| The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a lay organisation of men and women as well as clergymen.
The Order resides under the personal protection of the Supreme Pontiff and is recognised as legal body under canon and international law.
The Order is recognised by 25 countries, including Belgium. Since February 1st 1996, the Order holds the status of legal body of the Vatican with central headquarters in Vatican City.
Today, the Order has approximately 21.000 members worldwide, spread in 54 Lieutenancies or Magisterial Delegations: 22 in Europe, 15 in North and Central America, 7 in South America and 10 in the Far East (see articles 1 & 4 of the Order's Constitution).
As the name indicates, the Order is closely connected with the ancient traditions, which links her to Palestine and the Holy Places. The Order is both contemporary and has put forward the following objectives so as to promulgate the teachings of Christ, in tradition with the ideal of chivalry and dignity, around the world:
1. First and foremost, the Order encourages its members to strengthen the practice of Christian life in absolute fidelity to the Supreme Pontiff and according to the teachings of the Church
2. In addition, true to its origins, the Order supports the Church's activities in the Holy Land, and assists in particular the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. She also helps the Christian minorities in Palestine, whose fidelity to Christ for over 2000 years should be regarded as a real example. The situation of Christianity in Palestine is very difficult. Christians only make up a small minority under the predominant presence of Israelite and Islamic settlements. In neighbouring countries, Christians are not well received, which drives Christian communities in the Holy Land further into isolation.
3. Finally, a task for which Pope John Paul II reminded us recently: " …the Order provides its support and unceasingly continues to support the defence and promotion of peace, as well as providing the opportunities for different people to live together in harmony, side by side, in the country where the Word became flesh, died and was risen to save all humanity. " True to this guideline, the Order admits 20% of Muslim pupils amongst 18.000 who attend the various schools in the Holy Land, fully convinced that this is the best way to build the future of the Middle East by allowing young people of different communities to live together through means of education, that once adults, they will work together towards peace.
The Supreme Pontiff has named the Cardinal John Foley as Grand Master of the Order. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Mgr. SABBAH, holds the title of Grand Prior of the Order in accordance with its statutes.
The Governor-general is currently H.E. Count Peter Wolff-Metternich zur Gracht.
The Grand Master delegates the responsibilities of regional lieutenancies to lieutenants who have to see to the achievement of the objectives of the Order in their respective countries and jurisdictions.
H.E. M. François t'Kint de Roodenbeke is the current Lieutenant for Belgium.
The insignia and call of the Order are those of Godefroid de Bouillon and his followers in Jerusalem: the cross of Jerusalem, made up of one large red potent cross surrounded by four smaller ones, which represent the five wounds of Christ. The motto 'Deus Lo Vult' was entrusted by Pope Urban II on November 27th 1095 to the crusaders while calling them to liberate the Holy Sepulchre of Christ.
 
The Order's Constitution
Art. 1 The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, of ancient origin, reorganized and enriched by privileges granted by the Supreme Pontiff, enjoys the benign protection of the Holy See by virtue of historic, legal and spiritual bonds. The Order has a Juridical Person under Canon Law, as stated in the Apostolic Letters of His Holiness Pope Pius XII dated September 14, 1949 and His Holiness Pope ]ohn XXIII dated December 8, 1962, as well as a Juridical Person in the Vatican City State according to the prescript of His Holiness John Paul II dated February 1, 1996"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Art. 3 The Order, through its nature and its strictly religious and charitable purposes, does not participate in any movement or demonstration whatsoever of political character. The members of the Order cannot take part in activities or enterprises, organizations and associations whose character, purpose and programs contradict the doctrine and teachings of the Catholic Church, or partake in presumed Orders and Institutions of asserted knighthood character which are not recognized by the Holy See or not allowed by Sovereign States.
Art. 4 The Order has its legal seat in the Vatican City State and the seat of its spiritual activities at the Convent located near the Church of San Onofrio on the Janiculum, as set out in the Motu Proprio of His Holiness Pope Pius XII, dated August 15, 1945. The history and present activities of the Order are fundamentally linked both to Jerusalem and to the other Holy Places"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Secrétariat de la Lieutenance de Belgique
1 Parvis de la Basilique, B - 1083 Bruxelles BELGIQUE
Téléphone: 02/375.80.43. Fax: 02/428.79.99
  
|
