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The Mission
The Mission of Our Lady’s Knights of the Altar is to render Christ worthy service through the sanctification of the Altar Server. This is accomplished through a true knowledge of who Christ is and from the close imitation of His virtues.
Our Lady
It is through our Lady that this knowledge and virtue are obtained. She above all others knows the Divine origins of her Son, miraculously becoming her Child at the Annunciation. (Luke 1:26-38)
She has also been appointed as Mother of all, especially of “those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus.” (Rev 12:17) It is now her role to form these children into the image of her Son, preparing them in every way possible to reach their destined goal of heaven. She does this by bringing to them all the graces they need to practice faithfully and heroically the virtues of her Son.
These are the reasons why the full title of the Guild is Our Lady's Knights of the Altar, because they belong to her and they consciously look to her for their formation, invoking her especially under the two titles of “Mother of God” and “Mediatrix of All Grace.”
The Structure
The journey to Knighthood consists of three steps and is open to any boy age 10 to 18, although boys younger then 10 may vest and shadow the existing servers until the proper age.
· A "Page" is entrusted with the duties of Candles and Crosse.
· A "Squire" is entrusted with the duties of Candles and Cross.
· A "Knight" is entrusted with the duties of Acolyte and Thurifer.
A candidate wishing to begin shadows the existing servers until being instructed in the duties of a Page. Once trained, he is formally inducted, presented with the Knights of the Altar Handbook and Prayer Card, and placed in the schedule for serving Mass.
If he remains faithful to these duties for one year he becomes eligible for training and service as a Squire.
If he remains faithful to these duties for two years, and has reached the age of 15, he becomes eligible for training and service as a Knight. Once instructed, he is formally inducted and invested with the Miraculous Medal. This hangs from a silver chain if the candidate has not already received “Honors” (see below).
Any Squire or Knight may be trained in the service of the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Mass. Upon mastering it they will have earned the title “Squire with Honors” or “Knight with Honors.” For a Knight this is signified by replacing the silver chain with a golden one.
The Commitment
The obligations of the members are:
• Attendance at training for the various stages.
• Scheduled serving on the weekend Masses.
• Service at special occasions (processions, weddings, etc.)
• Dress clothes and dress shoes during times of service.
• Attendance at occasional socials (canoeing, hiking, etc.)
The Page
The Page, like the flag bearer of an army, re-invigorates the tired soldier in the pew, calling to his mind the heavenly homeland for which he is struggling. He instills fear in the enemy, marching in the names of Jesus and Mary, resolute in the battle against sin and the establishment of their kingdom in every land. This is the establishment of peace between God and man.
Before leaving the sacristy the servers are reminded of this duty as the priest announces:
Procedamus in pace (prō-chā-dămŭs ĭn pă-chā) (Let us proceed in peace).
To which they respond:
In nominae Christi et Mariae. Amen. (Ĭn nō-mē-nā Crēs-tē ět Mă-rē-ā. Ă-měn.) (In the names of Christ and Mary. Amen).
The Christian proceeds in peace, not in the sense that he is never called to conflict for his faith, but that he is to engage in that conflict as Christ did, with virtue and truth.
On returning to the sacristy the priest affirms that the duty was fulfilled, announcing:
Prosit (Prō-sēt) (Let it be as it is).
The servers responding:
Deo Gratius (Dĕō Grăt-sē-ŭs) (Thanks be to God).
The Squire
A Squire in history was a young man entering his 2nd stage towards Knighthood. A part of his formation was attached to an already proven Knight as an attendant. His duties dealt with things which most were eager for, like accompaniment to the battle field, caring for weapons, and joining in the cheers of a tournament. But services not so glorious where also expected, like waiting on tables, playing the errand boy, and cleaning stables. These latter duties are what laid the essential foundation so that the former could be carried out with virtue.
That foundation is humility, seeing oneself as he truly is so that he thinks and acts rightly without exaggeration, pomp, or illusion. There are two truths that place him in that light. The first is that no one is not able to claim anything which he has not received and which is not dependent on God (1Cor 4:7). This makes it an injustice to take credit for talents or positions by boasting or vanity.
The second is that no one is not able to “cast the first stone” (John 8:7). This forces the reality that no one is no better then anyone else, demanding mercy towards others so that the favor might be repaid (Matt 5:7).
Without these two truths no virtue can be sincere, only an exercise of self-love. That’s why humility is consciously cultivated in the role of the Squire. There are no ceremonies of induction or external signs of the new rank. Although he now has the right to assist the priest directly by holding the Sacramentary, he will at times be asked to “take the lower seat” (Lk 14:8) and fill in the duties of a Page. The ringing of the bells at the Consecration are a clear reminder that he is there to call attention to Christ rather then to himself. And the duties of the Communion Patent exercise humility in his mind, assenting to what God has revealed about the Eucharist even though his senses recognize only bread and wine.
With this foundation well established, the Squire will become truly ready for his induction as a Knight. Having humbled himself he will be exalted (Matt 23:12), because his service to Jesus and Mary will have been found worthy, allowing for every other virtue to grow and flourish.
The Knight
A Knight was a man committed in fidelity to his king and in service to his people. This life of chivalry is elevated by a Knight of the Altar into the life of Charity: “You shall love the Lord Your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Lk 10:27)
The love of God is also proved by fidelity: “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) Faithfulness means taking off the “old man” with its sinfulness in order to be clothed in the new, “created according to God in justice and in righteousness.” (Ephesians 4:24) This Baptismal duty to “put on Christ” (Gal 3:27) is a holocaust of love symbolized by the incense during Mass. Both priest and faithful offer their sacrifice of fidelity to the swings of the thurible, uniting it to Christ’s One Sacrifice on the Altar: “The just man's offering enriches the altar and rises as a sweet odor before the Most High.” (Sirach 35:5)
Service is also the measure of love for neighbor: “No greater love has a man than to lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) The grain of wheat dies in order to bring forth life, just as Calvary became for all the source of Everlasting Life. Assisting at the Altar, a Knight participates in bringing that same Sacrifice to others, hidden under the forms of bread and wine. This service offers them the abundance of His grace and a promise of the glory to come: “He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day.” (John 6:55)
The Charity charged on a Knight is made possible in Our Lady. At her request the good wine was served, training the servants in virtue and revealing the truth of her Son. (John 2) The Miraculous Medal placed around his neck is the Knight’s constant plea for that same grace, sanctifying himself in order to give worthy service, following her counsel in all things to "do whatever He tells you." (John 2:5)
In My Parish
The Guild has been organized so that anyone can easily establish an Order of Knights in their Parish.
Almost everything needed is made available to be downloaded from the "Downloads" icon at the bottom of this page. This includes the Knights Handbook, the Prayer Card, induction ceremonies, advertisements, and outlines presented to the members as they "climb the ranks."
It's all free!
To learn more click on the "Establish an Order" icon at the bottom of this page.
Use this form for general comments and questions.
To establish an Order of Knights in your parish, close this and click on the "Establish an Order" icon.
General Contact
Please use this form for general comments and questions.
If you would like to learn more about establishing an
Order of Knights in your parish then click the link on the right.
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