Knightly News

A Moment with the Prelate

Past Commander Brian R. Dodson

The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ stands as the cornerstone of Christian faith and the wellspring of the Knight Templar’s spiritual identity. While all Christians celebrate the empty tomb with awe and gratitude, the Templar sees in the Resurrection not only a promise of eternal life, but also a call to a distinctive form of chivalric discipleship rooted in courage, devotion, and holy purpose.

Without the Resurrection, the Cross would seem a defeat. But in rising from the dead, Christ transformed sacrifice into victory. For the Knight Templar, whose emblem is the red cross; this truth is profoundly personal. The Resurrection assures us that the path of service, discipline, and self-sacrifice leads not to loss, but to life.

Knighthood, even in its modern spiritual form, requires moral courage. The Resurrection strengthens that courage by reminding us that Christ has already overcome the greatest enemies—sin, death, and despair.

As medieval Templars protected pilgrims, they carried faith that Christ had conquered death itself. Today’s Templars continue that tradition by standing boldly against spiritual darkness, knowing that the Risen Lord leads us.

“I am the resurrection, and the life.”  John 11:25

The Resurrection proclaims that we do not serve a fallen martyr but a Living King.

This truth shapes our vows:

• Faithfulness: Because Christ lives, we remain steadfast. (John 14:19)

• Truth: Because Christ is the Truth, we uphold righteousness. (John 14:6)

• Charity: Because Christ rose after giving Himself for others, we serve with compassion. (Mark 10:45)

Templary is not a memorial, it is a living testimony to the ongoing reign of the risen Christ.

The Resurrection is not only a historical event; it is a daily banner under which a Knight Templar marches.

In moments of discouragement, we remember the stone rolled away.
In times of conflict, we cling to the certainty that light conquers darkness.

In acts of charity, we reflect the life and hope that flow from the empty tomb.

The Resurrection turns every duty, no matter how humble, into a reflection of divine victory. The Knights Templar are often called “Soldiers of the Cross,” yet the empty tomb gives that Cross its meaning.

Christ’s Resurrection transforms:

• Sacrifice into purpose

• Discipline into joy

• Service into holy calling

As Knights Templar, we walk as Brothers of the Empty Tomb, men committed to embodying the courage, hope, and light of the risen Christ in all that we do.