Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem

[JonW]

Is this legit, and is anyone a member?

http://www.knightofmalta1.org/Commandery_Belgium.htm

[Mac_Giolla_Bhrighde]

Is this legit, and is anyone a member?

http://www.knightofmalta1.org/Commandery_Belgium.htm

Yes the Order of Malta is the one and only true Order of St. John. As to the website I don't know. This is the official Belgium site and the official site of the order.

http://www.ordredemaltebelgique.org/
http://www.orderofmalta.org/english

P.S. you have to be nobility or a priest to be able to join.

[damooster]

Is this legit, and is anyone a member?

http://www.knightofmalta1.org/Commandery_Belgium.htm

I can't look at the websites as I'm at work (and getting ready for a meeting), but isn't this the philanthropic organization, where you have to be a leading person in your profession and pay like thousands in dues a year?

[The_Harlequin_King]

P.S. you have to be nobility or a priest to be able to join.

Nah, just rich.

If you HAD to be noble in the traditional European sense, then the Order of Malta would be out of business in the United States. But the Order draws tons of money and membership out of the U.S.

[JonW]

That's strange.  According to the website, the most you would ever have to pay is a total of $600, and that's if you reach the highest levels.  I think $100 of it is for the cape.  Also, to join the order itself is free.

[Mac_Giolla_Bhrighde]

That's strange.  According to the website, the most you would ever have to pay is a total of $600, and that's if you reach the highest levels.  I think $100 of it is for the cape.  Also, to join the order itself is free.

Then inquire and see what happens.  :)

[glgas]

http://knightstemplar-be.org/order_of_sa...non_la.htm

This link came out about their legality from the website.

The essence is that there was and order of St John headquartered in St Petersburg Russia and abolished by the Bolsheviks. This order was latent and reorganized ib Belgium (w/o proof of continuity)

They have also quite negative view of the traditionalists.

[damooster]

That's strange.  According to the website, the most you would ever have to pay is a total of $600, and that's if you reach the highest levels.  I think $100 of it is for the cape.  Also, to join the order itself is free.

It must depend on your geographical location then. For the "Federal" branch here in DC, the requirements are:

# Applicants are to be Catholic lay men or women in good standing with the Church.
# Applicants are to be at least 25 years of age.
# The applicant should have achieved a degree of distinction in their profesionional field and in their philanthropic activities.
# The applicant should be regarded as a leader in their field and within their community.
# The applicant must have a record of service to the Catholic Church and to Catholic-related causes by lending their professional expertise and their hands-on volunteer service to the poor and the sick.

Then the financial obligations are:

# Prior to Investiture, every candidate will be required to pay a one-time initiation fee or, more commonly known as, "Passage Fees."
# Passage Fees are $4,000. Of this amount, $2,000 Euro go directly to the international programs of the Order and the remainder covers Investiture Weekend expenses.
# For members under the age of 35, the Passage Fees are $2,000.
# After the initiation year, all members pay Annual Dues of $1,000 per year.

http://www.orderofmalta-federal.org/

They sound more elitist than Opus Dei...

[Walty]

That's strange.  According to the website, the most you would ever have to pay is a total of $600, and that's if you reach the highest levels.  I think $100 of it is for the cape.  Also, to join the order itself is free.

It must depend on your geographical location then. For the "Federal" branch here in DC, the requirements are:

# Applicants are to be Catholic lay men or women in good standing with the Church.
# Applicants are to be at least 25 years of age.
# The applicant should have achieved a degree of distinction in their profesionional field and in their philanthropic activities.
# The applicant should be regarded as a leader in their field and within their community.
# The applicant must have a record of service to the Catholic Church and to Catholic-related causes by lending their professional expertise and their hands-on volunteer service to the poor and the sick.

Then the financial obligations are:

# Prior to Investiture, every candidate will be required to pay a one-time initiation fee or, more commonly known as, "Passage Fees."
# Passage Fees are $4,000. Of this amount, $2,000 Euro go directly to the international programs of the Order and the remainder covers Investiture Weekend expenses.
# For members under the age of 35, the Passage Fees are $2,000.
# After the initiation year, all members pay Annual Dues of $1,000 per year.

http://www.orderofmalta-federal.org/

They sound more elitist than Opus Dei...

I never really knew what this was about but I have a professor here in DC who just mentioned being a member the other day.

[The_Harlequin_King]

They sound more elitist than Opus Dei...

Considering that the Order of Malta has a direct succession of grandmasters all the way back to Blessed Gerard Tonque, first grandmaster of the Knights Hospitaller, in 1099..... that's not too unreasonable. The Order of Malta, then, is actually older than the Templars, and definitely older than any of the current chivalric orders in England today (like the Garter, the Bath, and so forth).