Saint Sylvester, Order of
Saint Sylvester, Order of
Papal order of knighthood, known prior to 1841 as the Militia of the Golden Spur or Golden Militia. It was placed under the patronage of Saint Sylvester by Pope Gregory XVI, who checked the lavish bestowal of decorations which was causing the prestige of the order to diminish, and divided it into two classes, commanders, and knights. By the regulations issued by Pope Pius X on 9 February 1905, the order was divided into:
the Order of Saint Sylvester
Order of the Golden Militia or Golden Spur
The classes were increased to three:
Knights Grand Cross
Commanders
Knights
The present decoration consists of a gold cross with a white enameled surface in whose center is the image of Saint Sylvester P.M., encircled by the inscription Sanc Sylvester P.M. in letters of gold on blue enamel; the reverse side of the medal bears the pontifical emblem with the dates MDCCCXXXXI and MDCCCCV, the former dating the Gregorian restoration, the latter its renovation by Pope Pius X. The ribbon of the decoration is black silk bordered with red. The cross of the order attached to a silver star comprises the decoration. The official costume is a black coat ornamented with one row of gilt buttons, black velvet, gold-embroidered collar and cuffs, black gold-striped trousers, a bicornered silk hat with a cockade of the papal colors to which is added a white plume when worn by a grand cross knight, a black plume when worn by a commander, and a sword. Knights Grand Cross wear the largest cross suspended from the right, and the badge on the left side of the breast; Commanders wear a smaller cross around the neck; and Knights wear a still smaller cross on the left breast of the tunic.
Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary
Saint Sylvester, Order of
The Order of Saint Sylvester is neither monastic nor military but a purely honorary title created by Gregory XVI, 31 Oct., 1841. The idea of placing this title, borrowed from the Middle Ages, under the patronage of a pope of the fourth century is explained by the existence of a fabulous order of Constantine the Great claiming the approval of his contemporary, Sylvester I, which enjoyed a usurped authority at Rome from the seventeenth century. To end this abuse, Gregory XVI created an authentic title of Knights of St. Sylvester, to be conferred in recognition of some service rendered to the Church, the order being limited to 150 commanders and 300 Roman knights, besides foreigners of whom the number is unlimited. The members have no privileges beyond that of wearing a decoration which consists of a gold enamelled Maltese cross with the image of St. Sylvester on one side and the other the inscription: “1841 Gregorius XVI restituit.”
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CH. MOELLER Transcribed by Christine J. Murray
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XIIICopyright © 1912 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightNihil Obstat, February 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, D.D., CensorImprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York