least nine Knights in Obedience. It is governed by a Professed Knight, or if there is none, by a Knight in Obedience, with the title of Regent. The Regent is assisted by a Council and a Chapter. The first Regent, Officers and Councillors are appointed by the Grand Master. Thereafter, they are elected by the Chapter. They hold office for six years and may be re-elected.

When there are sufficient numbers of Knights of Justice in a Sub-Priory, at least five, then it may petition the Grand Master to become a Grand Priory. In our case, we already have four Knights of Justice, one in perpetual vows, who is here with us today, Fra James-Michael, who serves as Vice-Regent, and three in temporary vows, including myself. I hope to make my perpetual profession next Spring.

The purpose of the Order of Malta is to promote the glory of God through the sanctification of its members, service to the faith, and to the Holy Father, and assistance to one’s neighbour, in accordance with the ancient traditions of the Order. The mission of the Sub-Priory of Our Lady of Lourdes, to

5 quote liberally from its mission statement, is to assist its members in fulfilling these requirements and additionally to assist and guide them in fulfilling the special obligations incumbent upon them because of membership in their respective Classes within the Order, either in religious profession or in Obedience.

A Sub-Priory should be a community in which prayer, action and sacrifice draw to its members the grace of God, so that its members may live a life in conformity with the spirit of the evangelical counsels in accordance with their state in life. In pursuit of these goals, the Sub-Priory will provide assistance through education; spiritual exercises and other spiritual and religious activities; encouragement of members to defend and advance the faith; and encouragement of its members to devote themselves individually and corporately to works of charity and mercy in the spirit of the Order.

The Sub-Priory also has a mission with regard to the other members of the two associations within its jurisdictional bounds. It is to assist and cooperate, as appropriate, in the religious and spiritual activities of these associations. It will also assist and promote participation in support of the charitable institutions and works of the Order as conducted by the associations.

The Regent has several duties. He is the religious superior for all members of the Sub-Priory. He receives the vows and promises of its members. He

6 represents the Sub-Priory in its relations with the Grand Master, the Government of the Order and the organisations of the Order. He convenes the Council and the Chapter on a regular basis and makes known the decrees of the Grand Master and ensures their observance. He also makes known the decrees of the Holy See as provided by the Grand Master and assures that all members of the Sub-Priory fulfill their obligations regarding annual spiritual exercises. The Regent is also charged with promoting religious vocations to the First Class and vocations to the Second Class.

This first year has been a busy one. We have held retreats in Pennsylvania and Connecticut for our members. We held three days of recollection, one at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral here in New York, one at Saint Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington and one in Lourdes.

The sub-priory continues to grow. We are now over fifty members divided almost equally between the American and Federal Associations. During this past year, I have received the promise of seven individuals and will soon receive the promises of five more. We have numerous Knights and Dames who are currently in their year of preparation. I shall soon take the renewal of vows of two of Knights of Justice in temporary vows. Our members meet regularly to pray and study together. We continue to pray for more vocations.

I hope that this has helped you to understand the Order which many of you are about to enter. Please pray for us as we shall continue to pray for all of you.

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