On the Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer, the third Sunday in July, 19th July 2015, at the Oratory of Our Mother of Perpetual Succour, Emeritus Bishop Basil Meeking, DD, inaugurated the Knights of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus. The Knights of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus is an organization which has been formed by the
Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer. Its object is to provide a
solid formation for boys and men who wish to serve Our Blessed Lord at His
altar. It has been created in response to the
need to train boys and men worthy of the duty of serving at the Traditional
Rite of Holy Mass. A society called Knights of the Altar was begun under St John Bosco in 1858, and this name was used in the United States of America by a Fr Benz in 1939, who formed an Altar serving society. Our Society is largely based on the Knights of the Altar.
Why Knights?
Medieval Knighthood, in the service of manor
lords, calls forth such ideals as honour, loyalty, justice, chivalry, and
respect for all. In the use of the term knight, the Altar Server is reminded
of his duty to serve the Lord of lords with fidelity and honour, to treat
others with respect and justice, and to live an upright personal life, defending
always the rights of God and His Holy Church. In the names page and squire,
the server is reminded again of the years of practice and study that went into
the training of a knight and should consider with what devotion and
perseverance he should attend to his own training in the service of the Altar.
The chevalier was a travelling knight, which should remind the server
that he should be ever travelling toward his heavenly goal.
Purpose of the Society
(1) To
form a worthy guard of honour to our Divine Eucharistic King in whose service
we willingly assume the dignity and honour of becoming Knights of the
Eucharistic Heart of Jesus;
(2) To
render faithful, reverent and edifying service to God by assisting His visible
representatives, the Bishops and Priests, in offering the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass and in all other liturgical and devotional functions;
(3) To
enkindle in the hearts of the faithful whom we represent at the altar, greater
piety and devotion by reverently performing the duties of our holy office and
by giving good example in our daily lives;
(4)
Finally, to ensure the continued and efficient function of the Knights of the
Eucharistic Heart of Jesus as a society by attending meetings and giving of our
service to the Church.
Below are photos taken at this memorable ceremony.
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| Some of the younger altar servers processing to Holy Mass. |
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| Emeritus Bishop Basil Meeking, DD. |
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| Prayers at the foot of the Altar. |
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| Incensation at the beginning of Mass. |
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| The Sanctissimum is removed for a Pontifical Mass at the Faldstool. |
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| Seated for the singing of the Gloria. |
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| Future Knights of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus. |
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Bishop Meeking sings the collects; of the Mass
and of his anniversary of ordination to the Priesthood, 62 years today. |
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| The Servers stand attentively at the Service of Jesus Christ the King. |
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| Fr Anthony Mary, F.SS.R. is dubbed the Knight Director. |
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Seven boys became Apprentices. This is the first step
to becoming a Knight. The apprentice needs to learn all the
Latin responses by heart for Low Mass. |
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Two of the five Pages who have learnt their Latin response by heart
and know how to serve Acolyte 2 |
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The Pages receive from the Bishop
the Cassock, Surplice, Medal of the Eucharistic Heart, as well as the Handbook. |
The Bishops addresses the pages: "Wear this cassock, in which you are
vested, with the greatest respect, for it is part of the armour you shall wear
as a Knight of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus in the service of your Lord and
Master Jesus Christ.
May Our Lord clothe
you with the grace you need for your new dignity as his servant, just as you
will now be clothed in this surplice. May you show yourselves worthy by the
proof of your life, and may its whiteness be ever a true symbol of the gleaming
purity of your soul."
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Jose and Jerome O'Sullivan became Squires.
They receive the single red tassel for this rank. |
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| Justin Evans and Josef Fairbrother having been received as Pages. |
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| Mervin de Lancea is dubbed a Knight by the Bishop. |
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| A Scottish Broad Sword used for the dubbing. |
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| The elevation of the Precious Blood. |
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| The excellent choir that sang various parts of the Mass in polyphony. |
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| The new Apprentices, Pages, Squires and Knights. |
"We, the Knights of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, pledge
allegiance to our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, to His representatives on
earth, and to Mary, our Queen Immaculate, whom we will serve faithfully until
we attain eternal triumph in heaven. We pledge ourselves to form a worthy guard
of honour to our Divine Eucharistic King in whose service we willingly assume
the dignity and honour of becoming Knights of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus;
to render faithful, reverent and edifying service to God by assisting His
visible representatives, the Bishops and Priests, in offering the Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass and in all other liturgical and devotional functions; to
enkindle in the hearts of the faithful, whom we represent at the altar, greater
piety and devotion by reverently performing the duties of our holy office and
by giving good example in our daily lives."
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"Tu es sacerdos in aeternum!"
After the Mass congratulating the Bishop
for his fidelity and service of 62 years a priest. |
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Seven new Apprentices
John Fairborther, Joseph le Grelle, Malachi Tamepo
Aiden Evans, Joseph Donoghue, Thomas Fairbrother. |
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Five new Pages,
Josef Fairbrother, Justin Evans, James Green, Isaac Skilling and Julian Conlon. |
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| Jose and Jerome O'Sullivan, Squires. |
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Dr Mervin de Lancea and Fr Anthony Mary, F.SS.R.
Knight and Knight Director. |
Deo gratias et Mariae!!
After a moving ceremony we thank God for all His blessings and ask you to keep these young men in your prayers for their perseverance in striving to serve Our Lord and King with fidelity and joy.
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