KNIGHT GRAND CROSS OF THE ORDER OF MERIT Including Brevet & Insignia of Knighthood Start Price USD 395.00 Current Price USD 395.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, November 12, 2008 End Time Tuesday, November 25, 2008 Location Rome See more about 'KNIGHT GRAND CROSS OF THE ORDER OF MERIT' Description Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit BECOME A KNIGHT GRAND CROSS and Patron OF THE ORDER OF MERIT OF THE EQUESTRIAN MILITIA OF THE KNIGHTS OF THE HOLY GHOST Recipients receive the Brevet and Insignia of a Knight of Honor and Merit For those who strive for distinction, this is a truely rare offer. Included in this listing is an honorary Knighthood emanating from the Order of Merit of The Equestrian Militia of the Knights of the Holy Ghost, a modern confraternity of knights and companions. The Militia of the Holy Ghost (or Militia), is offering to men and women of good character the extraordinary, and for many, the only, opportunity of becoming a knight and member of a modern Order, one which bears an ancient title and whose purpose is to continue an equally ancient tradition of hospitaller service. If your feel that you are ready to take up a noble cause and become a knight, we invite you to read further and discover how this is possible and why it is being made available now. THE HISTORY OF THE ORDERS OF THE HOLY GHOST and the Founding of the Equestrian Militia of the Knights of the Holy Ghost The Ancient Order The Roman Catholic Order of the Holy Ghost enjoyed a very long and distinguished history of service to the causes of medical care and humanitarian relief. The first Order of the Holy Ghost of Montpellier (Holy Ghost di Sassia) was founded in 1178 under the rule of St Augustine by Guy de Montpellier as an order of hospital knights. In 1204 the Order acquired the Hospital di Sassia in Rome, which thereafter became the cradle of the new order. Soon after, the houses of the Holy Ghost began to spread throughout all the countries of Christendom, leaving a legacy of Christian charity and care that has since been recognized by every historian of medicine. At the height of the Order's power it consisted of over 900 houses, all under the supreme authority of a Master-General resident in Rome. By 1476 the Order had become so large it was divided into two separate confraternities, one with a Master-General presiding over the Order within Rome, the Italian states and England. While another Master-General ruled over the Order in France and the remainder of Europe. This rise to power was not long lived. Between 1672 and 1700 the Military nature of the Order was suppressed, first by the Papacy, then Louis XIV of France. Over the following two centuries, the Order (along with the Order of Malta and the Order of St. Lazarus) rapidly lost revenues and membership. By the early years of the twentieth century the Roman Catholic Order of the Holy Ghost had been reduced to a purely religious confraternity, concentrated in Rome and the surrounding area. The Modern Order In November 2001 a group of laymen who desired to contribute to the causes of humanitarian care, dusted off the ancient statutes of the Order of the Holy Ghost and reconstituted it's mission of hospitaller service. Shortly thereafter the modern Byzantine Catholic Order of the Holy Ghost was born. The new Order (for it cannot be considered a revival of the old) is formally known as the Archconfraternity of the Order of the Holy Ghost of Montpellier of Jerusalem of Cyprus and of Cilicia.  The Order is a brotherhood of knights and companions observing the Greek Byzantine Catholic Rite. The Order has strict admission standards, accepting only members of the Catholic faith (although sometimes accepting Anglicans and Orthodox Christians) who are committed to the Order's mission of service. Recognizing the tremendous value of the Protestant faith, in April 2007, The Grand Seneschal of the Order of the Holy Ghost established an official auxiliary of the Order, The Militia of the Holy Ghost. Originally established to provide volunteers and support to the regular Order, the Militia has rapidly evolved beyond it's original purpose. The Equestrian Militia of the Knights of the Holy Ghost On February 1, 2009 the Militia of the Holy Ghost will separate from the Order of the Holy Ghost and become an autonomous confraternity, complete with it's own Chapter-General, Grand Council and Constitution. Under the new Constitution, the supreme office of the Militia, the Grand-General, will be united with that of Master-General of the Order of the Holy Ghost, this, along with certain constitutional provisions, will ensure a permanent unity of leadership and mission between the two confraternities and prevent any overlap of missions. As is true of the Order, the Militia (an ancient title, often used to describe a private association of knights) observes the Greek Byzantine Catholic Rite during official ceremonies and services. While it is true that the Militia  is organized as an Order of Knighthood and shares much of the ceremonies, customs, practices and forms of insignia that are used by the regular Orders of Chivalry, such as the Order of Malta and the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, the Militia should not be considered an Order of Chivalry it is more properly thought of as a confraternity or brotherhood, whose members, by practicing the Christian  beliefs of Faith and Charity, seek to carry out the works that make up the core of the Militia's purpose. The Militia is an organization founded by laymen dedicated to helping those in need, and though fully catholic in both faith and doctrine and considering itself to be under the spiritual authority of the Apostolic Exarch of the Greek Byzantine Catholic Church. The Militia is not an official institution of the Greek Byzantine Catholic Church nor of the Roman Catholic Church. PATRON OF THE MILITIA The modern course to becoming a knight The Order of Merit of the Militia of the Holy Ghost In the summer of 2008, with the decision made to organize the Militia into a separate and independent confraternity, The Council of Regency sought to give the Militia a means to honor those individuals who might provide service to the Militia by offering their professional services, or by acting as benefactors to or on behalf of the Militia. Searching for historical as well as modern precedent, the Council elected to create a marriage of a number of historical precedence and founded a special system of honors for those who had rendered such aid to the Militia. Chartered in August 2008 as the Order of Merit of the Militia of the Holy Ghost, the honor is awarded in two categories of four ranks. The first category, that of a Knight of Devotion, is granted to those who have rendered meritorious service to the Militia and is conferred in the ranks of Knight or Dame Grand Cross, Knight or Dame Grand Officer, Knight or Dame Commander, and Knight or Dame. Knight Grand Crosses and Knight Grand Officers display a gold labarum on the ribbon, while Knight Commanders and Knights use a silver labarum. The second category, Knight of Merit is awarded to those who have served the Militia as Patrons. These are benefactors of the Militia, who through their generous financial support,  act to ensure that the Militia has the resources to fulfill it's mission and organizational responsibilities. By acquiring this listing, Patrons meet the minimum obligation for entry into the Order of Merit within the Category of Honor and become members of the Order of Merit in one of four ranks, which are the same as those granted to members in the category of Devotion, they are in order of precedence Knight or Dame Grand Cross, Knight or Dame Grand Officer, Knight or Dame Commander, and Knight or Dame. The ranks of Knight Grand Cross, Knight Grand Officer and Knight Commander of the Order of Merit are awarded as a life honor, while the rank of Knight or Dame may be conferred as a hereditary title. KNIGHT OF HONOR AND MERIT Receiving the Styles, Privileges and Prerogatives of a Knight of Honor The Styles of a Knight of Honor Knights of Honor and Merit of the Militia are properly styled Monsieur (name), Chevalier de L'Ordre du Mérite de L'Milice du Saint-Esprit or Madame (name) Dame de L'Ordre du Mérite de L'Milice du Saint-Esprit and may use the postnomials K.O.M.H.G. or D.O.M.H.G. respectively. Spouses of Knights or Dames of the Order of Merit use the style Monsieur (name) des Chevaliers de L'Ordre de Mérite de la Milice du Saint-Esprit or Madame (name) des Chevaliers de L'Ordre de Mérite de la Milice du Saint-Esprit. The Privileges of Knighthood The recipient of the honor of a Knight of Merit of the Order of the Holy Ghost is entitled to certain privileges and rights as described within the Constitution and Rule of the Order. An individual holding the rank of an Knight or Dame of Honor and Merit of the Militia is considered to be an high personage, closely affiliated with the Militia and allowed the use of the insignia and title of a Knight of Merit, yet not having undergone the usual period of formation required for Knights of the regular Order. Recipients of this dignity hold the style of a Knight Grand Cross of Honor and Merit as a non-hereditary right, the title may not be transmitted to the member's heirs or descendents, although such descendents are given  DOCUMENTS AND INSIGNIA Within approximately thirty days of the completion of the auction, the applicant will receive the beautifully inscribed Letters Patent document, numbered and bearing the official Seal and Stamp of the Archconfraternity of the Order of the Holy Ghost of Montpellier of Jerusalem of Cyprus and of Cilicia, this decorative document is the legal instrument effectively granting to the recipient the right to the use of the dignity and rank of a Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Militia of the Holy Ghost. A copy of these Letters Patent are placed on file in the archives of the Order, and duplicates can be made available upon request. In addition to the Letters Patent, the recipient of this rank and honor will receive the following insignia; Knight Grand Cross of Honor and Merit's Cross with ribbon, Breast Star and miniature  Cross (as shown). Badge and Breast Star of a Knight Grand Cross of Merit Members receive the insignia of knighthood ARMORIAL BEARINGS After receiving the Letters Patent of the Order of Merit of the Militia, the recipient of this dignity may request to become an armiger of the Order of Merit and Militia by applying for a grant of arms to the Herald of the Militia, consistent with the dignity and rank of a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit. The armorial bearings will be granted by means of Letters Patent and shall consist of a shield and mantle surmounted by the coronet of a Knight.      APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS Individuals interested in participating in this auction, must if successful, be able to meet certain requirements as set forth by the Rule and Constitution of the Militia, these are as follows; Applicants who desire to may request to be formally invested in one of the Order's investiture ceremonies. Investitures are held twice a year, the first is held on the Feast Day of Pentecost (between May 10 and June 13) and takes place in Rome. The second, is held on the anniversary of the installation of the Master-General of the Order and is held in Washington D.C. All applicants requesting formal investment by the Master-General of the Order (or a member of the Council) must submit an application for investiture six months before the requested date, and pay an investiture fee.  Members formally invested receive the azure Mantle of a Knight of the Order of Merit as well as sword. Although the recipient is not required to be a member of a specific christian congregation, the successful applicant, who desires investiture, must be able to make the profession of faith (confirming the Athanasian, Nicene and Apostles Creed), as well as take an oath to that effect. Applicants must be over 18 years of age. Members of the Order of Merit of the Militia, though not required to be followers of the Roman Catholic or Byzantine Catholic faith, must take an Oath to support the tenants of the Christian faith in both charity and purpose. No member of the Order of Merit shall at any time attempt, by wanton act, to bring discredit to the Order of the Holy Ghost, Order of Merit or Militia of the Holy Ghost. By becoming a Patron of the Militia and Member of the Order of Merit, the individual agrees to abide by the Constitution of the Militia in all matters pertaining to their involvement with that organization. By bidding on this listing the individual accepts the terms described above and agrees to abide by them. Please contact us before bidding, if you have any questions. MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION AND PAYMENT Purchasers are required to submit payment within five days of the close of auction. We currently only accept PayPal as a payment option for this listing. Preparation of documents may require up to thirty days from date of purchase. The use of the title and insignia of a Knight of Merit does not confer to the bearer the right to the use of the styles of chevalier or dame, membership within the Order or Militia of the Holy Ghost, nor does it confer any precedence or privileges within the Order or Militia of the Holy Ghost. For information on joining the Militia The National Association of the Archconfraternity of the Order of the Holy Ghost of Montpellier of Jerusalem of Cyprus and of Cilicia USA Inc. is a registered non-profit corporation duly incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia in the United States.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Place a Bid!