Member takes the Promise of Obedience at Subpriory Annual Retreat
On Saturday 2 March, 2019 another Member of the Order of Malta Australia, Richard Caesar-Thwaytes, took the Promise of Obedience at the Subpriory of the Immaculate Conception’s Annual February Retreat in Victoria.
At present, about ten percent of the Order’s Members have taken their Promise of Obedience and this number is steadily growing; it is a symbol of the success of the Australian Association in enriching the spiritual life of its members.
The Subpriory of the Immaculate Conception
The Subpriory of the Immaculate Conception is formed by members of the Australian Association who take the Promise of Obedience, and thus make a deeper commitment to perform the works of the Order and to deepen their spiritual life and witness to Christ.
The Promise of Obedience
Whereas a Professed Knight ultimately takes solemn vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, those Knights and Dames who take a promise of obedience are not held by the same depth of commitment inherent in a vow, yet they do make a sincere commitment to prayer, the Eucharist and personal engagement in the care of Our Lords, the sick and the poor — very much hands on work. Where someone has belonged to the Order for three or more years, it could be argued that if they listen to God’s call and are open to the Holy Spirit, then a natural desire may start to develop to deepen their spirituality.
The Year of Preparation
There is a year of preparation involved before the Sovereign Council will give permission for any member to take their Promise of Obedience. During that year of Preparation, the member has a chaplain of the Order appointed as a personal spiritual director, and the individual is guided in ways to deepen his or her spirituality. The Subpriory supports this vocation by arranging annual retreats and other opportunities for each member to grow closer to Christ. Just as Christ was obedient unto the Father, so too are we all called to be obedient to the will of the Father. Belonging to the Order of Malta is one step, and belonging to the Subpriory is a further step along this pathway to deeper holiness.