The Knights of Justice or Professed Knights, form the first of the three classes of members of the
Sovereign Military Order of Malta
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), officially the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta ( it, Sovrano Militare Ordine Ospedaliero di San Giovanni di Gerusalemme, di Rodi e di Malta; ...
together with the professed conventual chaplains. They make vows of
poverty, chastity, and obedience. "They are
religious
Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatur ...
in all respects and they comply with the universal and particular norms that concern them."
The religious superior of the Knights of Justice, under the
Prince and Grand Master, is the Grand Commander, currently Fra'
Emmanuel Rousseau. Most Knights of Justice are members of a Priory or Subpriory.
All Knights of Justice have the title ''Fra' '' (an abbreviation for the Latin word ''frater'' meaning brother). They are divided into the following ranks:
* Venerable Bailiff Knights Grand Cross of Justice Professed in Perpetual Vows
* Knights Grand Cross of Justice Professed in Perpetual Vows
* Commanders of Justice Professed in Perpetual Vows
* Knights of Justice Professed in Perpetual Vows
* Knights of Justice Professed in Temporary Vows
* Knights admitted to the Novitiate
Until 1989 all Knights of Justice had to be nobles, but since then non-noble Knights of Magistral Grace have been permitted to advance into the category of Justice. Until 2022 the Prince and Grand Master was elected from among the Knights of Justice who have the nobiliary requirements prescribed for the category of Knights of Honour and Devotion; this requirement no longer exists
Membership numbers
There are currently (2022) thirty-eight Knights of Justice.
Historical membership numbers of professed knights
Prominent living Knights of Justice
The abbreviation S.E. stands for ''Sua Eccellenza'', His Excellency. It is used by the members of the
Sovereign Council, by grand priors, and by those knights who are
bailiffs
A bailiff (from Middle English baillif, Old French ''baillis'', ''bail'' "custody") is a manager, overseer or custodian – a legal officer to whom some degree of authority or jurisdiction is given. Bailiffs are of various kinds and their o ...
.
Robes
The black church robe worn by the Knights of Justice has a different shape from that worn by the knights of the second and third classes. It is distinguished by the cross of Malta on the left side (not on the centre of the breast). The cross is completely white (not merely outlined in white).
The Knights of Justice in perpetual vows wear an additional garment called a
scapular
The scapular (from Latin '' scapulae'', "shoulders") is a Western Christian garment suspended from the shoulders. There are two types of scapulars, the monastic and devotional scapular, although both forms may simply be referred to as "scapu ...
(but different in shape from other monastic scapulars). It hangs from the back of the neck like a yoke and wraps around the back and then rests over the left forearm (similar to a
maniple). It has four large tassels and is embroidered in gold with the
symbols of the Passion of Christ.
The red military uniform of the Knights of Justice is distinguished by a white collar, white lapels and white cuffs.
[Valentini, 36.] The feathers of the
feluca worn by Knights of Justice are white instead of black.
Knights in minority
Until 1961 Knights of Justice could be admitted to the Order ''in minority'', i.e. when they were children. This would give them seniority when applying for commanderies in the Order. Most of these Knights of Justice in minority did not take solemn vows when they became adults.
Prince Philipp of Liechtenstein (born 19 August 1946) and
Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein (born 24 October 1947) were admitted as Knights of Justice in minority at the ages of four and three on 15 November 1950; Neither brother took vows as an adult; Prince Nikolaus is now a Knight of Honour and Devotion. The last Knight of Justice in minority was Count Franz-Alfred von Hartig, who was admitted 31 May 1951 when he was sixteen; he never took vows and is now a
Knight in Obedience and the Order's ambassador to
Romania
Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...
.
Other orders of knighthood
The term ''Knight of Justice'' is also used for a class of members in several other
chivalric order
An order of chivalry, order of knighthood, chivalric order, or equestrian order is an order of knights, typically founded during or inspired by the original Catholic military orders of the Crusades ( 1099–1291) and paired with medieval conc ...
s including the
Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George
The Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George (SMOCG) ( it, Sacro Militare Ordine Costantiniano di San Giorgio, es, Sagrada Orden Militar Constantiniana de San Jorge), also historically referred to as the Imperial Constantinian Order ...
, the
Johanniterorden (''Rechtsritter''), and the
.
However, these knights are not professed religious who have taken the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Notes
{{Orders, decorations, and medals of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Orders, decorations, and medals of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta