Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium pauperum – La défense de la Foi, par le vécu d’une Foi active, et le service aux Pauvres et aux Malades.
TUITIO FIDEI ET OBSEQUIUM PAUPERUM. Protection of faith and service to the poor.
The Order of Malta remains true to its inspiring principles: witnessing the Faith and service to the suffering. By serving our Lords, the sick and the poor, the Members of the Order put into practice the Word of God:
For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me (Mt 25:35-36).
The spiritual journey of every member is demonstrated in the actions he or she carries out to care for the poor and the sick. In order to fulfill its humanitarian action distinctively from other local or international NGOs, the Order of Malta relies on a spirituality that has proven its devotion to serving the poor and the sick for over 900 years.
Throughout history, the Popes have always emphasized on the spiritual dimension of the Order of Malta, realized especially through the Orders commitment to respond to all forms of poverty. Through its humanitarian action, the Order of Malta conveys a message of peace and unity and our works in Lebanon, serving the most deprived with no distinction, aim to emphasize the words of Saint John Paul II Lebanon is more than a nation, it is a message to the world.
In 1958, following the 100th anniversary of the Immaculate Virgins apparitions to Bernadette at the Massabielle Grotto, the Order of Malta launched its international pilgrimage to Notre Dame de Lourdes in France.
Since then, every year, during the first weekend of May, members, and volunteers of the Order of Malta from all over the world travel and gather in Lourdes to accompany the sick and disabled. During this pilgrimage, nearly 20.000 participants learn what belonging to the Order of Malta really means: devotion, service, and fellowship.
The Order of Malta Lebanon has been taking part in this 4-day pilgrimage for more than 20 years. It started in 1983 with only 5 members and 3 guests, growing every year to become a set number of 200 participants.