๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ-๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐
There are moments in life when history and personal purpose intersect so clearly that the experience leaves a lasting imprint on the soul. My recent conferment as a Knight of Grace within the ancient Order of Saint John โ widely known as the Knights of Malta โ was one such moment.
Standing in Malta, receiving this honour, I felt not only the weight of the medal and certificate in my hands, but the weight of nearly 1,000 years of Christian tradition, sacrifice, and service.
This is my reflection on that journey.
๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง
The Knights of Malta began in the 11th century in Jerusalem, long before the world could imagine the nations, institutions, and borders we know today. They emerged not as warriors first, but as caregivers โ men committed to sheltering, feeding, and healing pilgrims who travelled across dangerous lands.
A small hospital run by Benedictine monks grew into a global force of humanitarian service. Through the Crusades, the defense of Rhodes, the flourishing of Malta, and centuries of geopolitical shifts, the Knights remained steadfast in their mission:
To defend the vulnerable.
To serve the poor.
To uphold the Christian faith.
Their eight-pointed cross came to represent a complete framework of virtue โ a way of life that shaped every knightโs identity and conduct.
๐๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐-๐๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ
The Maltese Cross is more than a symbol.
It is a spiritual roadmap.
Each of its eight points corresponds to a virtue, grouped into four core pillars that guided the Knights across centuries:
๐. ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
โข Live in truth
โข Have faith
๐. ๐๐ญ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐
โข Repent oneโs sins
โข Give proof of humility
๐. ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
โข Love justice
โข Be merciful
๐. ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐
๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐
โข Endure persecution
โข Be sincere and wholehearted
These values were not merely ideals โ they were expectations. They shaped how knights lived, served, fought, and cared for the weak. To wear the Maltese Cross is to carry these virtues into oneโs personal mission.
๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฒ
Though born in the Middle Ages, the Knights of Malta are not a relic of the past. They are a vibrant global network active in over 100 countries, responding to modern humanitarian challenges with the same spirit that defined their origin.
They support:
โข hospitals and medical missions
โข disaster relief operations
โข shelters for refugees and the homeless
โข care programmes for the elderly, disabled, and forgotten
Becoming part of this lineage is not merely ceremonial โ it is a pledge to serve and to continue the legacy.
๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ
This sacred moment was made even more meaningful by the presence of:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE MOST REV. MA
BISHOP RAYARALA VIJAY KUMAR
Regional Superior of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (P.I.M.E.) of the Vatican
Appointed by Pope Francis on July 16, 2019
His Excellency has devoted his life to the rehabilitation of lepers and to spreading the charism of P.I.M.E. across the world. His presence added deep spiritual weight to the ceremony โ a reminder of what true Christian service looks like when lived with humility, conviction, and boundless compassion.
๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ญ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐
For me, this conferment is inseparable from my Christian faith.
I have always believed that faith must be active โ that to follow Christ is to serve, to uplift, and to extend compassion wherever possible. The Knights of Malta embody this principle not only historically but in their ongoing mission to care for the sick, marginalized, and voiceless.
As I stood within the walls of Malta, I felt a profound alignment between my personal calling and the Orderโs centuries-old mission. It was as if God had opened a new chapter โ one in which service, leadership, and faith converge with even greater clarity.
๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐
This honour is not an endpoint.
It is a beginning.
I accept it with a renewed dedication:
โข to contribute to humanitarian work worldwide
โข to advance efforts that protect and uplift the vulnerable
โข to use my influence and platforms responsibly
โข to walk in humility, compassion, and stewardship
The world needs more builders of hope.
More defenders of the weak.
More leaders willing to stand in the gap.
If this knighthood means anything, it means answering that sacred call โ daily.
๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐
I am deeply grateful to the Order, to the distinguished guests present, and above all, to God, whose grace continues to guide each step of my life.
Heritage becomes meaningful only when it transforms into action.
And so I pray that this new mantle will empower me to serve with greater wisdom, courage, and compassion.
Soli Deo Gloria โ to God be the glory.
โ ๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ง๐
