Categorie: news

During the month of April of the present year of 2022 different religions solemnly celebrate some of their most important festivities, such as the Rama Navami for the Hindus, the Ramadan for the Muslim, the Passover or Pesach for the Jewish and the Easter for the Christian,
therefore the Grand Master and Head of the State of the Federation of Autonomous Priories of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta ( KMFAP ),
on behalf of all the Structures of our Sovereign Order and of the Government of our State,
comes to express to our Knights and Dames of the different religions the deepest respect and the best wishes to all.
The rules and principles of the modern and civilised Human Societies are based on the teachings of the different religions that have,
all of them, similar principles and rules showing to the Mankind the path of Good towards Perfection.
All religions teach us the virtue of Compassion, the importance of Mutual Respect, the greatness Tolerance and the supreme value of Life.
Those are the values that rule our life in the community of people, both at national and international level,
and rule also the relations among the community of the States; those are the rules that punish ( even with sentences to time in prison )
those who mistreat or hurt animals like dogs and cats;
those are the rules that make the crimes of war and the killing of civilians ( mainly women, children and elderly people )
so unacceptable, so repugnant, so repulsive and so unacceptable, even for those who, not being religious, are members of a civilised society.
War Crimes are pure savagery and even the animals show more respect for each other than some humans do…
In this month, so full of solemn religious festivities, so full of high spiritual energy, in this month of prayer, the Grand Master invites all the Knights and Dames of the Federation to reflect about and to pray for those who suffer all the horrors of War and the losses of the priceless lives of their beloved ones.
May the God of all religions save and protect all those who deserve to be saved and who need to be protected.

His Eminent Highness Jose, Prince
Grand Master and Head of the State

Besides being the most important festivity for the Christians, Christmas has become – for the people of all religions and even for non-believers – the celebration dedicated to the Family and the New Year, in accordance with the globally accepted calendar. Christmas has become for everyone the Festivity of Hope, hope for a good, fruitful and prosperous new year to come, therefore, in this significant season I would like to present to all our Knights, Dames, Squires, Damsels and Humanitarian Work Volunteers my warmest heartfelt greetings.

This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which tragically marks 2020 forever as a dark year, we will all be forced to live this Festive Season quite differently than we have all lived before. This time in the absence of many of those we love, either part of our families or true friends, however we must remember that Absence is for Love, what the Wind is for the Fire: if it is small, it will soon be extinguished, but if it is big, it becomes bigger and stronger. So, may the forced absence of our loved ones contribute to make our love for them greater and stronger, and may the Hope for a prosperous 2021 be stronger, now that we see the light closer at the end of the dark tunnel of 2020 in the form of new vaccines against this terrible coronavirus.

We must not expect to return to what our world was before the pandemic, instead we all need to do our best and utmost to make the world after COVID-19 a much better world than it used to be.

Dear Knights, Dames, Squires, Damsels and Volunteers, two things are important in this festive season, one that shouldn’t be forgotten, and one that should always be remembered:
– We must not forget that the spirit of Christmas is not about having beautiful lights outside, but about having a wonderful light in your heart.

– We must always remember all those who have no house, no food, no love, no companionship and no peace in this season, while we are in the comfort and warmth of our houses among our loved ones, and having a good supper in peace. Remember the fallen, the poor and the helpless, because they are our brothers and sisters as well, remember them, because they are and they have been our reason to exist as a sovereign hospitaller knightly Order for almost one thousand years.

Season’s Greetings to everyone!

H.E.H. José, Prince
Grand Master and Head of the State