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ORGANIZATION OF THE ORDER OF MALTA
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is organized into Priories, Sub-Priories and National Associations. All members of the Order are assigned to one or more of these or, if not, are ascribed to gremio religionis. In addition, the Order has various ancillary entities dependant on it and organized for the purpose of advancing its religious and charitable activities.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Priories and Sub-Priories
National Associations
Ancillary Entities
Priories and Sub-Priories
The primary function of a priory or sub-priory is to minister to the spiritual needs of the members of the Order within its territory. All members of the first and second classes of the Order within the territory of a priory or sub-priory belong to such priory, in addition to their respective national associations. Members of the third class may also belong to a priory or sub-priory if they live within the territorial jurisdiction of a priory and there is no national association.
The Order has six grand priories and four sub-priories. The six grand priories (and their dates of foundation) are: Grand Priory of Bohemia (1182), Grand Priory of Rome (1214), Grand Priory of Lombardy-Venetia (1839), Grand Priory of Austria (1938), Grand Priory of Naples and Sicily and the Grand Priory of England. The four sub-priories (and their dates of foundation) are: Sub-Priory of St. Michael [Germany] (1961), Sub-Priory of St. Oliver Plunkett [Ireland] (1972), the Sub-Priory of St. George and St. James [Spain] (1990) and the Sub-Priory of Our Lady of Philermos [USA] (2001).
A priory or sub-priory may be established by the Grand Master, after taking into consideration the views of other organizations of the Order within the jurisdiction of the proposed priory or sub-priory, subject to the prior affirmative vote of the Sovereign Council and the consent of the Holy See.
At least five Professed Knights must live within the jurisdiction of the proposed priory. A priory is governed by a Prior with the assistance of a council, also known as a Chapter. The Chapter is comprised of: the Prior; all members of the first class of the Order assigned to the priory; the Chancellor and the Receiver of the Treasure, both of whom must be members of the first or second class; if there is no national association within the Priory’s jurisdiction, the Hospitaller; two representatives of the second class; and if there is no national association within the Priory’s jurisdiction, two representatives of the third class. A Prior is elected by the Chapter from a slate of three candidates selected by the members of the first class. The person elected as Prior must be confirmed in the charge by the Grand Master, after being voted upon by the Sovereign Council.
At least nine knights of the second class must live within the jurisdiction of a sub-priory. It is governed by a Professed Knight or a Knight in Obedience known a Regent. Similar to a Prior, a Regent is assisted by a Council or a Chapter.
Members of the first and second class (i.e. Knights of Justice, Professed Chaplains and Knights and Dames of Obedience) who are not within the jurisdiction of a priory or sub-priory are assigned to gremio religionis which is dependent on the Grand Master and responds to the Grand Commander as their religious superior.
National Associations
National Associations were first created in the nineteenth century as a in response to the rising proportion of the membership represented in the third class. National Associations have evolved over the years into bearing the primary responsibility for carrying out the hospitallary (i.e., the charitable) activities of the Order. All members of the Order within the jurisdiction of a national association belong to it. Most national associations today are governed by members of the third class.
As of January, 2003, there are 41 national associations. The first national association was organized in 1859 in Rhineland-Westphalia, now known as the German Association. The first national association in the Western Hemisphere is the American Association (New York) organized in 1926. The Cuban Association was the third in Latin America, being organized in 1952.
National associations are governed by a President and a governing council, generally structured to conform to local legislative requirements. The President and governing council are elected by the national associations, subject to confirmation by the Grand Master after the affirmative vote of the Sovereign Council.
Ancillary Entities
The Order also has several dependant agencies which carry out its work. One of the best known is the Comite Executif International de l’Ordre de Malte pour L’Assitsance aux Lepreux ("CIOMAL"). CIOMAL, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland, specializes in research regarding and assistance to those suffering from leprosy. The Centro Americano de Coordinación de la Soberana Orden de Malta, based in Miami, Florida, coordinates the solicitation of in-kind contributions from donors in the United States for the Order’s projects in Latin America. The Emergency Corps of the Order of Malta ("ECOM"), based in Cologne, Germany, renders emergency assistance to the victims of natural disasters and armed conflict.
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