The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great (Latin: Ordo Sancti Gregorii Magni; Italian: Ordine di San Gregorio Magno) was established on 1 September 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election as Pope.[1]
Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great | |
---|---|
![]() Knight Commander's cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great | |
Awarded by the ![]() | |
Type | Papal order of knighthood |
Established | 1 September 1831 |
Religious affiliation | Catholic |
Motto | |
Status | Currently constituted |
First head | Pope Gregory XVI |
Sovereign | Pope Francis |
Classes |
|
Former grades | Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Second Class |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Order of Pope Pius IX |
Next (lower) | Order of St. Sylvester |
![]() Ribbon bar of the order |
The order is one of the five orders of knighthood of the Holy See. The honor is bestowed upon Catholic men and women (and certain notable non-Catholics)[2] in recognition of their personal service to the Holy See and to the Catholic Church, through their unusual labors, their support of the Holy See, and the examples they set in their communities and their countries.
History and appointment
editThe inaugural brief states, in part, that "gentlemen of proven loyalty to the Holy See who, by reason of their nobility of birth and the renown of their deeds or the degree of their munificence, are deemed worthy to be honored by a public expression of esteem on the part of the Holy See". The end of the brief states that they must progressively maintain, by continued meritorious deed, the reputation and trust they had already inspired, and prove themselves worthy of the honor that had been conferred on them, by unswerving fidelity to God and to the sovereign Pontiff.[3]
The awarding of the Order of St. Gregory the Great presents no particular obligations on the recipients toward the Catholic Church – except for the general ones stated above.
Insignia
editAn eight-pointed cross, the insignia of the order, bears a representation of St. Gregory on the obverse and on the reverse the motto Pro Deo et Principe ("For God and Ruler"). The cross is suspended from a red and gold ribbon. In ecclesiastical heraldry, laymen awarded the high rank of Grand Cross can display a red and gold ribbon surrounding the shield in their personal coats of arms, but the recipients of the lower ranks place an appropriate ribbon below the shield.[4] The difference between the civilian and military insignia is that the former group wears the cross hanging from a green crown of laurel, whereas the latter group wears the cross hanging from a trophy of arms.[5]
Vestments and accoutrements
editThe Order comprises four classes:
- Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCSG)[6]
- Knight/Dame Commander with Star (KC*SG/DC*SG)
- Knight/Dame Commander (KCSG/DCSG)
- Knight/Dame (KSG/DSG)
A green uniform was later prescribed by Pope Pius IX. The uniform contains a black beaver-felt hat decorated with black silk ribbons, silver metallic twisted rope, buttons and black ostrich feathers. The jacket, made of green wool, is trimmed with silver metallic thread, and has a tail, nine yellow metal buttons in the front and three buttons on the cuffs and is lined with black satin. Finally, the costume contains suspenders, several yellow and red rosettes, white leather gloves, and a short sword with a handle made of mother of pearl with a medallion of the order at the end.
Knights Grand Cross wear a sash and a badge or star on the left side of the breast; Commanders wear a cross around the neck; and Knights wear a smaller cross on the left breast of the uniform:
Notable members
editKnight/Dame Grand Cross
edit- Frederick Blakeney, 1964, Australian diplomat, Knight Grand Cross[7]
- Dominique, Prince de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel, 2023, Knight Grand Cross
- Sir George Bowyer, 6th Baronet, Knight Grand Cross[8]
- General Sir Peter Cosgrove, 2013, Knight Grand Cross, Governor-General of Australia[9]
- João Carlos Saldanha de Oliveira Daun, 1st Duke of Saldanha, Knight Grand Cross of the First Class[10]
- Rodrigo Augusto da Silva, Knight Grand Cross of the First Class
- Baron Henry Delvaux de Fenffe, 1921, Governor of Liège[11]
- Duke Carl Ludvig Fouché d'Otrante (1930)[12]
- George Forbes, 7th Earl of Granard, Knight Grand Cross[8]
- Frank Hanna III, American entrepreneur and philanthropist, Knight Grand Cross
- Alice von Hildebrand, 2013, Dame Grand Cross[13]
- Charles von Hügel, 1852, Knight Grand Cross[14]
- Johno Johnson, 2015, Australian politician[15][16]
- Dina Kawar, previous ambassador of Jordan to France[17][18]
- Riccardo Muti, 2012, Italian conductor, Knight Grand Cross[19]
- Gilbert Levine, 2016, American conductor, Knight Grand Cross[20]
- James Joseph Norris, February 11,1947, American Catholic humanitarian, co-founder and president of the Papal agency, the International Catholic Migration Commission. European Director of War Relief Services (later Catholic Relief Services). Collaborated with the Holy See for thirty years on refugee resettlement and world poverty. (Also see James Joseph Norris, Knight Commander 1955)
- Count Christopher de Paus (1930)[12]
- Count Hippolyte d'Ursel
- Count Léo d'Ursel, ambassador
- Count Charles Woeste
Knight/Dame Commander with Star
edit- Bob Hope, 1998, American entertainer (convert to Catholicism)[21]
- Francis Martin O'Donnell, 2007, Ambassador and Knight of Malta, previously in UN service for 32 years
- G. K. Chesterton,[22] 1934, English writer, philosopher, lay theologian, and literary and art critic (convert to Catholicism)
- Gloria, Princess of Thurn and Taxis,[23] 2008, Dame Commander with Star
- Albert Gubay, 2011, founder of Kwik Save supermarket chain and Total Fitness[24]
Knight Commander and Dame Commander
edit- Roy E. Disney, 1998[21]
- Sir Patrick Duffy, 2017, British politician[25]
- Hendrik Samuel Houthakker, 2003, Knight Commander with Silver Star, Member of Nixon's Council of Economic Advisers, husband of Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka.
- John Hume, 2012, Northern Irish politician and co-recipient of the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize[26]
- Ignazio Jacometti, sculptor, appointed by Pope Pius IX.[27]
- Saunders Lewis, 1975, Welsh nationalist politician, founder of Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru and prominent figure in Welsh-language literature[28] (convert to Catholicism)
- Maurice Gerard Moynihan, 1959, Secretary of the Government of the Irish Free State and Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland
- Rupert Murdoch, 1998, Australian-American publisher and media entrepreneur[21]
- Oscar Niemeyer, 1990, Brazilian modernist architect[29]
- Nikkyō Niwano, 1992, Japanese Buddhist practitioner who founded the Buddhist organization Risshō Kōsei Kai.[30][better source needed]
- James Joseph Norris, September 13,1955, American Catholic humanitarian, Lay Auditor at the Second Vatican Council, delivered major address at the Council on "World Poverty and the Christian Conscience". Charter member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum". Represented the Holy See at the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- James O'Donnell, 1999, organist and Master of the Choristers, Westminster Abbey
- Lilianne Ploumen, 2017, Dutch politician[31]
- Charles Poletti, 1945, Governor of New York, Army officer in charge of post World War II civil affairs in Italy
- John J. Raskob, American financial executive and businessman (DuPont, General Motors); financed the building of the Empire State Building
- Carlo Emanuele Ruspoli, 3rd Duke of Morignano, 2004[32]
- Paul Salamunovich, 1969, American choral conductor and expert on Gregorian chant.
- Sir Jimmy Savile, 1990, English radio DJ and television presenter-broadcaster[33] (In 2012, after Savile's death, an annulment of the honor was requested by the Archbishop of Westminster. This was declined on the basis that the life honor died with the individual.)[34][35]
- Roger Wagner, by Pope Paul VI, American choral conductor
- Mordecai Waxman, 1998, Rabbi (Conservative Judaism)
- Kevin McNamara, British Politician[36]
Knight/Dame
edit- Walter Annenberg, who created TV Guide[37]
- Mariano Armellini, Italian archaeologist[38]
- Thomas Bodkin, lawyer, art historian, art collector and curator[39]
- Joanna Bogle, 2013, British Roman Catholic writer and broadcaster[40]
- Phyllis Bowman, 1996, British journalist and anti-abortion campaigner[41]
- Henry Cooper, 1978, champion heavyweight boxer (convert to Catholicism)
- John A. Creighton, 1898, businessman and philanthropist in Omaha[42]
- John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute[8]
- Ralph Downes, 1970, English organist, organist of the London Oratory, organ teacher and organ designer (including organ of the Royal Festival Hall London)[43]
- Jude Patrick Dougherty, 1999, American philosopher, Dean Emeritus of the School of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America[44]
- Eamon Duffy, 2017, Irish historian and Emeritus Professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Cambridge[45]
- Joseph Esposito, 2002, Chief of the New York City Police Department.[46]
- Yuri Nikolayevich Jobbers, teacher of Russian language and literature
- Bambang Soegeng, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army
- Emanuele Luigi Galizia, Maltese architect and civil engineer[47]
- Joe Gladwin, British actor and comedian[48][49]
- Sheilagh Kesting, 2016, former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and former Ecumenical Officer of the Church of Scotland
- Ilyas Khan, British businessman and philanthropist, Chairman of Leonard Cheshire Disability [citation needed]
- George Malcolm, English choral conductor, harpsichordist and organist; former Master of the Music, Westminster Cathedral
- Colin Mawby, 2006, English choral conductor and composer[50] former Master of the Music, Westminster Cathedral
- John A. McCone, 1955, US Industrialist, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and former head of the Atomic Energy Commission
- George Menachery, 2008, Editor of the St Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India and Director of the SARAS,[51] philanthropist
- Jean Migneault, former Deputy Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus
- Patrick Millen, 1991, New Zealand public servant[52]
- Ricardo Montalbán,[53] 1998, Mexican / American actor
- Paul Victor Obeng, 2009,[54] Ghanaian mechanical engineer and statesman
- Isabel Piczek, 1998, artist[55]
- Joseph Ryelandt, Belgian composer[56]
- Jovan Sundečić, 1886, Serbian Orthodox priest and Montenegrin official [57]
- John Van Hengel, 1994 Creator of St. Mary's Food Bank in 1967 and America's Second Harvest (now Feeding America).
- Ann Widdecombe, 2013, British politician,[58]
- Michael Williams, 2001, English actor [citation needed]
- Sebastian Kyalwazi, 1968, Ugandan surgeon, researcher and academic.[59]
- Alfred Grünberger, 1924, Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs.[60]
- J. L. P. Roche Victoria (Former State Minister from Tamil Nadu).
- James Carine, Royal Navy officer.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Begni, Ernesto; Grey, James C.; Kennedy, Thomas J. (1914). The Vatican: Its History, Its Treasures. Letters and Arts Publishing Company. p. 515. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- ^ Dart, John (3 January 1998). "Pope Bestows Knighthood on 64 Prominent L.A. Catholics". LA Times. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ "The Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory the Great". Papalknights.org.uk. Association of Papal Orders in Great Britain of Pius IX, Saint Gregory and Saint Sylvester. Archived from the original on 26 December 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
- ^ Noonan, James-Charles Jr. (1996). The Church Visible: The Ceremonial Life and Protocol of the Roman Catholic Church. Viking. p. 196. ISBN 0-670-86745-4.
- ^ MacErlean, Andrew Alphonsus (1912). The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church, Volume 4. Robert Appleton Co. pp. 667–668.
- ^ "Order of St. Gregory the Great". Association of Papal Orders in Ireland. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Blakeney, Frederick Joseph (1913–1990)". Frederick Joseph Blakeney. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ a b c Gorman, W. Gordon (1885). Converts to Rome : A list of about four thousand Protestants who have recently become Roman Catholics. London: W. Swan Sonnenschein and Co. pp. 1–3.
- ^ "Cardinal Confers Papal Awards on Three Outstanding Australians". Catholic Communications. Archdiocese of Sydney. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- ^ Diccionario bibliographico portuguez, 1859, p. 342
- ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis 13 (1921) [1]
- ^ a b Acta Apostolicae Sedis 22 (1930)
- ^ "Alice von Hildebrand". Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ Charles von Hügel by Anatole von Hügel
- ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis 108 (2016) [2]
- ^ "'Heart, soul' of NSW Labor dead at 87". Special Broadcasting Service. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
- ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis 97 (2005) [3]
- ^ "Kawar appointed envoy at UN | Jordan Times". 4 June 2014.
- ^ Johnson, Lawrence A. (11 May 2012). "Muti receives highest papal honor at the Vatican". Chicago Classical Journal.
- ^ "'The Pope's Maestro,' Sir Gilbert Levine Conferred with Papal Honor". Archdiocese of Washington. 31 January 2016. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016./
- ^ a b c John Dart (3 January 1998). "Pope Honors Rupert Murdoch, Roy Disney, Bob Hope". LA Times. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
- ^ "Pope Honors 2 Writers; Makes G.K. Chesterton and Hillaire Belloc Knight Commanders". The New York Times. 25 May 1934.
- ^ Fürstin Gloria von Thurn und Taxis erhält päpstlichen St.-Gregorius-Orden Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Bistum Regensburg.
- ^ Albert Gubay 'overwhelmed' with Papal award – website BBC News, 23 February 2011
- ^ "Former Sheffield MP honoured today with papal knighthood". The Star. February 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "John Hume knighted by Pope Benedict". BBC News. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ^ Jacometti, Ignazio Entry by Simona Sclocchi in Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani – Volume 62 (2004)
- ^ Gwyn A., Williams (1992). "Writing on the Line – Professor Gwyn A Williams on Saunders Lewis". Archived from the original on 12 December 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Fundação Oscar Niemeyer". Retrieved 19 July 2017.
- ^ "Leadership". Risshō Kōsei Kai. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ Pentin, Edward (15 January 2018). "Vatican: Papal Honor for Pro-Abortion Politician Not a Sign of Support". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Hemeroteca ABC". Hemeroteca.abc.es. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
- ^ Tubb, Gerard (9 November 2011). "Fans Flock To Cathedral Service For Sir Jimmy". Sky News. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- ^ "Savile was serial sex abuser of teenage girls, say police". The Times. London, UK. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012. (subscription required)
- ^ "Savile's papal knighthood died with him - Vatican". RTÉ. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ "Lists of Members". Association of Papal Orders in Great Britain. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ "accessed 14 September 2007". Nndb.com. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
- ^ Broderick, Bona F. (1897). "Mariano Armellini: De Rossi's Successor". Catholic World. 64: 84–96. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Unlabelled press clipping of contemporary obituary, in Royal Birmingham Society of Artists archives
- ^ Fortis, Mulier (29 May 2013). "Mulier Fortis: Dame Joanna's Investiture..." Mulier Fortis. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Remembering pro-life heroes". Catholic Herald. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Count John A. Creighton Dead: Nebraskan Who Founded Colleges Was Ennobled by the Pope", New York Times. 8 February 1907.
- ^ Marc Naylor. The Independent, London, 1 January 1994.
- ^ Jude Patrick Dougherty obituary, philosophy.catholic.edu. Accessed 27 November 2022.
- ^ https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/32515. [bare URL]
- ^ https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/a-giant-of-new-york-city-passes [bare URL]
- ^ Schiavone, Michael J. (2009). Dictionary of Maltese Biographies Vol. 2 G–Z. Pietà: Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza. p. 891. ISBN 978-9993291329.
- ^ "Catholic Herald – Archives".
- ^ British Theatrelog volume 1 issue 8, TQ Publications, 1978, p. 14
- ^ "Papal Honour for Mawby". The Contemporary Music Centre Ireland. 20 April 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
- ^ "Welcome to Indian Christianity".
- ^ Pembroke College Record. Oxford. 1995. p. 92.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Gallantry magazine online Archived 24 August 2004 at the Wayback Machine accessed 31 January 2008
- ^ "Pope Honours 29". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "British Society for the Turin Shroud – Issue #47". shroud.com. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ Ryelandt, Joseph (grandson of the knight of the same name), Histoire de la famille Ryelandt et des familles alliées (Brussels, 2003; a private publication; a copy has been deposited in the National Library), p. 120.
- ^ Karaula 2009, p. 148.
- ^ "Ann Widdecombe awarded papal honour". Indcatholicnews.com. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
- ^ Charles Olweny (17 April 2017). "Dr. Kyalwazi Memorial Lecture: About Prof. Sebastian Kakule Kyalwazi". Association of Surgeons of Uganda. Kampala. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
- ^ AAS 17 (1925), n. 1, S. 36.
General and cited references
editExternal links
edit- Association of Papal Orders in Great Britain Archived 6 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- Photograph
- Catholic Knighthood article from Time Magazine, 25 Jun 1928, reporting an award of the Order of St. Gregory the Great