Order of Merit Pro Merito Melitensi
| Order of Merit Pro Merito Melitensi |
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| Founder: | Grandmaster |
| Foundation year: | 1920 |
| Carrying method: | Order chain, sash, neck or chest medals |
The Pro Merito Melitensi Order of Merit was founded in 1920 and is intended as an award for people who have made a contribution to the honor and reputation of the Sovereign Order of Knights of Malta . It is mainly awarded to people, regardless of their religious affiliation, who are not members of the Order of Malta and who do not become members through the award. The award is made by decision of the Sovereign Council as well as by Motu Proprio of the Grand Master . The resolutions on the award of the medal are noted in the general register, the awards are announced in the Bollettino Ufficiale , the official bulletin of the Grand Magisterium . The Order of Merit Pro Merito Melitensi is not to be confused with the insignia of the members of the Sovereign Order of Malta.
Medals
The medal is a gold-edged, white enameled anchor cross . A white Maltese cross in the red enamelled medallion . The medallion is surrounded by a white enamelled ring with the inscription MIL in gold letters . ORDO EQUITUM MELIT. BENE MERENTI (Order of the Knights of Malta for the well-deserved). On the back there is the two-line inscription AD MCMXX (Anno Domini 1920).
Order classes
The Order of Merit is awarded in three classes :
Collane
The chain of orders consists of one degree and is divided into two categories:
- the chain (for civilians )
- the chain with swords (for military personnel )
This highest level is usually awarded to heads of state and consists of a gold chain of orders with the crowned medal (size 4.5 cm) and an eight-pointed brilliant golden breast star with a crown (size 8.5 cm).
Cross of Merit
The Cross of Merit consists of six grades for lay people and two grades for clergy.
Cross of Merit for laypeople
The Cross of Merit for Laypeople is divided into three categories:
- the Cross of Merit (for male civilians)
- the Cross of Merit (for female civilians)
- the Cross of Merit with Swords (for military personnel)
Special level of the Grand Cross
- Special level of the Grand Cross (for civilians)
- Special level of the grand cross with swords (for military personnel)
At this stage the crowned medal (size 6 cm) is worn on the 10 cm wide sash ; this includes an eight-pointed brilliant golden breast star with a crown (size 8.5 cm).
Grand Cross
- Grand Cross (for civilians)
- Grand Cross with Swords (for military personnel)
At this stage the crowned medal (size 6 cm) is worn on the 10 cm wide sash; this includes an eight-pointed, brilliant silver breast star with a crown (size 8.5 cm, for women 7.5 cm).
Grand Officer's Cross
- Grand Officer's Cross (for male civilians)
- Cross of Merit with Shield (for female civilians)
- Grand Officer's Cross with Swords (for military personnel)
At this stage the crowned medal (size 5 cm) on the 5 cm wide ribbon is worn by men as a neck medal and by women on the ribbon bow; this includes a four-pointed, brilliant silver breast with a crown (size 8 cm, for women 7 cm).
Commander's Cross
- Commander's Cross (for male civilians)
- Cross of Merit with Crown (for female civilians)
- Commander's Cross with Swords (for military personnel)
At this stage the crowned medal (size 5 cm) on the 5 cm wide ribbon is worn by men as a neck medal and by women on the ribbon.
Officer's cross
- Officer's Cross (for male civilians)
- Cross of Merit with Coat of Arms (for female civilians)
- Officer's Cross with Swords (for military personnel)
At this stage the medal (size 4.5 cm) is worn on the 3.5 cm wide ribbon on the left side of the chest; On the ribbon there is a coat of arms (size 2 cm).
Cross of Merit
- Cross of Merit (for civilians)
- Cross of Merit with Swords (for military personnel)
At this stage the medal (size 4.5 cm) is worn on the 3.5 cm wide ribbon on the left side of the chest.
Cross of Merit for clergy
The Cross of Merit “pro piis meritis” (for pious merits) is awarded to clergymen .
Grand Cross "pro piis meritis"
With this award, the crowned medal (size 6 cm) is worn on a 6.5 cm wide black ribbon with two red stripes like a pectoral cross .
Cross of Merit "pro piis meritis"
For this award, the crowned medal (size 5 cm) is worn on a 6.5 cm wide black medal ribbon formed into a triangular ribbon with two red stripes on the chest.
Merit Medal
The medal of merit consists of three grades and is a breast decoration divided into two categories:
- the medal of merit (for civilians)
- the medal of merit with swords (for military personnel).
It is a highly oval medal on the ribbon, which bears a raised Maltese cross on the front and the inscription of the medal on the back.
Gold medal of merit
- Gold Medal of Merit (for civilians)
- Medal of Merit in gold with swords (for military personnel)
The Gold Medal of Merit is reserved for people who have committed their lives to the work of the Order of Malta.
Merit medal in silver
- Medal of Merit in Silver (for civilians)
- Merit medal in silver with swords (for military personnel)
Bronze medal of merit
- Bronze Medal of Merit (for civilians)
- Medal of Merit in bronze with swords (for military personnel)
Ribbon
There are three different ribbons , these are used both on the merit cross and two of them on the sash and the merit medal.
Civilians
Military personnel
Clergy
Award dates
The awards will take place on:
- February 2nd, the feast of Candlemas ,
- June 24th, the feast of St. John the Baptist , the patron of the order,
- October 13, the feast of Blessed Gérard , the founder of the order.
Irrespective of these dates, the Motu Proprio awards , the awards to dignitaries and office holders of the Order of Malta on the occasion of their resignation from office and mandate take place.
See also
literature
- Alessio Varisco, Fides et Caritas. Il Beato Gherardo de 'Saxo ei 900 anni dell'Ordine di San Giovanni di Gerusalemme di Rodi e di Malta (con catalogo delle decorazioni e gradi del Sovrano Militare Ordine di Malta e dell'Ordine pro Merito Melitensi civile e militare) , Arcidosso, Edizioni Effigi, 2012.
- Heinz Kirchner, Georg von Truszczynski: Order insignia and awards of the Sovereign Order of Malta. 2nd supplemented edition 1976, Malteser-Hilfsdienst eV, Cologne 1974.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Website of the Order of Malta ( Memento of the original from February 5, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
