A Guide to Charitable Work
Academic Program
Papal Encyclicals
Papal Bulls
 

ADMISSION PROGRAM


"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men." (Matt. 5:13)

This program is to be completed prior to investiture in the Order as a Knight of Grace. Everyone may be interested in reading the material.

When you begin, a preceptor will be assigned to assist you through the program. Reading is completed on an individual basis, and therefore, the amount of time required to complete the program will vary. A few months to one year should be a sufficient amount of time. The program is divided into eleven parts.

The material will be reviewed with your preceptor. The progam is outlined below. Additional material may be provided as needed.

 

Daily Prayer Requirements

The following prayers are to be said daily during the Admission Program:
The Our Father, the Haily Mary, and a prayer to St. John the Baptist.

 

Part I: The Knights of Malta

1. Medical Work of the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem, Edgar Erskine Hume, (194 John Hopkins Press). This book is out of print, but available through inter-library loan. This book discusses the charitable and practical work of the Knights of Malta.

2. The Rule of Life of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jeruslaem.
(Available by e-mail)

3. The Proclamation on the Structural Identity of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. (Available by e-mail)

4. Akathist to St. John the Baptist

 

Part II: Papal Encyclicals Concerning the Necessity of God and His Catholic Church in Society

1. E Supremi - On the Restoration of All Things in Christ

2. Inscrutabili Dei Consilio - On the Evils of Society

3. Miserentissimus Redemptor - On Reparation to the Sacred Heart

4. Quas Primas - On the Feast of Christ the King

5. The Rosary and Our Lady of Fatima

 

Part III: Papal Encyclicals and Writings Concerning the Dangers of Modernism

1. The Oath Against Modernism

2. Pascendi Dominici Gregis - On Modernism

3. Lamentabili Sane - Syllabus Condemning the Errors of the Modernists

 

Part IV: Papal Encyclicals Concerning the Social Order

1. Quadragesimo Anno - On Reconstruction of the Social Order

2. Quod Apostolici Muneris - On Socialism

3. Divini Redemptoris - On Atheistic Communism

4. Anni Sacri - On a Program for Combatting Atheistic Propaganda Throughout the World

5. Notre Charge Apostolique - Our Apostolic Mandate

 

Part V: Papal Encyclicals Concerning the Relationship Between God and the State

1. Humanum Genus - On Freemasonry

2. Diuturnum - On the Origin of Civil Power

3. Immortale Dei - On the Christian Constitution of States

4. Libertas - On the Nature of True Liberty

 

Part VI: Papal Encyclicals Concerning Economic Morality

1. Rerum Novarum - On Capital and Labor

2. Vix Pervenit - On Usury and Other Dishonest Profit

3. A Quo Primum - On Jews and Christians Living in the Same Place

4. Papal Protection of the Jews

 

Part VII: Papal Encyclicals Concerning Catholic Orthodoxy

1. Acerbo Nimis- On Teaching Christian Doctrine

2. Aeterni Patris - On the Restoration of Christian Philosophy

3. Exeunte Iam Anno - On the Right Ordering of Christian Life

 

Part VIII: Concerning Departures from the Truth

1. Christ Denied, Fr. Paul A. Wickens, (1982, TAN Books)

2. Mortalium Animos - On Religious Unity

3. Mediator Dei - On the Sacred Liturgy (Skim read this.)

4. Mysterium Fidei - On the Holy Eucharist

 

Part IX: The Catholic Church Today

1. Salt of the Earth, by Pope Benedict XVI

2. The Ratzinger Report, by Pope Benedict XVI
Chapter 2: A Council to be Rediscovered is a chapter to focus on.

3. Theological Highlights of Vatican II, by Pope Benedict XVI
Begin this book by reading the Epilogue, page 259. Then read the Preface and Introduction and continue through the book.

4. Ecclesiam Suam - On the Church

 

Part X: The Eastern Catholic Churches

1. The Eastern Churches, pamphlet by the Most Reverend Basil H. Losten, Bishop of Stamford, Ukranian Catholic Church. Published by the Knights of Columbus.

2. To the Ends of the Earth: Aspects of Eastern Catholic Church History, (God With Us Publications). This book explains the development and relationship among the Eastern Catholic Churches and the Roman Catholic Church. It is a good presentation; however on the last page, there is a statement regarding the similarity of the God of the Christians, the Muslims, and Jews. Catholics adore the Triune God, the Blessed Trinity, and adore Christ as God, while the other two religions do not.

 

Part XI: The Knights of Malta

1. The History of the Knights of Malta Since the Fall of Malta

 

 

Resource Books

The Holy Bible, Douay-Rheims Version

The Catechism of the Council of Trent (TAN Books). This cathechism wasordered by the Council of Trent, edited under St. Charles Borromeo, and published by decree of Pope St. Pius V in 1566.

The Story of the Church: Her Founding, Mission, and Progress, G. Johnson, J. Hannan, M. Dominica, (1980, TAN Books)

The Latin Mass Explained, G. Moorman, (2007, TAN Books)

Which Bible Should You Read?, T. Nelson, (2001 Tan Books). The answer to this question for Roman Catholics is the Douay-Rheims Bible. "Which Bible Should You Read?" is a short book with good examples. This is an important topic, because there are many translations of the Bible, and many of them contain errors.