The Identity, Rights and Challenges of Catholic Knights in the Church.

Abstract

The desire for honours is prevalent in the human societies and also in the Church. Knighthood is of ancient origin. It is always a reward for both civil and military services. It is within the context of recognition for distinguished services and as a means of rewarding loyalty rendered that the Catholic Church considered it expedient to appropriate within the ecclesiastical circle what was of secular origin. In the Church we have Knights of Papal and diocesan/local status. They are lay members who are outstanding in their defence of faith and the Church. Since these knights enjoy dual citizens in both the Church and civil communities, we intend to see the order of knights in their identity, typology, rights and challenges in both the Church and civil society.