One of the aims of the order is: To strengthen in its members the practice of Christian life, in absolute fidelity to the Supreme Pontiff and according to the teachings of the Church, observing as its foundation the principles of charity which make the Order a fundamental means of assistance to the Holy Land.
According to our Grand Master, Fernando Cardinal Filoni:
“Spirituality allows us to escape from the dictatorship of relativism, restoring the dignity of the person and rediscovering the meaning of moral and religious values in our pluralistic society. Just as the spirit needs a person, a body, to live, so spirituality needs a body to manifest itself: charity.”
Knights and Dames are called to live the vocation of membership daily. Along with the commitment to support Christians in the Holy Land, members are called to increased personal sanctification. Throughout the year, the Northern Lieutenancy offers various events and activities wherein the practice of faith and worship, members may fulfill that vocation. You will be called to bear witness to ordinations, special prayer services and other special events in your diocese.
Following are just a few of the prayers used by the Order in various prayer services.
Lord Jesus,
who has willed to call me to the Ranks of the Equestrian Order
of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem,
I humbly ask You,
by the intercession of the most Blessed Virgin Mary,
of Saint Joseph, Saint Peter, Saint Paul and all the Saints,
to help me to remain faithful
to the traditions of our Order,
in practicing and defending the Catholic,
Apostolic and Roman Religion
against impiety and in exercising charity to
my Neighbor and above all to the poor and sick
in the Holy Land.
Grant to me and my confreres the grace to
support by prayer and sacrifice the maintenance
of the Holy Places and the work of His
Beatitude the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Give me the strength to be able to
execute these desires with a truly Christian spirit,
for The Glory of God, the peace of the world,
and the good of the Equestrian Order
of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Amen.
O Lord,
in memory of the five wounds that we carry on our insignia we pray to You.
Give us the strength to love all all beings of the world that our Father has created;
and, more so, our enemies.
Free our soul and hearts from sin,
from partiality, from egoism and from cowardice
so that we can be worthy of Your sacrifice.
Let your Holy Spirit fall upon us all,
the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre,
so that it may render us as convinced
and sincere ambassadors of peace and love
among our brothers and sisters and, especially,
among all those who think they do not believe in You.
Give us Faith to face all the problems of everyday life
and to deserve, one day, to approach,
humbly but without fear, Your presence.
Our Lady Queen of Palestine, pray for us.
Amen.
The Memorare
Membership carries with it certain spiritual and temporal responsibilities with the first being daily prayer for peace in the Holy Land. Praying the Memorare to Our Lady, Queen of Palestine is especially encouraged. The Blessed Virgin Mary, under this title, was officially declared patroness of the order in 1994, by order of the Apostolic See. The Memorare was given to the Order by St. Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, when he urged the Second Crusade.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To you I come; before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,
but in your mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
Our heavenly Mother,
Daughter and Queen of the Holy Land,
we turn to you to obtain your powerful intercession.
May graces fall like abundant rain on your people,
heal all the hardened hearts,
and bring justice and peace to the Holy Land.
May Jerusalem shine like a beacon of unity between Christians
who are privileged to live close to the Holy sites,
sanctified by the life, the passion, the death and resurrection of Jesus.
May this Holy City be a haven of friendship and understanding
between Jews, Christians and Muslims.
May intolerance and suspicion vanish, may love eradicate fear.
Our Heavenly Mother,
look with pity on all those who live on the land which is yours,
afflicted by the differences and the conflicts for many generations.
May all those who do not believe in the one God
be touched by your grace and reach the fullness
of faith, hope and love.
Through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.
