Quarterly Under the Protection of the Royal House of France
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Quarterly Under the protection of the Royal House of France FALL 2015 Greetings Brothers, Sisters and Confrères These are exciting times of rapid growth and change for the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem’s Grand Priori in the U.S.A. Our membership has sharply increased from two years ago and several people are ready to bear the mantle, badge, and solemn burden of service in our upcoming investiture at Alexandria VA, April 8th through 10th. But, we’re not just about growing in numbers! As a newly minted Grand Priori, we are effectively grasping the challenges and hard work of pro- gram development. You’ll read about some of these exciting initiatives in this inaugural newsletter, The St. Lazarus Quarterly. Ultimately, these developments will drive our ancient knightly mission of humanitarian outreach, which is needed now more than ever, espe- cially by our fellow Christians in the birthplace of our Lord as well as our Order, the Levant. Like our ironclad forbearers, we must recall our vows to wield our symbolic swords and shields to protect the poor, the bed- ridden, the broken down, the weak, and the defenseless of all ages, races, ethnicities and religions. This is how we will sustain our ancient chivalric obligation to treat those less privileged than us with generosity and nobility. Atavis et Armis! Chevalier Commander Thierry de Villejust Grand Prior December 17, St. Lazarus Feastday April 8,9,10, U. S. Investiture In this issue October 15, Rome Investiture The Asylee Woman Enterprise Initiative In this issue The Order’s Sergeants-Yesterday and Today St.The Lazarus Asylee VolunteerWoman Enterprise Auxiliary InitiativeCuirassiers NewThe OrderOrder’ sof Sergeants St. Lazarus-Yesterday Web Page and Today InvestitureSt. Lazarus 2016 Volunteer Auxiliary Cuirassiers St.New Lazarus Order Wineof St. Lazarus Web Page MemberInvestiture Spotlight: 2016 Dr. Felix Holewinski St. Lazarus Wine The Evolution of Knighthood WhatMember is a Spotlight: Chiurgeon Dr.? Felix Holewinski, St. Lazarus Quarterly, Fall 2015 Page 1 St. Lazarus to Aid Women Asylum Seekers By Dr. H. Wayne Nelson, SBLJ, M.M. ortured and threatened with death or degrada- T tion, women seeking asylum from strife torn lands find hope and the social support needed to rebuild their lives in the Maryland based Asylee Women Enterprise (A.W.E.). Although, the core service for A.W.E is transitional housing, the four year old not- for-profit also provides an array of programs, social hours, skills clas- ses and other services that are offered by a burgeoning network of volunteers. Volunteers are crucial to building a warm and nurturing community that breaks down the soul sapping walls of isolation that too often engulfs desperate female sojourners fleeing persecution to build a new life. The A.W.E was founded in 2011 by an alliance of 9 Catholic women’s religious communities in the Baltimore Archdiocese. It Grand Prior, H. E. Theierry Pauquet De Villejust, K.C.L.J, M. M. currently provides housing for 14 women, many of whom are pro- and Her Royal Highness, Princess Chlotilde d'Orléans in the Re- fessionals, with 33 others on the ever-lengthening wait list. In the ception line at the Spring 2015 Investiture in Miami Florida. future, A.W.E. will be supported by U.S. Grand Priory of the Order of St. Lazarus. The relationship was forged when Chancellor Patrick Davis, Hos- Chivalric Splendor: The pitaller Dr. Wayne Nelson, Senior Chaplain Fr. Paul Brezcinski, and 2016 OSt.LJ Investiture in Avocat Len Shoemaker met with A.W.E Executive Director Molly Cor- bett, to learn about her organiza- Alexandria VA. tion and explore ways to help. Opportunities abound, but delega- tion agreed that the Order of St. ld world tradition, O the elegance of a Lazarus could not only provide A.W.E. with a licensed Maryland noble and knightly past, cozy attorney, Len Shoemaker, but a camaraderie with all the con- veniences and vibrant new body of persons knowledgeable world atmosphere of one of about political and social conditions Alexandria Virginia’s most in certain countries, such as Afghanistan. These in-house authori- charming Hotels, the historic ties and their network of associates, could, by virtue of their history Crown Plaza. Hotel in Old Town and specific in-country experience, testify about religious and sec- Circle these dates now April 8, 9, and 10 so as not to tarian strife and the otherwise grim geopolitical realities that plague miss the Order’s Spring 2016 Investiture, which is not parts of the Middle East and Africa to ensure that female asylum only great chance to savor the convivial charm of old seekers get their best possible day in court. Shoemaker was also and new friends alike, but attendance is also our du- invited to attend A.W.E ty. Remember, our chivalric mission impels us to re- Board meetings. We look new our spirits by partaking in the central and sol- forward to supporting this emn ceremony of our Holy Investiture which signifies our commitment to defend the poor as well as the wonderful humanitarian honor and sustain our true and historic order. initiative, as part of our call The solemn vigil and investiture will be held to serve and defend. at majestic St. Mary's Catholic Church in historical Old Town Alexandria. At over 200 years old, St. Mary's Parish is one of the oldest continuing active Catholic churches in the Common Wealth of Virginia, and is a notable attraction -in and-of-itself. Keep your eyes peeled for more investiture updates in the coming months. PAGE 2 St. Lazarus Quarterly, Fall 2015 PAGE 2 rus is a Military (and Hospitaller) order under French St. Lazarus Volunteer Corps Royal protection, it is fit and right that the order’s volunteer military auxiliary should bear the proud Approved—The Cavaliers title of these loyal, royal, courageous, and tireless troops, who will, as our By Dr. H. Wayne Nelson, SBLJ, M.M. volunteer auxiliary, fully Blaring bugles, thundering hoofs, buff coats, red sashes, and appropriately share cavalier-hilt rapiers, arquebus pistols and colorfully plumed broad our motto: Atavis et hats mark the flower of 15th Century cavalry—the cavaliers. Most Armis. Now, however, famously, they were chief symbol of the Royalist cause during the they will commit to be English Civil War (1642-1651 in colonial America’s formative spiritual warriors who don years). Although Cavaliers (from the French Chevalier horseman or a symbolic buff-coat as a knight) were definitely elite, they were not knights, per se, even vestment and unsheathe though their ranks included knights, royals, and nobles, but also their allegoric swords to gentlemen including lesser gentry and other upper and middle class volunteers. They were fierce, fashionable and famously fast- slash and slay the rampant charging horsemen who acted as heavy cavalry by opening a battle and rapacious evils of pov- with a lightning strike charge, firing their pistols just before closing with cold steel. They also acted as light cavalry when chasing down a routed enemy. The Cavalier imagery was still highly influ- ential during our own civil war, reflected in General Custer’s flow- ing locks and even more broadly fueling the famed dash and pa- Wines of the Order nache of south- ern cavaliers By Peter vonJess, SBLJ who, like Custer, often sported short van-dyke choing the hoary tradition of vintner beards and up- monks, the Order of St. Lazarus has ward turned mustaches. teamed with the Windsor Vineyards Recent- (www.windsorvineyards.com) in the world ly a team of St. Efamous Napa Valley in California to produce a signa- Lazarus Officers reviewed, re- ture St. Lazarus branded collection of fine wines to fined and ap- raise moneyhttp://roundlyworded.com/writing for our charitable causes.- help/St. Lazarus is proved a plan to now marketing cases of delicious wine, three red and develop a St. Lazarus Volunteer Corps (see its mission, vision and values at: three white, as shown http://www.ordersaintlazarususa.com/volunteer-corps/). Corps below. These would members will be entitled to the status and dignity of a “Cavalier of make wonderful the Saint Lazarus Volunteer Corps,” with the Post Nominal letters of: “V.L.J.” which stands for “Volunteer of Saint Lazarus of Jerusa- Christmas gifts, and lem.” They shall be formally addressed as “Cavalier.” Annual dues beautiful keepsakes of $120 covers the cost of a brevet, badge, volunteer insurance, for members of the with the bulk supporting the Order’s charitable works. The symbolism redolent in the dashing Cavalier imagery order, our volunteers, is instantly recognizable. As defenders of the crown, they close the and friends. Ordering circle from the earliest stages of chivalry, when knights were little is simple, just click the more than mail clad mounted warriors, to the final days of the 17th century cavaliers stood as an evolved vestige of the old no- link below, and pay by credit or debit card. There are ble chivalry. no shipping charges when the destination is in the But this is only the visual militant and equestrian symbol- Continental USA. You may order up to two cases of ism of the Cavalier as these royalist horse soldiers remind us of our own Royal protection of the House of France. As St. Laza- wine each month through our online store: www.squareup.com/market/saint-lazare-foundation -usa-inc-Wines (continued on page 4) St. Lazarus Quarterly, Fall 2015 PAGE 3 Title This is a good place to briefly, but effectively, describe your product or services. (Wines, continued from page 3) above, the dark black-green Fees. Wine and uniform sales provide a much needed bottle is blazoned with a label bearing the order’s striking lift allowing us to continue to make sizable donations to and historic coat of arms, and name The Military and Hospi- our favored causes.