2024 Mass of Investiture Homily

Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem Eastern Lieutenancy

Mass of Investiture

St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Saturday, 12 October 2024

Homily of

Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan, KC*HS, 

Bishop of Camden

The word peace is repeated in each scripture reading and the psalm. Isaiah prophesized that the spirit from on high would produce “justice which will bring about peace.”  The psalmist prayed for “the peace of Jerusalem.” Saint Paul counseled the church at Philippi that “the peace of god surpasses all understanding.”  Jesus in today’s gospel, “peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” Very familiar words which are prayed at each mass by the priest.

What is this peace repeatedly referred to in the proclamation of the word of God? It is the peace of God. It is a gift of God.   Promised by Jesus to those who keep his word. Peace is our inheritance from his saving passion, death and resurrection.   The peace of God can produce in us internal calm, personal harmony, at one -ness with God and creation and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

May each of you invested today in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem experience God’s peace. As knights and dames may you seek the peace of Christ for your families, your parishes and communities, your places of work and for our nation. May your active participation in the spirituality of our order imbue you with God’s peace.

As this word of God prominently emphasizes peace, we are aware that in too many areas of the world there is no peace and in too many other areas, peace is very fragile. Blessed are the peacemakers. May the members of our order be counted among them.

Having prepared yourselves by your participation at yesterday’s vigil, today you will be invested with the ceremonial uniform of our order – white cape and beret for the knights and black cape and mantilla for the dames. Mozetta for priests. On these ceremonial uniforms is boldly imprinted the distinctive insignia of the order – the Jerusalem cross. A large red cross with four small red crosses in each quadrant of the large cross.

The five crosses are a reminder of the five wounds of the Lord. His five glorious wounds from which the grace of God poured out on Calvary for our salvation. That grace of Christ is poured in us through the sacraments. The Jerusalem cross, in the past called the cross of the five wounds, is an ancient, cherished and venerable sign. It is the sign of our order.  As knights and dames of the holy sepulchre may Christ crucified on the cross be the center of your lives.

Our order is about the protection of the church in the holy land and the preservation of the christian faith in the holy land. A protection that members of the order demonstrate through our solidarity with the Catholic communities in the land where Jesus was born, lived, ministered, died, rose and ascended to the father. Solidarity is shown through our charity, support and help. Your generosity is essential for the protection and preservation of the church in the holy land which needs our help. Gladly we assist and generously we contribute.

Hopefully, pilgrimages to the holy land will return. A pilgrimage is a transformative faith filled experience for each dame and knight. To the holy places in the holy land; such as, the holy sepulchre in Jerusalem, the tomb where the body of Jesus was laid after his death and out of which he rose to life.  To many other holy sites, such as, the hill of the beatitudes on which Jesus taught his program for life.  The little town of Bethlehem where Christ was born. The Sea of Galilee around which he preached and where Peter, Andrew and the others fished for a living.  The mount of the transfiguration where his glory as God was shown. The Basilica of the Annunciation where Mary of Nazareth spoke the most radical words ever spoken. Let it be done to me according to your word. And by the breath of the Holy Spirit, the eternal God, became incarnate in her womb.

Pilgrimage for the members of our order also includes visits to the works the order supports:  hospitals, parishes, charitable agencies and Catholic schools. Opportunities to speak with and be inspired by those who do those works under difficult conditions. There is nothing comparable to pilgrimages and the visits to put you in solidarity with the Catholic church in the holy land.

Sisters and brothers. Through your active participation in the order by prayer, generosity and hopefully once again pilgrimages, may you grow in holiness and in the knowledge of the personal love of God for you. May you deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ and his church. May you connect with the roots of our faith in the holy land.

We are indeed modern crusaders whose battle gear is our pledge to support, protect and preserve the Catholic church in the holy land. Our Grand Master, Cardinal Filoni, recently reminded the order, “life in the holy land continues to be deeply troubling. As knights and ladies, we continue to support through our prayers, offerings and closeness, the communities that are facing darkness.”

As knights and dames, you commit yourselves to the works and ideals of our equestrian order. These include the spread of our faith.  Aid to and support of the church in the holy land. The faithful practice of the christian life and the unique bond to our holy father, Pope Francis, the bishop of Rome. Through active participation in the order you reach out to a world in need of healing, to women, men and children whose lives are broken and wounded by lack of justice, civic rights, war and of course by sin. To the calamities of that world, we proudly raise up the Jerusalem cross. The distinctive symbol of our Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Deus vult…..may god will it! Amen.

 

Readings:        Isaiah 32:15-18

Psalm 122, 1-2,4-5,6-7,8-9

Philippians 4: 6-9

John 14:23-29