The Templars and the Hospitallers are two different orders. The Hospitallers
of St. John of Jerusalem are today known as the Knights of Malta. It can be
argued that they were and are the most important of all the military orders.
They were founded by Gerald or Gerard, of who little is known but it is
attested to by the Bull of Paschal II, in 1113 and predating the name of
Templars by a least 5 years. The Bull is addressed to "Geraudo institutori
ac praeposito Hirosolimitani Xenodochii".The Order known as the
Hospitallers of Jerusalem had that name until 1309, then the same order was
called Knights of Rhodes from 1309 till 1522, and have been called Knights
of Malta since 1530.
Gerald offered accommodations to Pilgrims. Conrad Hilton on a shoestring.
The Templars were, initially a band of nine knights, called the Pauperes
Commilitones Christi (Poor Knights of Christ) to provide safety for Pilgrims
travelling to the Holy Land. In return for their life-long service, the
knights expected immediate entry into heaven if they died in battle
In 1118, King Baldwin I of Jerusalem gave the Temple of Solomon to the
knights for their living quarters.. The Order's name changed to Militia
Templi Solomonis (Knights of the Temple of Solomon).
The pope, decreed the dissolution, not the condemnation of the Templars,
by the Bull of 22 March, 1312.
The property of the Templars, except for Portugal and Aragon, was given to
Order of Hospitallers. Templar possessions in Portugal and Aragon were
given to two new orders, the Order of Christ in Portugal and the Order of
Montesa in Aragon. The Templars declared innocent of heresy, were allowed
either to join another military order or to return to the secular life.
Those who left the Templar order for secular life were granted a pension for
life. The pope released of their vows..
Templars took four vows. The extra vow being the crusader's vow Council
of Troyes in 1128 approved, the Rule of St. Benedict, as reformed by the
Cistercians for the Templars, and approved three perpetual vows, besides the
crusader's vow, for the Templars.
A vow is to offer God a present or a future action. Breaking a vow is
committing sacrilege.A failure to give to God what has been promised God is
a matter of grave importance, it is a very serious moral offence.
Strange that a man, elected pope, thought he could release a man from a
promise, a vow, to God.
Sinclair
----- Original Message -----
From: "Spirit One Email" <laurel@spiritone.com>
To: <sinclair@quarterman.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2002 5:41 AM
Subject: demise of the Templars???