Occult Profiles: Father Matthew Festing

Fra' Matthew Festing, OBE, TD, DL, (born 30 November 1949) is the 79th Prince and Grand Master of the The Knights Hospitaller (also known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, Order of St. John, Knights of Malta, and Chevaliers of Malta. He is the second Englishman elected Grand Master since 1258, following his predecessor Andrew Bertie.

Under his leadership the order - which has the status of sovereign state, with its own passports and stamps - expanded its diplomatic relations from 49 to 100 countries. The order has 12,500 full members, of whom only 50 are "professed knights" who take monk-like vows of poverty, obedience and chastity.

Frà Matthew served in the Grenadier Guards and holds the rank of colonel in the Territorial Army. He was appointed OBE by the Queen and served as Deputy Lieutenant in Northumberland. He joined the order in 1977, taking solemn religious vows in 1991.

At one time the order, which is predominantly male, was drawn from European aristocratic families. This has led conspiracy theorists to paint it as a rich and powerful cabal given to arcane rituals.

However Albrecht von Boeselager, the Grand Hospitaller in charge of the order's humanitarian arm, said this was "completely untrue". Charges that the order was conducting a secret "New Crusade" in Muslim countries and had sent mercenaries to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan were also "absolutely without foundation".

More recently Father Giancarlo Gramolazzo, traveled to Malta for high level talks concerning the Order's role in the Popes new mandate against Satanic activity.

In the news also was the fact a ship containing a secret cargo was recently hijacked and the cargo stolen, the ship was owned by a of subsidiary of the Knights Of St John.

The full title of Fra' Matthew is His Most Eminent Highness Fra' Matthew Festing, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, Most Humble Guardian of the Poor of Jesus Christ.




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