Sunday, February 19, 2006

Order of Malta—in Singapore

Today's evening Mass at the Cathedral also celebrates the 'Promulgation' (what an archaic word!) of the "Singapore Association of the Order of Malta".

The Apostolic Nuncio and Singapore's archbishop were celebrating the Mass, and 16 (yes, only 16) of Knights and Dames of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta were there. I found out about a little about the works of this order dating back to 1070AD from Thomas E Woods' Civilization, but it's somewhat confusing what its current status is. What does it mean to have sovereignty without territory nor citizens?

In any case, seeing the 8-point crosses on their members' capes today brought back happy memories of the World Youth Day 2005, where I didn't see a single Red Cross but the emergency medical personnel & ambulances were instead known as the Maltesers! :)

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