Robaird O’Cearbhaill
Hong Kong Correspondent
The 1000 year Catholic Order of Malta is designed to, and has been functioning since the beginning, to help the poor and sick in violent conflicts, natural emergencies and in poverty. It is one of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations, operating in 120 countries.
The Order is an independent state which used to rule Malta from 1530 until 1798. Its territorial lands may have been diminished to a palace overlooking the other country in Rome – the Vatican – and other properties in Rome and Malta. Nevertheless, it has diplomatic relations with 110 nations and the EU (up from 49 when Fra’ Bertie took over) and official relations with several other countries, and a permanent observer at the UN. Its monarchical government is headed by the Grand Master, whose full title is Prince Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller, Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and Malta.
Fra’ Bertie was praised for modernizing centuries of practices of the Order, for being on location during crises, boosting membership, adding many more countries to the state’s diplomatic relations, as well establishing a young volunteers section for the disabled. He is remembered among the members, and as a school teacher, as a kind, energetic and modest man.
Fra Bertie, in his 20-year term of office was not just an outstanding Grand Master in terms of how much he changed and added positively to the Order. The Holy See has already sanctioned step two of the path to sainthood, as he has been Servant of God since 2015. If Fra’ Bertie is canonized, he will be the first Grand Master to be declared a saint, the nearest one to the order’s founder, Blessed Gerard.
The first step towards beatification and sainthood is that a request for an enquiry be accepted. Once agreed the second step is to fully evaluate the person’s life. A bishop investigates whether they are due further consideration. Once those years of research are accomplished either the process ends or step three begins: even more research depth is required to achieve venerable status, then step four to be Blessed, once a miracle by prayers or in presence healing or untreatable disease or disability is confirmed. Lastly for canonization, a second miracle must occur through the candidate’s intercession. Unless in highly exceptional cases, as for Pope John Paul or Mother Theresa, nothing can be done until five years after death. The process of Fra’ Bertie commenced only after seven years, so it could be considered relatively fast.
To summarise the good life of Fra’ Bertie, as he preferred being called, out of modesty, not Prince Grand Master or Grand Master (he also disliked the uniform, too fancy dress for him), the words of his second in command, Albrecht Boeselager, are apt: “We really have lost a great leader who knew and supported all of works of the Order worldwide. He travelled a lot, he knew the Order well, I can say he was loved by all the members and volunteers of the Order.”
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