Canonisation of St Jacques de Molay and Companions, 18th March 2014
an ecumenical initiative of the Knights Templar Priests of the Presentation of Our Lady
“Jacques de Molay was born into a noble family of Burgundy, and entered the Order of the Temple in 1265. He immediately proceeded to Palestine, where he distinguished himself in the war against the Muslims under the Grand Mastership of William de Beaujeu. He was unanimously elected Grand Master upon the death of Theobald Gaudinius in 1298.
In 1306, King Philip IV "the Fair" (Philippe le Bel) of France took refuge in the Templar headquarters in Paris to escape a civil commotion. Philip and the Knights had always been on good terms, and Philip had even chosen de Molay to be godfather to one of his children. Here he observed first hand the real wealth of the Order. Philip was bankrupt, and faced with severe governmental problems. He contrived a scheme to obtain control over the wealth and holdings of the Templars: they were to be accused of heresy and immorality.
Pope Clement V, who had been enthroned through the assistance of Philip in 1305, invited the Grand Master of the Templars, Jacques de Molay, to Poitiers for a conference. In the mean time, two imprisoned ex-Templars were found, and offered their freedom if they would betray the Order. A number of charges against the Order were drawn up, including collusion with the Saracens; secret profession of paganism or Mohammedanism; requiring all novices to deny Christ, to trample and spit upon the Cross, and to bestow "obscene kisses" upon their prior; the tolerance and even encouragement of sodomy among the membership; and the secret adoration of an idol, mysteriously called Baphomet, which consisted of either a bearded head or an androgynous figure.
On Friday, October 13, 1307, e.v. Jacques de Molay and many of his brethren were arrested and thrown into prison. The king took possession of the Temple in Paris. The knights were tortured to extract confessions, and, not surprisingly, many confessions were obtained; most were contradictory. De Molay himself confessed under torture to doctrinal unorthodoxy.
De Molay was publicly sentenced on March 12, 1314. Asked to make his confession to the crowd, he stepped forward, but, instead of admitting guilt, he proclaimed his innocence and that of the Order, condemning himself to martyrdom. That evening, he was bound to a stake surrounded by combustible materials, and the torch of the executioners applied. With his last words, he invoked vengeance on Philip and Clement. Clement died the following month, and Philip died under mysterious circumstances the following November.
The Templar Order was formally suppressed in all the countries of Europe except Scotland.” (EGC)
St Jacques De Molay was burned alongside several other leading Templars:
St Geoffroi de Charney, Master of Normandy
St Hugues de Peraud, Visitor of France, and
St Godefroi de Gonneville, Master of Aquitaine
In 1306, King Philip IV "the Fair" (Philippe le Bel) of France took refuge in the Templar headquarters in Paris to escape a civil commotion. Philip and the Knights had always been on good terms, and Philip had even chosen de Molay to be godfather to one of his children. Here he observed first hand the real wealth of the Order. Philip was bankrupt, and faced with severe governmental problems. He contrived a scheme to obtain control over the wealth and holdings of the Templars: they were to be accused of heresy and immorality.
Pope Clement V, who had been enthroned through the assistance of Philip in 1305, invited the Grand Master of the Templars, Jacques de Molay, to Poitiers for a conference. In the mean time, two imprisoned ex-Templars were found, and offered their freedom if they would betray the Order. A number of charges against the Order were drawn up, including collusion with the Saracens; secret profession of paganism or Mohammedanism; requiring all novices to deny Christ, to trample and spit upon the Cross, and to bestow "obscene kisses" upon their prior; the tolerance and even encouragement of sodomy among the membership; and the secret adoration of an idol, mysteriously called Baphomet, which consisted of either a bearded head or an androgynous figure.
On Friday, October 13, 1307, e.v. Jacques de Molay and many of his brethren were arrested and thrown into prison. The king took possession of the Temple in Paris. The knights were tortured to extract confessions, and, not surprisingly, many confessions were obtained; most were contradictory. De Molay himself confessed under torture to doctrinal unorthodoxy.
De Molay was publicly sentenced on March 12, 1314. Asked to make his confession to the crowd, he stepped forward, but, instead of admitting guilt, he proclaimed his innocence and that of the Order, condemning himself to martyrdom. That evening, he was bound to a stake surrounded by combustible materials, and the torch of the executioners applied. With his last words, he invoked vengeance on Philip and Clement. Clement died the following month, and Philip died under mysterious circumstances the following November.
The Templar Order was formally suppressed in all the countries of Europe except Scotland.” (EGC)
St Jacques De Molay was burned alongside several other leading Templars:
St Geoffroi de Charney, Master of Normandy
St Hugues de Peraud, Visitor of France, and
St Godefroi de Gonneville, Master of Aquitaine
Propers for the Feast of St Jacques de Molay & Companions
Collects:
O God, Who didst raise up St Jacques de Molay in the defence of his Order and Christendom, grant to us who honour his brave martyrdom, by his intercession to overcome the snares of the enemy and rejoice in perpetual peace. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
We Thank Thee Almighty Father, for the memory of thy faithful servants who have fought the good fight, have finished their course, and who kept the faith. Help us to imitate their examples of holy living, and to follow them in all virtuous and godly ways, through Jesus Christ, Emmanuel. Amen.
For the Epistle, Wis. x: 10
Wisdom guided the righteous in right paths, and shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him knowledge of holy things, made him rich in his travails, and multiplied the fruit of his labours. In the covetousness of such as oppressed him she stood by him, and made him rich. She defended him from his enemies, and kept him safe from those that lay in wait, and in a sore conflict she gave him the victory; that he might know that godliness is stronger than all. When the righteous was sold, she forsook him not: she went down with him into the pit, and left him not in bonds, till she brought him the sceptre of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: as for them that had accused him, she shewed them to be liars, and gave him perpetual glory.
The Gospel, St. Matt. x: 34
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples, Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life fore my sake shall find it. He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
The Post Communion
Grant we beseech thee, O Lord our God, that we who in this life joyfully assist in the commemoration of thy saints may hereafter rejoice in beholding them forever in heaven. Through.
O God, Who didst raise up St Jacques de Molay in the defence of his Order and Christendom, grant to us who honour his brave martyrdom, by his intercession to overcome the snares of the enemy and rejoice in perpetual peace. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
We Thank Thee Almighty Father, for the memory of thy faithful servants who have fought the good fight, have finished their course, and who kept the faith. Help us to imitate their examples of holy living, and to follow them in all virtuous and godly ways, through Jesus Christ, Emmanuel. Amen.
For the Epistle, Wis. x: 10
Wisdom guided the righteous in right paths, and shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him knowledge of holy things, made him rich in his travails, and multiplied the fruit of his labours. In the covetousness of such as oppressed him she stood by him, and made him rich. She defended him from his enemies, and kept him safe from those that lay in wait, and in a sore conflict she gave him the victory; that he might know that godliness is stronger than all. When the righteous was sold, she forsook him not: she went down with him into the pit, and left him not in bonds, till she brought him the sceptre of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: as for them that had accused him, she shewed them to be liars, and gave him perpetual glory.
The Gospel, St. Matt. x: 34
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples, Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life fore my sake shall find it. He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
The Post Communion
Grant we beseech thee, O Lord our God, that we who in this life joyfully assist in the commemoration of thy saints may hereafter rejoice in beholding them forever in heaven. Through.
Declaration of Canonisation
Knight Templar Priests of the Presentation of Our Lady
We, being regularly consecrated bishops by authority of our Apostolic profession, unite in declaring the Grand Master and Martyr Jacques de Molay and his Companion Martyrs to be Saints of the Catholic and Apostolic Church. Given this day, the 18th March 2014, on the 700th anniversary of his martyrdom, which from henceforth shall be observed among us annually as the Feast of St Jacques de Molay.
Signed, 18th March 2014.
Knight Templar Priests of the Presentation of Our Lady
We, being regularly consecrated bishops by authority of our Apostolic profession, unite in declaring the Grand Master and Martyr Jacques de Molay and his Companion Martyrs to be Saints of the Catholic and Apostolic Church. Given this day, the 18th March 2014, on the 700th anniversary of his martyrdom, which from henceforth shall be observed among us annually as the Feast of St Jacques de Molay.
Signed, 18th March 2014.
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Rt Revd Alistair Bate OSBA, KTPP (Tau Blaise) Presiding Bishop of the Holy Celtic Church International, Master of the Holy Celtic Order of the Temple |
Rt Revd David Upton OSBA, KTPP
Holy Celtic Church International
Knights Templar Priests of the Presentation of Our Lady
Tau Sendivogius,
Bernard-Raymond II, Patriarche,
Président de la Conférence des Eglises Syriaques Orthodoxes
Gnostiques Apostoliques.
Signed on behalf of the following jurisdictions:
EGAK (Gnostic Apostolic Church Kuldée)
EAC (Cathar Apostolic Church)
EAV (Vaud Apostolic Church)
EGRA (Rosicrucian Gnostic Apostolic Church),
EAT (Apostolic Church Templar)
TSEARC (Very Secret Apostolic Church of the Rose + Croix)
ESGGA (Syro-Gallican Gnostic Apostolic Church)
NEST (Apostolic Church West Nestorian)
Rt Revd Vilhelmus Fiorucci
Prieur General of Fraternité Saint Julio et Vilatte
Rt Revd Jean-Marc Poncet KSJA
Mission Catholique Libérale Oecuménique
Rt Revd Philippus Christianus Leroux
Mission Gallicane Catholique Libérale Saint Germain
Rt. Rev. Mel H. Borham DD
Rt Revd Bruno Pedrini KSJA
Holy Celtic Church International
Rt Revd Raphaël Steck
Provincial Gallican d'Alsace,
Évêque Modérateur de l'Union Apostolique Gallicane
Tau Palamas,
Coptic Gnostic Church
Rt Revd Jean Solis
Fraternité Saint Julio et Vilatte,
Eglise Gnostique Rosicrucienne Apostolique
Tau Arepo
Fraternité Saint Julio et Vilatte
Tau Larmenius
Eglise Apostolique Templière
Rt Revd Aristid Havliček KSJA
Svobodna Katoliška Cerkev (Young Rite, Slovenia)
Rt Revd Nicolas Marius Sidau KTPP
Superior General of the Societas Jesu Christi, USA
Superior General of the Societas Jesu Christi, USA
Mgr. Vladimir Radu Sauciuc (Tau Raphael), Patriarch and Primate of the Orthodox,
Rosicrucian and Apostolic Gnostic Church of Romania and Moldova
Rt Revd Antonio Miranda
Église Gallicane Universelle,
Patriarcat de la Commanderie de Gergovie
Église Gallicane Universelle,
Patriarcat de la Commanderie de Gergovie
The Rt Revd Marcus Reginae Angelorum KSJA
Apostolic and Independent Church of the Holy Mysteries
(Signed after the Canonisation)
The Rt Revd Tom Simota KSJA
Aquarian Catholic Spiritual Community
(Signed after the Canonisation)
Rt Revd Isaac Pellizari
Rt Revd Andrew Hall FOS
