The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem

The Boston Pilot reveals that the Pope's visit to the Holy Land is financed, in part, by the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, re-established by Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1847 for the support of he Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and other Catholics living in the Holy Land. The newspaper interviews U.S. Cardinal John P. Foley, grand master of the order:

To support the trip with prayer and finances is to support the pope in his mission as the successor of Peter, Cardinal Foley said.

"He will do what Peter always does: encourage the faithful, recognize them, give them a renewed sense of worth and let them know how much the universal church appreciates them and the importance of their faith," the cardinal said.

The order has about 24,000 members in 32 countries, the cardinal said. Members propose other Catholics for membership and, with the local bishop's approval, they are invested in the order.

Each member pledges to pray each day for the good of the church, the work of the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem and the holy sites associated with the life of Jesus, and for strength in exercising their obligation of charity, especially toward "the poor and sick in the Holy Land."

Read the rest.

On the Web

• Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem - Official Website [U.S.]
• Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem - Official Website [Jerusalem]
• The Order of the Holy Sepulchre - ChivalricOrders.org - a substantial entry on the history of the order.