statutes

The Military Order of the Collar of St. Agatha of Paternó

1 Chapter One – The Character and Aims of the Order
2 Chapter Two – The Members of the Order
3 Chapter Three – Hereditary Commanderies
4 Chapter Four – Admission into the Order
5 Chapter Five – The Duties and Obligations of Knights and Dames
6 Chapter Six – Classes and Promotions
7 Chapter Seven – Investiture and Profession
8 Chapter Eight – The Chaplains of the Order
9 Chapter Nine – The Grand Magistry of the Order
10 Chapter Ten – Duties and Appointments
11 Chapter Eleven – The Lieutenancy and the Succession
12 Chapter Twelve – Grand Priories, Priories and Commanderies
13 Chapter Thirteen – Members in Gremio Ordinis
14 Chapter Fourteen – Discipline
15 Chapter Fifteen – The Court of Honour
16 Chapter Sixteen – The Official Language of the Order
17 Chapter Seventeen – Concluding Matters

Chapter One – The Character and Aims of the Order

Article 1
The Military Order of the Collar of Saint Agatha of Paternó (“the Order”), also called the Military Order of the Collar (M.O.C.) is an Order of Chivalry of the Cross, subject to international law, belonging to the Head of Name and Arms of the Royal House of Aragon, Majorca and Sicily, of the Dukes of Carcaci, of the Princes of Emmanuel.
Article 2
The Order, founded in the 12th Century by the Aragonese Sovereigns of Majorca and restored in 1851, is defined as non-national according to the Law of the 3rd March 1951 of the Italian State.
Article 3

The Protectress and Patron of the Order is Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr, whose Feast is celebrated as that of the Order on the 5th February.

Article 4

The principle aim of the Order is to propagate in the modern world the tradition of Chivalry as a way of life and the defence of Throne and Altar. It practices good works through its Hospitaller Service.

Chapter Two – The Members of the Order

Article 5
The members of the Order are divided into four Categories as follows:
  1. Category of Justice and Devotion
  2. Category of Grace and Devotion
  3. Category of Justice for Merit
  4. Category of Grace for Merit

 

Article 6
The classes of members within the Categories provided in Article 5 are as follows:
  1. Knight Grand Cross with Collar
  2. Knight Grand Cross
  3. Dame Grand Cross
  4. Knight
  5. Dame
Article 7
The rank of Collar of the Categories of Devotion is conferred upon Knights Grand Cross who in the judgement of the Grand Master have merited it by long and exemplary service. The rank of Collar carries with it personal nobility and the predicate of honour “Don“. Its recipients are limited in number to twenty-five.
Article 8
The rank of Grand Cross of the Categories of Devotion is conferred upon the heads of jurisdiction of the Order or upon dignitaries of equal rank who have merited it by long and conspicuous service.
Article 9
The Grand Collar of the Order is conferred motu proprio of the Grand Master on the Heads of Sovereign Houses, Heads of State, eminent religious leaders and male members of the Royal Family. It is limited to twelve recipients and confers the rank and style of Cousin of the Grand Master.
Article 10
Knights of the Category of Justice and Devotion who profess a vow of obedience according to a prescribed formula are called Professed Knights of Justice (Milites Justitiae). They are subject to special regulations.

Chapter Three – Hereditary Commanderies

Article 11
The Grand Master may erect motu proprio Hereditary Commanderies and bestow them upon Knights of the Category of Justice and Devotion who, in their capacity as Hereditary Commanders, are equal in rank to the class of Knights Grand Cross of Justice and Devotion.
Article 12
Each Hereditary Commandery is styled with a predicate. They are subject to the Regulations of the Hereditary Commanderies.

 

Chapter Four – Admission into the Order

Article 13
The minimum age for admission into the Order is twenty-one years. At the discretion of the Grand Master the minimum age may be reduced to eighteen years, the latter being the normal age of reception of Esquires into the Order.
Article 14
Members of the Categories of Devotion must be Christians of exemplary life. Members of the Categories for Merit may belong to other religions. All must give evidence of a blameless life and must accept the aims and discipline of the Order.
Article 15
Admission into one of the Categories of Devotion follows a petition by the candidate to that effect and is determined according to the prescriptions contained in the Regulations of Admission.
Article 16
Admission into the Categories for Merit follows a decision of the Grand Master, on receipt of a proposal and recommendation by one of the organs of the Order or an official of the same.
Article 17
Heads of Sovereign Houses or of Orders of Chivalry, Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Grand Chancellors and similar dignitaries of chivalric associations are received into the Categories for Merit. Members of the Categories of Devotion, who are appointed to such offices, are formally transferred to the said Categories.

Chapter Five – The Duties and Obligations of Knights and Dames

Article 18
Knights and Dames of the Categories of Devotion, as well as being obliged to observe the General Statutes and the annexed Regulations, also the General Instructions issued pursuant to the latter (together the Codex of the Order), are bound to equip themselves with the mantle and the insignia of the Order. In addition they are required to take part in the active life of the Order.
Article 19
Knights and Dames of the Categories for Merit have a general obligation with respect to observance of the aims and discipline of the Order.

Chapter Six – Classes and Promotions

Article 20
New members are admitted initially into the Class of Knight or Dame.
Article 21
Promotion to a higher rank is conferred by the Grand Master motu proprio.

 

Chapter Seven – Investiture and Profession

Article 22
Knights and Dames of the Categories of Devotion may not be appointed to offices or dignities nor obtain promotion until after their investiture according to the established form and order.
Article 23
Investitures take place twice per year, on the 5th February and the 6th June, unless the Grand Master decides otherwise. He presides at the ceremony of investiture which takes place in a Church or a seat of the Order.
Article 24
The profession of the vow of obedience and the installation of dignitaries takes place as a rule in the same place and on the same day as the ceremony of investiture.

Chapter Eight – The Chaplains of the Order

Article 25
Priests of recognised Christian denominations who are also members of the Order are by virtue of those facts chaplains of the Order.
Article 26
The style of Prelate is conferred motu proprio by the Grand Master upon clergy who are members of the Order.

Chapter Nine – The Grand Magistry of the Order

Article 27
The Grand Magistry of the Order consists of the Grand Master, the Government and the Supreme Council.
Article 28
The Government of the Order consists of the Grand Master, the Grand Chancellor and the Marshal, to whom may be added the Grand Hospitaller, the Grand Visitor, the Grand Commander and the Grand Constable.
Article 29
The Grand Master is the juridical and hereditary head of the Order, in the person of the Head of Name and Arms of the House of Paternó Castello e Guttadauro. He personally directs and administers the Order with the collaboration and assistance of the Grand Chancellor and the Marshal and also that of the Supreme Council. He appoints dignitaries, issues diplomas of admission and magistral decrees, either motu proprio or on the recommendation of the competent organ.
Article 30
The Grand Chancellor is the head of the Chancellery of the Order and the executor of the decisions of the Grand Master. He formulates administrative programmes and the activities of the Order and puts them into effect through the competent organs once they have been approved by the Grand Master. From the Grand Chancellor depend the Grand Magistry, the House of the Professed, the Hereditary Commanderies, the Grand Priories and Commanderies in their own right and the Knights and Dames admitted in gremio Ordinis.
Article 31
The Marshal is the chief ceremonial officer of the Order and in addition is responsible for discipline and the administration of the Regulations of Dress, Uniforms and Insignia.
Article 32
The Supreme Council consists of the Grand Master, the members of the Government, the Grand Hospitaller, the Grand Visitor, the Grand Commander, the Grand Constable, Grand Priors, Priors, Hereditary Commanders, Commanders, Professed Knights and also those officials of the Grand Magistry whom the Grand Master decides should be included. It is a consultative body, which is convened by the Grand Master as often as he deems necessary. Its meetings are valid by virtue of the decree which convenes it and do not depend upon a quorum.
Article 33
The Grand Hospitaller is the head of the Hospitaller Service of the Order in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Article 34
The Grand Visitor is the inspector-general of the Order. He performs the duties which are assigned to him by the Grand Master from time to time.
Article 35
The Grand Priors, Priors and Commanders represent the Grand Master within their respective jurisdictions. They govern the Order within their jurisdictions according to the directions of the Grand Master transmitted through the Grand Chancellor and in accordance with the Codex of the Order.

Chapter Ten – Duties and Appointments

Article 36
All duties, offices and missions performed within or on behalf of the Order are voluntary and honorary and carry no right to any remuneration whatsoever.
Article 37
Every office or appointment within the Order is for the period that may please the Grand Master.

 

Chapter Eleven – The Lieutenancy and the Succession

Article 38
The Lieutenant of the Grand Master represents and replaces the Head of the Order, in the event of him being in any way impeded. The Lieutenant is appointed by the Grand Master, but in the case of sad necessity, he is always the Heir to the succession and in the event of being a minor the role is assumed by Governor, who receives the assistance of those Grand Collars who are also Counsellors of the Crown, chosen by the said Governor.
Article 39
In the dire need to regulate the succession the Lieutenant summons, within one month of assuming office, the Government and the Supreme Council in session and proclaims the accession of the new Head of the Order.

 

Chapter Twelve – Grand Priories, Priories and Commanderies

Article 40
The Commandery is the basic local jurisdiction of the Order. The Grand Master may erect one wherever there are at least five Knights and Dames of the Categories of Devotion. Grand Priories and Priories originate from a mother Commandery which establishes further Commanderies, which in the case of a Grand Priory may be grouped in dependent Priories. The title of a Grand Priory, Priory or Commandery does not imply territorial jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of the Order and of its organs is exercised over its members and not over the territory which may be mentioned in the predicate of the title of a Grand Priory, Priory or Commandery.
Article 41
The Grand Master on the advice of the Supreme Council may dissolve a jurisdictional organ of the Order.

 

Chapter Thirteen – Members in Gremio Ordinis

Article 42
Members who cannot be admitted directly into a jurisdiction are received in gremio Ordinis.
Article 43
Knights and Dames in gremio Ordinis are to be admitted to a Commandery as soon as possible.

Chapter Fourteen – Discipline

Article 44
The dignitaries of the Order, to whiichever statutory organ they may belong, make an oath of loyalty and fidelity to the Grand Masters in due form.
Article 45
The Grand Master may decide the expulsion of members of the Order who may fail in the duties and who have not remained faithful to their oath as in the preceding article.

Chapter Fifteen – The Court of Honour

Article 46
The Court of Honour is the tribunal of the Order with power to determine grave matters of discipline. It is convoked when necessary by a decree of the Grand Master addressed to the Marshal.
Article 47
The Court of Honour, which is not a permanent entity, consist of the President, who is always a King of Arms of the Royal House or a Substitute President, as well as an Inquisitor and a Defender, these latter appointed by the President or Substitute.
Article 48
In the event of a disciplinary charge the person accused is immediately suspended from all functions whatever hs or her rank. Such suspension will continue in force until the reading of the final verdict.
Article 49
The verdict will be submitted to the final judgement of the Grand Master, who will communicate his personal decisin to the President or Substitute. The Court of Honour will communicate same to the party concerned through the statutory organs of the pertinent jurisdiction.
Article 50
All acts and correspondence are secret and held under seal, any failure to observe which will be referred to the disciplinary organs of the Order and constitute grounds for expulsion.
Article 51
There is no appeal against the final decision of the Grand Master.

Chapter Sixteen – The Official Language of the Order

Article 52
The official language of the Order is Italian. Nevertheless the acts and proceedings of the Order may be carried out in another language if it is more convenient to do so. In all such cases the Italian language version shall constitute the definitive version.

Chapter Seventeen – Concluding Matters

Article 53
These Statutes repeal those of 1856, 1949, 1961, 1968, the amendments of 1966, 1967, 1970 and also the General Statutes 1971 and of 1983. Full power of dispensation is reserved to the Grand Master.
Article 54
The annexed Regulations repeal those of 1983.

Given at the Seat of the Grand Master this 5th day of February of the year 2007, X of the Grand Magistry, the Feast of the Order.

Francesco Paternó Castello Ayerbe Aragona

Sovereign Grand Master