Founded in 13th Century
VATICAN CITY, 14 JUNE 2006 (ZENIT)Here is the description of Militia
Christi which appears in the Directory of International Associations of
the Faithful, published by the Pontifical Council for the Laity.
* * *
Official name: Militia Christi
Acronym: MJC (Militia of Jesus Christ)
Established: 1209
History: MJC was founded in 1209, influenced by St. Dominic and the
Dominican friars. Encouraged across the centuries by numerous popes, it
developed as an order of chivalry whose members, courageous faithful
members of the laity, placed themselves at the service of the Church to
defend the faith.
In 1870, the chivalrous Order of the Militia of Jesus Christ was
reorganized in Rome around a group of papal officials assisted by the
master general of the Dominicans, and with the encouragement of Pope
Pius IX, to relaunch the spirit of the ancient institution directing its
members toward creating the Kingdom of God in society.
During the period of reform between 1959 and 1973, the order was
transformed into an association of the faithful and its purposes were
geared to meeting the needs of the lay apostolate according to the
teachings of the Second Vatican Council.
On Nov. 21, 1981, the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed
recognition of the Milice de Jesus Christ as an international
association of the faithful of pontifical right.
Identity: MJC is open to membership by lay men and women from all
backgrounds and states of life, who wish to commit themselves
individually and as an association to fostering the spirit of faith and
Christian values in the world.
Its members live the evangelical counsels according to their specific
state of life and in a renewed spirit of chivalry, practicing works of
doctrinal and ecumenical education, Marian piety and social justice.
In order to support these three areas of action, MJC has three
departments, each led by a director:
—
the Department of Truth, which guarantees the formation of its members
based on Thomist philosophy and theology, by teaching and guidance
toward reliable sources;
—
the Department of the Rosary, which corresponds to the Marian vocation
of the association and fuels the interior life and the piety of the
individual members, through spiritual retreats, prayer vigils and
moments of meditation;
—
the Department of Hospitality, which not only guarantees mutual
assistance among the members and organizes hospitality for them at
meetings and chapters, but more particularly to support and promote
works of solidarity and charity which are inseparable from
evangelization.
Organization: MJC is governed by the master general, elected for nine
years and who may serve more than one term, assisted by an assistant
general, who has responsibility for making decisions on the life of the
association.
The assistant general is assisted by the magistral council comprising
the general secretary, the provincial leaders, the departmental
directors, and members appointed pro tempore.
The ecclesiastical ordinary is the archbishop of Sens (France).
Membership of MJC is divided into affiliated members, committed members,
and consecrated members.
The affiliated members are persons who live the spirituality of the
association without being bound to it; committed members bind themselves
in a sequence of stages to the spirit of service and militancy specific
to the chivalrous vocation and Dominican spirituality; consecrated
members vow to live the evangelical counsels of poverty and chastity in
a special way according to their specific state of life, or the demands
of special obedience to the Pope and to defend Our Lady, taking one or
more temporary vows and subsequently final vows.
The members are grouped together in houses headed by local delegates.
Houses in the same country constitute a province, which is entrusted to
the provincial delegate.
Membership: MJC has 506 members in nine countries, in Africa, Europe,
the Middle East, North America and South America.
Works: The association manages the Opere Militia Christi for solidarity
between the provinces and for the support of charitable projects; the
Parrains pour Ie Liban initiative to provide aid for young Lebanese
students from poor families; the Marie porte du Ciel initiative working
in Brazil for evangelization, the construction of a shrine, and the
provision of palliative care.
Publications: Militia Christi, published in French three times a year
Web site: www.militia-christi.org
Headquarters:
Milice de Jesus-Christ
c/o Michel Quatre
22, avenue des Etats-Unis
78000 Versailles
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France
Tel. (33) 1-30213510
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Fax 1-30211071
E-mail: aijc@skynet.be
© Copyright 2006
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Libreria Editrice Vaticana [adapted]
ZE06061421
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