HOSPITALLERS IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE SOVEREIGN MILITARY HOSPITALLER ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM OF RHODES AND OF MALTA ® Volume 6 Spring 2008 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, U.S.A. WWW.MALTAUSA.ORG Fellow members of the American Association: Grand Master Andrew Bertie Dies, Events in Rome: t has been my honor and privilege over the Leaving a Legacy of Caring past month to be in Rome twice, representing the American Association. On February 16th, I I “Our Fràternity will last forever, because the soil in which it is rooted is the misery of this world, and attended the Private Funeral of His Most Eminent — if it should please God — there will always be men who will labour to diminish the suffering and to Highness, Prince and Grand Master of the Order, make the misery more endurable.” – Blessed Gerard, founder of the Order, 1099 A.D. Fra’ Andrew Bertie. I also attended his State Funeral, held on March 7th. Following that, on March 11th, I hen Frà Andrew Bertie died at the age of participated in the election of our new Grand Master. 78 on February 7, 2008, he undoubtedly Fra’ Andrew Bertie: Wmet Blessed Gerard at the Gates of Heaven There is a separate article about Fra’ Andrew in this issue of the Hospitallers, — the Saint may have accompanied the Grand Master but I want to also comment here. to Jesus for an assessment of Frà Bertie’s life. It seems Shortly after the Grand Master died on February 7th, Pope Benedict XVI sent likely that Jesus quoted His own words from the his condolences to the Order in a telegram to the Lieutenant ad interim of the Parable of the Talents as He turned with love to His Order (Grand Commander), Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre. In it, His Holiness stated humble servant and said, “Well done, good and faith- that Fra’ Andrew was “a man of culture and commitment who used his office ful servant.” to help the most needy.” That’s an excellent summary of the nature of the man, For the late Grand Master had led his life by tak- who was considered in the Church to have a status equal to that of a Cardinal. ing the words of the founder of the Knights Hospi- Although I was not “close” to Fra’ Andrew, I got to know him well enough to taller to heart, laboring to diminish suffering and to realize that he was, in his quiet way, a great, effective leader of the Order for Grand Master in Lourdes, 2006 twenty years. A very holy person, he possessed the ultimate of character and make misery more endurable. Since 1988, Andrew integrity. We certainly will miss him. Bertie led this same organization with a charism to defend the faith and to assist the sick and the poor. His quiet reserve, his ability to be in the world and to focus on the needs of a seg- The Private Funeral, February 16th: ment of the world that is too often ignored or forgotten by many, served the Order of Malta In this space, it’s impossible to give a comprehensive description of this his- toric event. This grand ceremony surely demonstrated not only how much Fra’ well. Through his leadership, the Order of Malta has entered the21st Century, ready, willing Andrew was revered and respected as the Head of State of a Sovereign entity, and most importantly, able to carry on the mission which Blessed Gerard began more than but also how much our Order is respected worldwide. 900 years ago. Not so “private,” more than 1,000 were present at the Basilica of Santa Frà Bertie was born in London on May 15, 1929 and spent time during his growing Sabina, up on the Aventine Hill near our palace, Villa Magistrale. In addition years in Edinburgh, Scotland, when his father, in the Navy, was away during the war. He to a very large contingent of members of our Order from all over the world, was a gifted linguist who spoke six languages and a financial journalist with an interest in there were ten Cardinals and several other Bishops and Priests, and our own foreign travel. Ambassadors as well as Ambassadors from the 100 countries with whom we The year 1956 was a year of great international turmoil. The Soviet invasion of Hun- have diplomatic relationships. gry resulted in more than 200,000 refugees escaping from the country. Andrew Bertie spent It would be a gross misstatement to say that the word “magnificent” ad- much of his time assisting those refugees, perhaps a equately describes the procession from our own chapel, Santa Maria at Villa precursor of the work he would eventually lead for Magistrale, down the street to Santa Sabina. First went the cross and flag bearers and next the uniformed Honor Guards of both the Italian Army and the Order. The year 1956 was also a year of great im- the Order, then the Presidents of the National Associations, next the Regents portance for the future of SMOM as it was that same of the Sub-Priories and the Knights of Justice, then the Grand Priors, next the year that the Grand Master joined. In the following casket carried above their shoulders by six pall bearers, then Fra’ Andrew’s years, he would become increasingly involved in the brother, Peregrine, and other members of the family, next the Lieutenant Lourdes Pilgrimages. ad interim (the Grand Commander), then the High Charges (Officers) and In 1960, Andrew Bertie began a twenty year other members of the Sovereign Council, and then the concelebrants of the career as a modern language teacher. Surely, he was Requiem Mass, led by Pio Cardinal Laghi, the Cardinal Patronus of the Order. not a typical school master, given his Rolls-Royce and During the procession, seminarians sang Gregorian chants. Spectacular! black belt in judo. But his love of languages, his love Of course, the Mass, during which the Papal Choir sang, was beautiful, and of the young students and his sly and witty sense of Cardinal Laghi’s homily, voiced in Italian, was extraordinary. humor served him well. Despite his lack of the stern After Mass, we processed back to Santa Maria Church where Fra’ Andrew disciplinarian’s demeanor, his approach of treating his was entombed under the marble floor of the church, in front of the altar. Then we enjoyed a reception in the gardens of the Villa Magistrale. charges as equals gained him the respect, admiration and compliance of his students. All in all, it was wonderful — an experience of a lifetime for me. His school days were ended when he joined the The State Funeral, March 7th: Sovereign Council in 1981 and took his final vows The State Funeral, a solemn memorial service attended by several hundred, as a Knight of Justice. His election as Grand Master again including many members of the Order, was held at the Basilica of St. Bon- seven years later in 1988 came as a surprise to many ifacio and St. Alessio, also near the Villa Magistrale on the Aventine Hill. There Fra’ Andrew Bertie were dozens of Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops in attendance, including — an Englishman and a relative youngster at that. Frà several among the concelebrants of the Requiem Mass, led by Cardinal Sadona, Bertie served in that role for twenty years. Pope Benedict’s representative and retired Secretary of State. In addition, there During his time as Grand Master, Fra Bertie came to the United States to visit and were other Heads State or their representatives, including the President of Italy, encourage the work of the US Associations. Over his twenty years as Grand Master, he heads of other religious orders, and members of the diplomatic corps. witnessed significant growth in the American Association; he also saw the formation of the The Mass, again sung by the Papal Choir, was a beautiful tribute to the life of Sub-Priory of Our Lady of Lourdes, established to foster the growth of the spirituality of the Fra’ Andrew. And after Mass, once again, there was an elegant reception at members in the American and Federal Associations. Worldwide, there are over 12,000 mem- the Villa Magistrale for all in attendance. bers and over 80,000 associates connected to various works of the Order. In 2006, the Order, The Election of the New Grand Master on March 11th: worldwide, spent nearly $1B on its various works of charity. The meeting to hold the election of a Grand Master is called the “Council Com- Frà Bertie was committed to the care of the sick and the poor — his focus for the mem- plete of State.” Again, what an honor it was for me to be able to attend that bers of the Order was on the growth of each individual’s spirituality. Through the work of the th Council and to participate in the election of the 79 Grand Master of our Order! members with the sick and the poor, he hoped they would come to know Jesus. He lived his Over the weekend prior to the election, the various categories of members of own life that way, he provided the example and the leadership to all. the Order held meetings to determine who among them would have the right Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in to vote. For example, according to the Code of the Order, of the 47 National peace. Amen Associations in the Order , only 15 are allowed to vote. So all the Presidents present in Rome had a meeting to elect 15 “electors.” All three U.S.