Easter message from the Grand Prior of England

Dear Friends,

The Resurrection of Jesus, which we celebrate once again this Easter, renewed the whole of Creation. But we must decide to participate in that renewal. The complete love and self-giving of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord demands a response from us, for whom He suffered and whom He loves so deeply. The works, both corporal and spiritual, of the Order are the means that He gives us, the Members of the Order, to respond to Him. In a world that is marked by hatred, secularism, instability and conflict, members of the Order are called to deepen our vocations and redouble our work. We must persevere in choosing to follow Christ, serving Him in Our Lords the poor and the sick, even when it is demanding.

Walters Homiliary, MS W.148, fols. 45v–46

Our holy patron, St John the Baptist, set an example for us to follow. His life was marked by humility and unstinting commitment to preparing the way for Our Lord. He did not seek glory for himself but pointed to the Truth that was far greater than himself, whose sandal he recognised he was not fit to untie (John 1:19-28). Before his birth, he recognised and worshipped the Incarnate Word in the womb of His holy mother (Luke 1:41-44). Even his death, martyred for the truth, prefigures the death of his cousin, the Lamb of God (Matthew 14:1-12). St John is a model to us all of faith and fidelity. He example reminds us that our work is primarily an act of faith, and not done for recognition within the Church or the Order, or the adulation of the world. Any good that comes from it is not our doing, but that of Christ, who must increase as we decrease (John 3:30).

Our response to the empty tomb cannot be passive and nonchalant. Our membership of the Order allows us to become witnesses to the Resurrection. Filled with the light of the Risen Lord, we must therefore strengthen our spirit of fraternity; renew our spiritual life; and approach our work with fresh determination. This will require some difficult decisions as we put faith before self, service before comfort, and unity before division. Whilst our resolve will always tested, our Holy Patron points us in the right direction, to Our Lord, who fills with His blessing every living thing (Psalm 145:16).

I thank you all for your prayers, for your contribution to the works for the Order, and I wish you all a blessed and joyful Easter.

Your confrère,

Fra’ Max

H.E. Fra’ Maxwell Rumney, Grand Prior of England