Purpose
Every nation, every age, and every people call out for the “true knight”—a servant of Christ and the needy; an apostle of good deeds. Theirs is a life of duty and ideals to uphold, now and for centuries to come. … Read more …
Motto
(For Faith for Service to Humanity}
Maltese Cross
The emblem of the Order is the Maltese Cross which symbolises the eight obligations of the Knights: “to live in truth, to have faith, to repent of one’s sins, to give proof of humility, to love justice, to be merciful, to be sincere and wholehearted, and to endure persecution.
The Knights originally used a plain cross. The Maltese Cross first appeared on coins minted by the Grand Master in the 14th Century. The eight points symbolise the eight obligations of Knights; they have also represented the eight langues of the Order.
The eight points are also used to symbolise the eight langues (tongues) of the Order. … Read more
Arms
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Structure
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Structure
Structure of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller
OSJ (Malta)
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The Sovereign Council is the supreme legislative body of the OSJ.
It consists of a maximum of twenty Bailiffs who, together with the Grand Priors and Priors, make up the governing body.
Bailiffs, who may serve until age 80, are regular members of the Sovereign Council and hold permanent seats, while Grand Priors and Priors hold temporary seats for as long as they hold their posts.
The [Lieutenant] Grand Master is the President of the Sovereign Council.
The Grand Magistracy can be filled by a Lieutenant Grand Master elected with full powers by the Sovereign Council. The Lieutenant Grand Master is elected for a limited period of time and enjoys all the rights and privileges of the Grand Master.
The Secretary General provides administrative assistance.
The [Lt] Grand Master, with the approval of the Petit Conseil, appoints a Bailiff or Knight/Dame Commander as Secretary General to provide administrative assistance to the President of the Sovereign Council.
The Ecclesiastical Council gives advice on religious, liturgical and ecclesiastical matters.
Its members are drawn from clerical members of Christian denominations and are appointed by the [Lt] Grand Master with the approval of the Petit Conseil.
The role of the Petit Conseil is the central administration of the Order.
It is made up of four Conventual Bailiffs (the Grand Commander, the Grand Marshal, the Grand Councillor and the Grand Hospitaller) and their lieutenants, and convenes twice a year or more frequently, if necessary, to manage the affairs of the OSJ.
The Supreme Court resolves disagreements and differences.
Disagreements and differences, which cannot be otherwise settled, are resolved by the Supreme Court of the Order, comprising three judges and two auxiliary judges chosen from Knights and Dames of Justice or Grace.
The Units of the Order
Grand Priories are governed as autonomous entities but always in concert with the [Lieutenant] Grand Master, within and in harmony with the directives of the Petit Conseil, and in accordance with the Constitution given by the late Majesty King Peter II of Yugoslavia. Some priories come under the jurisdiction of a Grand Priory, others are independent, responsible directly to the Petit Conseil. Similarly, some Commanderies are under the jurisdiction of a Grand Priory or Priory, others are independent, responsible directly to the Petit Conseil.
International Structure
