Somewhere I posted this, but I can't find it. It's basically the ritual I will have followed during my knighting.
The Initiation Ritual:
The ceremony would normally be held on the eve of some religious festival, such as Easter or Pentecost...April 27th is the Feast Day of Saint Zita.
The Blessings:
The candidate and his sword would be blessed.
“Bless this sword, we pray, O Lord, and grant our prayers and see fit to bless with the hand of your majesty this sword with which your servant desires to be girt, to the end that he may be a defender of the Church, of widows, of orphans, and of all servants of God, against the cruelty of godless heathens, and that he may be the terror and dread of his enemies, ensuring for him the performance of equitable prosecution and just defense. Amen”.
“Bless this candidate. O Lord, omnipotent father, eternal God, who alone establish and lawfully rule the order of all things: who to put down the malice of reprobates and to defend justice have, by your beneficent disposition, permitted men on earth the use of the sword, and have willed to institute a Chivalric Order for the protection of the people: and who said by way of his blessed John to the soldiers who came to him in the desert that they should do violence to no man, but be content with their pay: we humbly pray that, just as you granted to your child David the power to vanquish Goliath, and as you caused Judas Machabbeus to triumph over the nations who did not call upon your name, so grant, through your heavenly bounty, to this your servant, who comes a new recruit to put his neck under the chivalric yoke, the power and valor to defend the faith and justice, increase him in faith, hope, charity, the fear as well as the love of God, humility, perseverance, obedience and good patience, and direct him lawfully in all things, so that he will never injure anyone unjustly with this or any other sword, and so that, just as he is raised from an inferior station to the new honor of Knighthood, so putting off the old man with his deeds, he will put on the new man, to fear you and render you just worship, to avoid the society of the wicked, to pour out his charity upon his neighbor, to obey the articles of his oath lawfully in all things, and to fulfill his office justly at all times. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen”
Begging the boon (Asking for the Knighthood to be bestowed)
The Sponsor, usually a Knight, would approach the noble and request that the candidate be knighted. The Noble asks if the candidate is deemed worthy of elevation to the order of chivalry. If the Knight assents, the candidate is called forth.
Knight : “My lord calls forth Sir ____. Sir _____ begs the boon in the manner that his spirit takes him.
The noble: Sir _______, is this candidate free to take the oath and accept the responsibilities of Knighthood?”
The Sponsor : “Yes my lord, he is.”
The noble : “The candidate shall come forth and kneel before me.”
Charging the candidate:
The noble: “Right mindful of your prowess on the field, and responsive to the wishes of your peers, I am minded to make you a Knight. Know that to wear the belt and chain of a Knight is to hold a sacred trust; that the obligations of Knighthood will demand your efforts every moment of your life.
A knight must be respectful of all religions, never offending the faith of another.
A Knight must respect all those who are weak or defenseless, whether because of age, infirmity, poverty, or vow, and be steadfast in defending them.
A Knight must love his Kingdom and his Province, and fulfill most faithfully his feudal duties to his Baron and King.
His word must be dependable beyond doubt or question. He must never flee from the face of foes. He must be generous to all.
And, always and everywhere, he must be the champion of the right and the good.
The laws and customs of the Kingdom require that a Knight be prow, as you have demonstrated you are in the field; that a Knight be courteous, as you have shown yourself to be and as these noble gentlemen and ladies attest; and that a Knight be loyal to his Kingdom and his society. Do you then desire to accept the burden of Knighthood and swear fealty to the Crown?”
The Candidate [John]: “I accept, my lord.”
Swearing Fealty:
The noble: “Then swear fealty and My Homage to the Order of the Marshal”
The Candidate [John]: “I hereby swear fealty and do homage to the Order of the Marshal; to ever be a good Knight and true, reverent and generous, shield of the weak, obedient to my liege-lord, foremost in battle, courteous at all times, champion of the right and good. Thus swear I, [John Paul]”
The noble: “This I hear and shall never forget nor fail to reward that which is given fealty with love service with honor and oath breading with vengeance.”
Bestowing the Tokens of Knighthood:
The belt:
The noble: “Is there a belt?”
Candidate [John]: Yes, my lord, in the safe keeping of your servant, Sir ____.”
The Sponsor places the belt on the Candidate while speaking of the symbolism of the belt: “The Knight’s white belt symbolizes purity and chastity, that a knight must reign in his body steadfastly, avoiding the scandals of the body: gluttony, sloth, and lechery. Purity of purpose and a new beginning or rebirth to begin again in the steps of the Path of Chivalry.”
The Sword:
The noble: “Is there a sword which you will offer in service to your lord?”
Candidate [John]: “Yes, my lord there is, in the safe keeping of your servant, Sir ____”
The Sponsor girts the candidate while speaking of the symbolism of the Knight’s sword: “One edge to cut to the truth, one edge to administer justice and a scabbard to counsel mercy.”
The Gold Spurs:
The noble: “Are there spurs?”
Candidate [John]: “Yes, my lord, in the safe keeping of your servant, Sir ____.”
The Sponsor places the spurs at the heels of the candidate while speaking of their symbolism: “As Knight’s spurs goad the warhorse, so should they goad the Knight to Valor, Service, Diligence and Swiftness. Let the spurs hasten the Knight to his duty that he might maintain his order in the high honor that belongs to it. By precious golden spurs near his feet displays distain for worldly things. They should be worn with honor and discretion lest they be hacked from your heals in shame and disgrace.”
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