Heraldic marks of faith

I was very pleased to read news reports that the Maltese Association of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta sponsored an illustrated talk of the Heraldry of the Knights during the Crusades. Heraldic emblems are much more than mere emblems or logos: they were (and still remain) a means of showcasing individual identity, group identity, as well as reflecting an overarching connection among Christians – past and present – as “Faith Markers”.

The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (more commonly known as members of “The Order of the Temple”, and later as the “Knights Templar”) originally protected pilgrims from Europe en route to Jerusalem and to the Holy Land region. The Knights of St John likewise provided a Christian Guard but they also tended to the sick, infirm, aged, destitute and wounded persons along the pathways they encountered in their journeys.

The Knights Templar had their battle flags – sometimes called “standards” or beauceants. The Knights of St John also had their battle flags, banners and beauceants – but they also had maritime flags which flew atop ships owned by the Order. A black-and-white Templar beauceant or the classic red Templar Cross had different characteristics and style than that of the distinctive eight-pointed Maltese Cross bourne by the Knights of St John. Although different, each group could recognise each other as brother knights by these signs, symbols, words and tokens.

Today, these heraldic emblems may be viewed as works of art; but they still are emblematic of the valiant virtues, noble aspirations and unswerving faith that we hold dear to us. As a member of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gerard (which is the relief arm of the Order of Malta), I am mindful that the cross upon which Jesus Christ died was an emblem of suffering – but it is a reminder to each of us of that precious Salvation and the hope for Eternal Life with Almighty God, The Father.

One of the mottos on United States coinage is: “In God We Trust”. Heraldic art is a tangible means of showing support for, and reverence towards, the omnipotent and omnipresent nature of Almighty God. What we cannot see with our eyes, we can envision in our hearts. Faith markers are man-made remin­ders to keep the unseen or invisible aspects of Almighty God firmly placed before our eyes. The valiant precepts we “see” with our eyes, we can then tangibly “practise” with our hands. Let us appreciate heraldic art but let us remember that it also constitutes part of our own identity. It provides us a clue as to “what to do” to enrich our lives and fortify our faith.