THE PROFESSION OF FRA JAMES MICHAEL V. STROEBEL
AS A KNIGHT OF JUSTICE IN SOLEMN VOWS

Cathedral of St Matthew, Washington, DC, December 2nd, 1999

ENTRANCE INTO THE CATHEDRAL

The Representatives of the Johanniter and Most Venerable Order of St John enter the Cathedral

Count Elie de Comminges leads James Michael v. Stroebel, wearing the surcoat of a Knight of Justice, into the Cathedral

Following the Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word, came the Order of the Rites of Perpetual Profession. This began with the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus, then the Blessing of the Insignia. The Grand Master and Frà John MacPherson moved to the middle of the sanctuary. Frà John called the Knight candidate forward, followed by his two witnesses.

[JMS] "I ask, Your Most Eminent Highness, to be counted and enrolled in the Military Order of the Knights of Religion of Saint John of Jerusalem"

[Grand Master] "What you ask is of great moment. it is by custom granted only to those who by virtue of their ancient lineage and personal virtue are counted worthy to be enrolled in this way. This presents no obstacle, for we have received certain information as to your nobility, your virtues and the honorable condition of your estate. Accordingly, what you ask will be granted if you promise to keep those precepts which you will hear from us. Are you, in your soul, willing to be a defender of our Holy Mother Church and of the Catholic faith in all circumstances, even if danger to your own life is required of you in her service?"

[JMS] "I promise, Your Highness, with all my strength and at all times I shall apply myself to the defense of the Church and the Faith"

James Michael v. Stroebel kneels before the Grand Master

[GM] "In the same way you shall strive never to desert the colors under which you will stand. If you were to desert them, you would be expelled from this honorable Order in the greatest disgrace and infamy."

[JMS] "I will, Your Highness, strive to stand fast with all my strength"

[GM] "You must promise to have a particular care and concern for those who are poor, dispossessed, orphaned, sick and suffering."

[JMS] "I promise, Your Highness, to do so with the help of Almighty God."

PRESENTATION OF THE SWORD

Frà John MacPherson presents the unsheathed sword to the Grand Master.

[GM] "Since you have shown a ready will in all these matters which we have put to you, take this sword in your hand as the means to carry out the promises you have made, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. With the help of God you will be inflamed with hope, justice and charity and you will bravely offer your spirit to God and your body to the dangers and toils of this world. In this way you will be able to defend the poor and sick and fight against the enemies of the Catholic Faith."

Frà John gives the scabbard to the Knight. The Grand Master hands the sword directly to the Knight and the Grand Master continues.

[GM] "If, then, this is your intention put your sword into its scabbard and take care that you do no harm to any innocent person."

The Knight then sheathes the sword and hands the sheathed sword back to the Grand Master who, in turn, passes it to Frà John, who places it on the tray and picks up the belt.

PRESENTATION OF THE BELT

Frà John presents the belt to the Grand Master.

[GM] "Chief among the virtues of a Knight to God is chastity. This belt is to gird you from the outset and to put it out the fire of the passions in you. May God give you the grace to remain in chastity throughout your life."

The Grand Master hands the belt to the Knight who fastens it to his waist. Frà John then gives the sheathed sword to the Grand Master, who hands it directly to the Knight.

After fastening the belt around his waist, the candidate receives from the Grand Master the Sword, the symbol of his determination to defend the Faith

THE DUBBING

The Knight stands in place, carefully unsheathes his sword, and gives it to the Grand Master, who in turn takes the sword and strikes the Knight's left shoulder three times with the flat of the sword. then, folding the sword before the Knight, the Grand Master continues:

"Although this deed is one of great disgrace for noble men, it will recall to your mind that you have received these blows as a token of your final humiliation in death."

The Grand Master then gives the unsheathed sword to the Knight, who brandished it three times in the air as a symbolic threat to the enemies of the Faith. The Knight then holds the sword in the salute position.

[GM] "Your gesture in brandishing your sword three times indicates that in the name of the Most Holy Trinity you will challenge all enemies of the Catholic Faith in the hope of victory. May the Lord always grant you the victory. Put the sword in its scabbard now and keep it always pure and clean."

The Knight wipes the sword against his left arm, sheathes it, and kneels.

[GM] "The purity and spotlessness of the sword signifies that it is the duty of a Knight to be pure and free from every vice and a lower of all the virtues, especially that of honor, which is ever in the company of the four cardinal virtues."

"With the help of PRUDENCE, the first of the cardinal virtues, you shall bear in mind the past and the present and take thought for the future. With the help of the second, which is JUSTICE, you shall dispose your public duties and your private interests, holding them in balance. With the help of the third, which is FORTITUDE, you shall show magnanimity, on occasions worthy of a true and religious Knight. With the help of TEMPERANCE, the fourth, you shall so govern your senses and feelings as to become a very perfect, gentle Knight. With these four virtues you shall ever seek honor.'

The Grand Master shakes the shoulder of the Knight.

[GM] "Arise! Never hesitate so to value and magnify these virtues. They may earn you honor and recognition from other men. Rise now above your vices and be vigilant in the virtues of which we have spoken. In particular be vigilant in the Faith of Christ for whose sake you shall do all in your power to oppose any man who wishes in any way either to assail or offend against the faith."

James Michael v. Stroebel receives the accolade. (Left to right) H.E. Frà John MacPherson, Member of the Sovereign Council, Count Elie de Comminges, H.M.Em.H. the Grand Master,  James Michael v. Stroebel and H.E. Marquess Gian Luca Chiavari

PRESENTATION OF THE GOLDEN SPURS

Frà John MacPherson presents the golden spurs on a pillow to the Grand Master.

[GM] "Much might be said of the significance of these golden spurs. But now we shall say only this to you: Just as instruments such as these are used to quicken horses to vigor and swiftness, so you too must keep a spur in your heart to urge you towards the virtues and the service of God in all your enterprises and endeavors. Show the world that in your deeds you are a stranger to greed and that you place little value upon gold, as witness the humble place where you wear it. These spurs, in accordance with their true purpose, are worn on the lowest part of the body, that is the feet."

The Grand Master gives the spurs, one to each of the Witnesses who proceed around the kneeling Knight to touch the golden spurs to the heels of the kneeling Knight. Thereafter, together they give the spurs back to the Grand Master, who in turn gives them directly to the Knight kneeling before him who holds them in his hands.

[GM] "These spurs are a reminder that you should hold gold always in contempt and never allow greed or avarice to corrupt you throughout your life".

The candidate receives the gold spurs, the symbol of Knighthood

Following celebration of the Eucharist, the Rite of Profession continued. The Grand master and Frà John, together with the Knight and his witnesses come to the middle of the Sanctuary:

[GM] "What do you ask?"

[JMS]  "I ask, Your Highness, that I may be counted worthy to enter the Order of Brothers of Holy Religion named after the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem."

[GM] "We reply to your that what you ask is indeed of great moment and high importance, this favor is by custom granted only to men of many virtues, as you have recently heard. This is no obstacle to you because we know that in love you are willing to perform works of mercy and that in charity you are willing to serve the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. This Order has been honored and rewarded by many Supreme Pontiffs and Christian Princes with countless favors and privileges. We have, by our own labors, worked for the defense of the Holy Catholic faith against the infidel and against the enemies of the Christian religion. The Order had also fulfilled its obligation in service to the sick, the poor, the afflicted, the dispossessed, and the orphaned. Finally, if you live in accordance with this rule of life to earn the reward of life everlasting, it will most certainly be granted to you. You must keep the precepts of the Lord our God, our Holy Mother the Church of Rome and our Order of Religion. As time passes, you will find easier the practice of self-denial and the mortification of the flesh. If you remember that you have chosen chastity for the service of Religion, it will never be difficult or painful for you to resist any temptation. Tell me, then, in particular, whether you are ready to obey any superior who may in the future be appointed over you by the Grand Master and by this Holy Order of Religion. You should have no regard for the personal status of the superior even if he is your inferior in his state of life. Tell me whether you are willing thus to give up your liberty."

[JMS] "I am willing, Your Highness, to give up liberty in this sense."

[GM] "You shall now inform me whether in the past you have been bound by vow to any religious Order. You shall answer me sincerely and truthfully. Are you a professed member of any religious Order?"

[JMS] "No, Your Highness."

[GM] "Have you any matrimonial obligations?"

[JMS] "No, Your Highness."

[GM] "Have you any obligations to other men, either of personal security or of significant debt?"

The Grand Master places his hand on the shoulder of Frà James Michael

[GM] "Take heed, sir Knight! If anything you have denied in our presence is later proved to the contrary, then with great shame your Habit will be stripped from you and you will be expelled from our Order in disgrace. Assuming the truth of your declarations and in accordance with the form of our Constitution we accept you as a member of our Order."

The solemn promises: (Left to right) Count Elie de Comminges, H.M.Em.H. Frà Andrew Bertie, Frà James Michael and Marquess Gian Luca Chiavari

PERPETUAL RELIGIOUS VOWS

Frà John presents a Missal to the Grand Master and a small Crucifix to the Knight. Holding the Crucifix with both hands and kneeling before the Grand Master who shows him the open Missal, the Knight makes his profession.

[JMS] "I, JAMES-MICHAEL VON STROEBEL, vow and promise to God almighty, to the Blessed Mary, the ever-virgin Mother of God, and to Saint John the Baptist that with the perpetual help of God, I will serve with true obedience any superior who is appointed over me by our Sacred Order of Religion and by our Most Eminent Grand Master. I also vow and promise that I will live henceforth in poverty and chastity."

The Grand Master passes the Roman Missal to Frà John momentarily and says:

[GM] "I now acknowledge you and truly count you as one of our brothers.

[JMS, who is now henceforth entitled to the style "Frà, the abbreviation for Frater, or Brother] "I, too, consider myself by the grace of the Lord our God and the favor of you, our Most Eminent Prince and Grand Master."

[GM] "From this day forth and with all who are close to you, you will have a share in every indulgence and grace which has in the past been granted to this Holy Order of Religion by the Holy Apostolic See."

Frà John returns the Roman Missal to the Grand Master, who in turn presents it to Frà James Michael.

Frà James Michael makes his profession

[GM] "As your first act of obedience, will you take this Missal to the altar and then bring it back to me?"

Frà James Michael stands, and accepting the Missal from the Grand Master, takes the Missal to the altar. He returns, gives the Missal back to the Grand Master, then kneels before him.

Frà James Michael places the Missal on the altar, before returning it to the Grand Master

The first act of obedience: Frà James Michael returns the Missal to H.M.Em.H. (at right, H.E. Marquess Chiavari)

[GM] "As your second act of obedience and as your chief obligation, by virtue of your devotion, you shall recite daily the liturgy of the hours, or the Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of the Office of the Dead, or five decades of the Holy Rosary."

PRESENTATION OF THE HABIT

Frà John holds the Habit up, displaying it for the Grand Master, who then takes hold of part of it, showing it to Frà James-Michael.

[GM] "This is our Habit in the form of the garment of camel hair which our patron, Saint John the Baptist, wore in the desert for his severe penance. You shall, therefore, strive to wear it as a penance for your sins, bearing in mind that from this time until the end of your life you must follow the virtues. The sleeves of the Habit are not only to bind your arms but to remind you of your true obedience to our Holy Order of Religion and to urge you to the defense of the poor and the sick. Remember this often!"

The Grand Master shows Frà James Michael the cross displayed on the Habit.

[GM] "This is the sign of the true Cross. We commend it to you. Wear it always on your left side, over your heart, so you may defend it with your right hand. Always keep in your heart its shape of eight points which stand for the Beatitudes. We seek to observe the beatitudes through our endeavors and the grace of God."

Frà James-Michael stands and is clothed with the habit. He then kneels again.

PRESENTATION OF THE STOLE

Frà John, holding up the Stole, then places into the hands of the Grand Master, one by one, the mysteries of the passion depicted on the Stole.

Frà James Michael receives the Stole

[GM] "We show you this Stole to remind you of the bitter passions of our Lord Jesus Christ who suffered on the Cross for us. Remember often the Cords with which our Lord was bound. These were the Whips with which he was scourged. This was the Pillar at which he was bound and fiercely scourged. These were the Dice. Finally this was the Cross on which our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our sins. Let these be your travelers guide and standard in all your endeavors throughout your life."

The Grand Master places the Stole on the neck of Frà James Michael.

[GM] "This is your yoke and, in the words of our Redeemer, it is sweet and light. May it lead you to eternal life. bear it with the patience and charity expected of you as a true Brother of Religion and an honored Knight. May our Lord grant you this grace in this world and give you the reward of eternal glory in the next."

SIGNING OF THE DOCUMENTS

The newly professed Knight stands and, together with his Witnesses, goes with the Grand Master and Frà John to the altar to sign the documents in silence. Thereafter, all return to their places.

The signing of the solemn profession: (Left to right) H.M.Em.H. the Grand Master, Frà James Michael (obscuring Marquess Chiavari), & Count Elie de Comminges

There then followed the Daily Prayer of the Order, the Anthem of the Order, Closing Remarks by His Eminence James Cardinal Hickey and the Solemn Blessing and Dismissal.

H.E. the Apostolic Nuncio, Count Elie de Comminges and Frà James Michael

Frà James Michael congratulated by H.E. the Apostolic Nuncio

Frà James Michael congratulated by H.Em. James, Cardinal Hickey

FOLLOWING THE DISMISSAL

Count Elie de Comminges leads Frà James Michael and the Cardinal from the Sanctuary; at extreme right H.M.Em.H. the Grand Master, on his right H.E. William Page, President of the Federal Association of the SMOM

(Left to right) H.E. The Apostolic Nuncio, Frà James Michael, Count Elie de Comminges (Kt of justice in temporary vows), H.E. James Cardinal Hickey, H.E. Marquess Gian Luca Chiavari (Receiver of the Common Treasure), H.M.Em.H. Frà Andrew Bertie, 78th Prince and Grand Master

The new professed Knight-Brother following the ceremony