Knighthood still in flower for this Count

In one corner of the Albany Diocese, it seems the days of King Arthur are not over. Count Elie de Comminges, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Margaretville, recently became a Knight of Justice.

Knights of Justice, a degree of knighthood within the Knights of Malta, take religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. According to Count de Comminges, the rank can be compared to that of a religious brother.

"Part of my calling is to do work in hospitals," the new Knight proudly explained. "I am a Eucharistic minister at my parish; I go to hospitals and nursing homes" to bring communion to the sick.

Ancient order

The Knights of Malta were formed in Jerusalem at the end of the 11th century to nurse pilgrims in the Holy Land. Later, they became a military order to protect those pilgrims, and were eventually driven from Jerusalem and granted a home in the island country of Malta, located in the Mediterranean Sea.

Today, the Knights are a medical assistance order with headquarters in Rome, and becoming a member is one of the most prestigious honors granted by the Pope.

Besides Knights of Justice, members can be Knights of Obedience (who promise not to remarry if their spouse passes away) or third-class Knights, who take no vows, but simply follow the ideals of the organization.

Busy as a bee

Count de Comminges, a native of southern France, came to the U.S. in 1958. A retired teacher and part-time resident of the Albany Diocese, he commutes between New York City, where he is presently setting up a library for the Manhattan Village Academy, and Margaretville. In his free time, he is a beekeeper and offers his services as a catechist at Sacred Heart.

Seven years ago, Count de Comminges' cousin suggested he apply to become a Knight of Malta.

"People join something because they need to belong to a group," the count decided. "I like belonging. I think it's going to help me in my spiritual development."

Roots

Although the U.S. has its own branch of the Knights of Malta, Count de Comminges had many friends in the French association, so he chose to join that branch as a third-class Knight.

"It's an association which is very centered on helping the sick; our mission is to do everything we can," he explained.

Since Count de Comminges can trace his ancestry to both American and French aristocracy -- he is a relative of Stephen Van Rensselaer on his mother's side, and boasts of crusaders on his family tree -- he was able to join a particular division of the third-class Knights: Knights of Grace and Devotion, who must be able to prove two lines of nobility in their ancestry.

New calling

For several years, the count was comfortable with his membership, but eventually, he began to want something more. During the Knights' annual pilgrimages to Lourdes, he realized that helping the sick was "one of the most rewarding things I've ever experienced. The miracles [they are granted] are not so much being cured as finding an inner peace which is quite extraordinary."

At home, he said, "I wanted a closer relationship with God. I had considered entering the permanent diaconate, but since I was already a Knight of Malta and had a superior in my order, it would be very difficult for me to have two masters -- the head of my order and the Bishop."

In June, Count de Comminges became only the 40th Knight of Justice in the entire world. Just five Knights of Justice live in North America, and they are scattered from Halifax to San Francisco.

Offering of self

In taking his religious vows, the count told The Evangelist that he offered "myself and my services, wherever the Grand Master needs me."

Among his duties will be sitting in on the general assembly of the United Nations, where the Knights of Malta have permanent observer status. Count de Comminges will also sit in on various commissions dealing with relief efforts.

The responsibilities of a Knight of Justice include saying the Divine Office each day, and Count de Comminges expects to travel around the world to take on new duties as necessary.

Final vows

Three years from now, the count will take his final vows. By then, he hopes to spread the word about the Knights of Malta and boost membership in the organization.

"There are very few religious orders who devote themselves to caring for the sick," he stated.

In addition, "our order tries to propagate the faith. People need to know more about the order, so more people can enter. We need more people!"

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