Order of St. Gregory the Great

The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great (Latin: Ordo Sancti Gregorii Magni; Italian: Ordine di San Gregorio Magno) was established on 1 September 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election as Pope.[1]

Order of St. Gregory the Great Ordo Sancti Gregorii Magni  (Latin)
Knight Commander's cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great
Awarded by   Holy See
Type	Papal order of knighthood
Established	1831
Motto	Pro Deo et Principe  (Latin) ("For God and Ruler")
Status	Bestowed by authority of the Pope as temporal sovereign of Vatican City State
Sovereign	Pope Francis
Grades	Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCSG) Knight/Dame Commander with Star (KC*SG/DC*SG) Knight/Dame Commander (KCSG/DCSG) Knight/Dame (KSG/DSG)
Former grades	Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Second Class
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Pope Pius IX
Next (lower)	Order of St. Sylvester
Ribbon bar of the order

The order is one of the five orders of knighthood of the Holy See. The honor is bestowed upon Roman Catholic men and women (and sometimes in rare cases to non-Catholics[2]) in recognition of their personal service to the Holy See and to the Roman Catholic Church, through their unusual labors, their support of the Holy See, and the examples they set in their communities and their countries.

History and appointment

The inaugural brief states, in part, that "gentlemen of proven loyalty to the Holy See who, by reason of their nobility of birth and the renown of their deeds or the degree of their munificence, are deemed worthy to be honored by a public expression of esteem on the part of the Holy See". The end of the brief states that they must progressively maintain, by continued meritorious deed, the reputation and trust they had already inspired, and prove themselves worthy of the honor that had been conferred on them, by unswerving fidelity to God and to the sovereign Pontiff.[3]

The awarding of the Order of St. Gregory the Great presents no particular obligations on the recipients toward the Roman Catholic Church – except for the general ones stated above.

Insignia

Knight's badge in the military division

An eight-pointed cross, the insignia of the order, bears a representation of St. Gregory on the obverse and on the reverse the motto Pro Deo et Principe ("For God and Ruler"). The cross is suspended from a red and gold ribbon. In ecclesiastical heraldry, laymen awarded the high rank of Grand Cross can display a red and gold ribbon surrounding the shield in their personal coats of arms, but the recipients of the lower ranks place an appropriate ribbon below the shield.[4] The difference between the civilian and military insignia is that the former group wears the cross hanging from a green crown of laurel, whereas the latter group wears the cross hanging from a trophy of arms.[5]

Vestments and accoutrements

A green uniform was later prescribed by Pope Pius IX. The uniform contains a black beaver-felt hat decorated with black silk ribbons, silver metallic twisted rope, buttons and black ostrich feathers. The jacket, made of green wool, is trimmed with silver metallic thread, and has a tail, nine yellow metal buttons in the front and three buttons on the cuffs and is lined with black satin. Finally, the costume contains suspenders, several yellow and red rosettes, white leather gloves, and a short sword with a handle made of mother of pearl with a medallion of the order at the end.

Knights Grand Cross wear a sash and a badge or star on the left side of the breast; Commanders wear a cross around the neck; and Knights wear a smaller cross on the left breast of the uniform:

Knight	Knight Commander	Knight Commander with Star	Knight Grand Cross

Notable members

Juan Mariano de Goyeneche y Gamio, 3rd Count of Guaqui and Grandee of Spain, wearing the Grand Cross and sash of the Order of St. Gregory the Great.

Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the First Class

• Sir George Bowyer, 6th Baronet, Knight Grand Cross.[6]
• General Sir Peter Cosgrove, 2013, Knight Grand Cross, Governor-General of Australia[7]
• João Carlos Saldanha de Oliveira Daun, 1st Duke of Saldanha, Knight Grand Cross of the First Class[8]
• Rodrigo Augusto da Silva, Knight Grand Cross of the First Class
• George Forbes, 7th Earl of Granard, Knight Grand Cross.[6]
• Johno Johnson, 2015, Australian politician [9][10]
• Gary L. Krupp, 2018, Knight Grand Cross, Co-founder of Pave the Way Foundation[11]
• Meredith Krupp, 2018, Dame of the Grand Cross, Co-founder of Pave the Way Foundation[11]
• Claes Lagergren, Knight Grand Cross of the First Class, 1st Marquess Lagergren
• Gilbert Levine, 2016, American conductor, Knight Grand Cross. [12]
• Peter Paul McSwiney, 1875, Knight Grand Cross, Lord Mayor of Dublin[13] (Ireland), Irish entrepreneur owner of the Palatial Mart.[14]
• Riccardo Muti, 2012, Italian conductor, Knight Grand Cross.[15]
• Alice von Hildebrand, 2013, Dame Grand Cross.[16]
• Charles von Hügel, 1852, Knight Grand Cross[17]
• Count Christopher de Paus (1930)[18]
• Duke Carl Ludvig Fouché d'Otrante (1930)[18]
• Dina Kawar, previous ambassador of Jordan to France.[19][20]
• Count Charles Woeste.
• Count Hippolyte d'Ursel.
• Count Léo d'Ursel, ambassador.
• Baron Henry Delvaux de Fenffe, 1921, Governor of Liège[21]

Knight/Dame Commander with Star

• Bob Hope, 1998, American entertainer (convert to Catholicism)[22]
• Francis Martin O'Donnell, 2007, Ambassador and Knight of Malta, previously in UN service for 32 years
• Gary L. Krupp, 2007, Knight Commander with Star, Co-founder of Pave the Way Foundation[23]
• Gloria, Princess of Thurn and Taxis,[24] 2008, Dame Commander with Star
• Albert Gubay, 2011, founder of Kwik Save supermarket chain and Total Fitness[25]

Knight Commander and Dame Commander

• Charles Poletti, 1945, Governor of New York, Army officer in charge of post World War II civil affairs in Italy
• Maurice Gerard Moynihan, 1959, Secretary of the Government of the Irish Free State and Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland
• John J. Raskob, American financial executive and businessman (DuPont, General Motors); financed the building of the Empire State Building
• Paul Salamunovich, 1969, American choral conductor and expert on Gregorian chant.
• Roger Wagner, by Pope Paul VI, American choral conductor
• Saunders Lewis, 1975, Welsh nationalist politician, founder of Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru and prominent figure in Welsh-language literature.[26]
• Jimmy Savile OBE, 1990, English radio DJ and television presenter-broadcaster[27] (In 2012 an annulment was requested by the Archbishop of Westminster. This was declined on the basis that the honour died with the individual.)[28][29]
• Oscar Niemeyer, 1990, Brazilian modernist architect [30]
• Nikkyō Niwano, 1992, Japanese Buddhist practitioner who founded and the Buddhist organization Risshō Kōsei Kai.[31]
• Roy E. Disney, 1998[22]
• Rupert Murdoch, 1998, Australian-American publisher and media entrepreneur[22]
• Mordecai Waxman, 1998, Rabbi (Conservative Judaism)
• James O'Donnell (organist), 1999, organist and Master of the Choristers, Westminster Abbey
• Gary L. Krupp, 2000, Knight Commander, Co-founder of Pave the Way Foundation[32]
• Carlo Emanuele Ruspoli, 3rd Duke of Morignano, 2004[33]
• John Hume, 2012, Northern Irish politician and co-recipient of the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize[34]
• Lilianne Ploumen, 2017, Dutch politician[35]

Knight/Dame

• Major John Brian Corrigan, Royal Artillery Officer [36]
• Walter Annenberg, created TV Guide[37]
• Thomas Bodkin, lawyer, art historian, art collector and curator[38]
• Dr. Clinton Brand, 2015, Member of Anglicanae traditiones (Anglican traditions) Interdicasterial Commission, whose task has been to identify Anglican liturgical and spiritual patrimony and to incorporate it into Catholic worship for the Personal Ordinariates.[39]
• Flt Lt Dominic Bruce, OBE, MC, AFM, KSG, a British Royal Air Force officer, known as the "Medium Sized Man."
• John A. Creighton, 1898, businessman and philanthropist in Omaha.[40]
• John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute[6]
• Ralph Downes, 1970, English organist, organist of the London Oratory, organ teacher and organ designer (including organ of the Royal Festival Hall London)[41]
• Emanuele Luigi Galizia, Maltese architect and civil engineer[42]
• Joe Gladwin, British actor and comedian[43][44][45]
• Sheilagh Kesting, 2016, former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and former Ecumenical Officer of the Church of Scotland
• Dr. Ch Khailam Mate, 2018, Catholic, Doctor of Medicine, New Delhi,India
• Ilyas Khan, British businessman and philanthropist, Chairman of Leonard Cheshire Disability
• George Malcolm, English choral conductor, harpsichordist and organist; former Master of the Music, Westminster Cathedral
• Colin Mawby, 2006, English choral conductor and composer[46] former Master of the Music, Westminster Cathedral
• Andrew Wright, English choral conductor and composer; Master of Music Brentwood Cathedral
• George Menachery, 2008, Editor of the St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India and Director of the SARAS,[47] philanthropist
• Jean Migneault, former Deputy Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus
• Ricardo Montalbán,[48] 1998, Mexican-American actor
• Dr Donna Orsuto, 2011, professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University, co-founder of the Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas
• Isabel Piczek, 1998, artist[49]
• Julius C. Rupp, 1953, Catholic Lay Leader of social and religious groups in Gary, IN, USA
• Joseph Ryelandt, Belgian composer[50]
• Jovan Sundečić, 1886, Serbian Orthodox priest and Montenegrin official[51]
• John B. Thielen, Doctor of Fonda, IA[52]
• Ann Widdecombe, 2013, British politician[53]

See also

• Papal Orders of Knighthood

Notes

1. Begni, Ernesto; Grey, James C.; Kennedy, Thomas J. (1914). The Vatican: Its History, Its Treasures. Letters and Arts Publishing Company. p. 515. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
2. Dart, John (3 January 1998). "Pope Bestows Knighthood on 64 Prominent L.A. Catholics; Religion: Non-Catholics Bob Hope, Rupert Pope Honors Rupert Murdoch, Roy Disney, Bob Hope". LA Times. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
3. "The Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory the Great". Papalknights.org.uk. Association of Papal Orders in Great Britain of Pius IX, Saint Gregory and Saint Sylvester. Archived from the original on 26 December 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
4. Noonan, Jr., James-Charles (1996). The Church Visible: The Ceremonial Life and Protocol of the Roman Catholic Church. Viking. p. 196. ISBN 0-670-86745-4.
5. MacErlean, Andrew Alphonsus (1912). The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church, Volume 4. Robert Appleton Co. pp. 667–668.
6. Gorman, W. Gordon (1885). Converts to Rome : A list of about four thousand Protestants who have recently become Roman Catholics. London: W. Swan Sonnenschein and Co. pp. 1–3.
7. "Cardinal Confers Papal Awards on Three Outstanding Australians". Catholic Communications. Archdiocese of Sydney. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
8. Diccionario bibliographico portuguez, 1859, p. 342
9. Acta Apostolicae Sedis 108 (2016)
10. "'Heart, soul' of NSW Labor dead at 87". Special Broadcasting Service. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
11. "Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher's statement at the General Debate of the 73rd Session of the General Assembly".
12. ""The Pope's Maestro," Sir Gilbert Levine Conferred with Papal Honor". Archdiocese of Washington. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016./
13. List of Lord Mayors of Dublin#1841.E2.80.931900
14. -
15. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2012-05-11-chi-muti-cso-papal-honor-20120511-story.html/
16. "Alice von Hildebrand". Retrieved 19 February 2014.
17. Charles von Hügel by Anatole von Hügel
18. Acta Apostolicae Sedis 22 (1930)
19. Acta Apostolicae Sedis 97 (2005)
20. http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/kawar-appointed-envoy-un
21. Acta Apostolicae Sedis 13 (1921)
22. John Dart (3 January 1998). "Pope Honors Rupert Murdoch, Roy Disney, Bob Hope". LA Times (Archived Article). Retrieved 18 June 2014.
23. "Acta Apostolicae Sedis XCIX" (PDF).
24. Fürstin Gloria von Thurn und Taxis erhält päpstlichen St.-Gregorius-Orden Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Bistum Regensburg.
25. Albert Gubay 'overwhelmed' with Papal award - website BBC News, 23 February 2011
26. Gwyn A., Williams (1992). "Writ‌ing On The Line - Professor Gwyn A Williams on Saunders Lewis".
27. Tubb, Gerard (9 November 2011). "Fans Flock To Cathedral Service For Sir Jimmy". Sky News. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
28. "Savile was serial sex abuser of teenage girls, say police". The Times. London, UK. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012. (subscription required)
29. "Savile's papal knighthood died with him - Vatican". RTÉ. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
30. "Fundação Oscar Niemeyer". Retrieved 19 July 2017.
31. "Leadership". Risshō Kōsei Kai. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
32. "Vatican Commentarium Officiale" (PDF).
33. "Hemeroteca ABC". Hemeroteca.abc.es. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
34. "John Hume knighted by Pope Benedict". BBC News. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
35. Pentin, Edward (15 January 2018). "Vatican: Papal Honor for Pro-Abortion Politician Not a Sign of Support". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
36. http://www.papalknights.org.uk/page3.htm
37. "accessed 14 September 2007". Nndb.com. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
38. Unlabelled press clipping of contemporary obituary, in Royal Birmingham Society of Artists archives
40. "Count John A. Creighton Dead: Nebraskan Who Founded Colleges Was Ennobled by the Pope," New York Times. 8 February 1907. Retrieved 1/22/08.
41. Obituary: Marc Naylor "Independent" London 1 January 1994
42. Schiavone, Michael J. (2009). Dictionary of Maltese Biographies Vol. 2 G–Z. Pietà: Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza. p. 891. ISBN 9789993291329.
43. http://archive.catholicherald.co.uk/article/20th-march-1987/3/home-news-in-brief
44. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/81206426
45. British Theatrelog volume 1 issue 8, TQ Publications, 1978, pg 14
46. "Papal Honour for Mawby". The Contemporary Music Centre Ireland. 20 April 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
47. http://www.indianchristianity.com
48. Gallantry magazine online Archived 24 August 2004 at the Wayback Machine accessed 31 January 2008
49. "British Society for the Turin Shroud - Issue #47". shroud.com. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
50. Ryelandt, Joseph (the Knight’s grandson, not the Knight himself) Histoire de la famille Ryelandt et des familles alliées (Brussels, 2003; a private publication; a copy has been deposited in the National Library), p. 120.
51. Karaula 2009, p. 148.
52. "Grave of John Bernard Thielen".
53. "Ann Widdecombe awarded papal honour". Indcatholicnews.com. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.

References

• Karaula, Željko (2009). "Pisma crnogorskog pjesnika, svećenika i diplomata Jovana Sunečića bosansko-đakovačkom i srijemskom biskupu Josipu Jurju Strossmayeru (1881. - 1887.)". Diacovensia (in Croatian). Đakovo: Katolički bogoslovni fakultet u Đakovu (12). ISSN 1849-014X.

External links

• Association of Papal Orders in Great Britain
• Photograph
• Catholic Knighthood article from Time Magazine, 25 Jun 1928, reporting an award of the Order of St. Gregory the Great