Militia Templi
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The Militia Templi, Christi Pauperum Militum Ordo is a Roman Catholic lay association of the faithful that celebrates its liturgy according to the traditional form in place in 1962, often referred to as the Tridentine Mass. Founded under the authority of the Archdiocese of Siena, the Militia Templi's focus is knightly and monastic and members follow a modern adaptation of the Rule written by St. Bernard of Clairvaux for the ancient Knights Templar. The order makes no claims of direct descent from the old Knights Templar and holds that, when made, such self-styled claims are both historically and canonically false.
The Militia was formed civilly and with the approval of the local ordinary on September 21st, 1979. Its Constitutions were approved on Sept. 8, 1988 by the Archbishop of Siena Msgr. Mario Jsmaele Castellano. The next Archbishop, Msr. Bonicelli approved the Rule of the Militia in 1990. The Cardinal Protector of the Militia is Édouard Gagnon.
According to their Constitutions, the Militia has both Married and celibate members. The knights with solemn profession (Doms), who consecrate themselves perpetually to the Militia with the investiture and the promise to observe the three classic evangelical counsels as well as the public testimony of faith (fourth promise), and the non professed knights (Brothers or “knights in obedience”) who, with the investiture, commit themselves to strive for the perfection of Christian life.
The knights have no particular apostolate or pastoral engagement other than public testimony of the Catholic Faith. They are obliged to live by their Rule and recite daily the Hours of the traditional Divine Office. Their members include hundreds “knights in obedience”, about 30 knights with solemn profession, 10 national preceptories, many local priorates and scout groups.
The order's Magistral See, or headquarters, is a former Templar compound that lies in the village of Poggibonsi in the Tuscany region of Italy. Built in the 11th century, the castle was donated by it’s owners; Gottifredo di Arnolfo and Arnolfino di Cristofano to the Monks of the Saint Michael Abbey in Poggio Marturi who later bestowed it to the Templars for use as one of their numerous "Mansiones" or "Domus Templi" along the Via Francigena. After 1312 the “Castello della Magione” passed though many hands, including the Hospitallers and the Princess Corsini, until, in 1979 it was purchased by Count Marcello Alberto Cristofani della Magione the founder and current Grand Master of the Militia Templi. Attached to the castle is a church, also restored, with impressive Burgundian-Cistercian influence and is used daily by the order for the community recitation of Vespers and the celebration of the Tridentine Mass.
