On the first weekend of May this year, the pilgrim city
of Lourdes, France was largely given over to the
Sovereign Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of
Rhodes and of Malta, more familiarly known as the
Knights of Malta. Born of the First Crusade, the Order
was first based in Jerusalem where it ran a hospital for
pilgrims while also providing support and protection for
pilgrims on the way to and from Jerusalem. After the fall
of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Order settled
first in Rhodes, then in Malta. After Napoleon drove the
Order out of Malta, it briefly found protection from the
Emperor of Russia before evolving to a Sovereign entity
without any real territory (except for its headquarters in
Rome which enjoys extraterritoriality). The Order of St.
John is truly the first “international organization”. While
the Order retains the word “Military” in its official name,
its focus has long since shifted to the other two aspects
of its original Charter of 1114, namely charity and caring
for the sick. Hence the Order’s annual pilgrimage to
Lourdes.
Although highly visible in the streets of Lourdes
because of its members’ distinctive uniform of black
tunic and beret for men and short white veil and black
cloak for women, the real attention is given over to the
“Malades”, or the sick pilgrims who are the reason for the
pilgrimage. From its earliest days the Order coined the
expression “nos seigneurs, les malades”, or “our lords,
the sick”. And treated as Lords they are, as they are
literally carted around Lourdes by members of the Order.
From all over the world the Order brings them in to
experience the healing waters of Lourdes revealed by
our Lady to St. Bernadette. They have the opportunity to
go to the Baths, to receive the Sacraments, to participate
in both the Rosary and the Eucharistic Processions and
to receive pilgrim medals from the hands of the Grand
Master of the Order, who although a professed religious
is not a priest and yet ranks with the Cardinals. The
overall experience for all who are involved is one of
healing – if not in body, most certainly in soul – a healing
that can only come from and through the Love of our
Lord Jesus Christ. (Next week some highlights of my
own specific experience with the Order at Lourdes.)