“Today as much as ever, and perhaps more than ever, the world needs people, and the world needs movements, which renounce the weapons of war and take up only the weapons of peace, the weapons of the Gospel.”
That was the message at the heart of the homily that Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB delivered during a special Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral on 4 October 2025 for the installation of new Knights and Dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Commenting on the aptness of the installation taking part on the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, Archbishop Costelloe recalled the story of Saint Francis travelling to the Holy Land in 1219 to meet with the Sultan Al Kamil in Egypt.
“Some versions of the story would tell us that Francis undertook this journey in order to try to convert the Muslim leaders to Christianity. Other versions would stress instead the desire of Francis to advocate for peace and harmony between Muslims and Christians.
“It may well be, of course, that Francis had both of these things in mind: they are, after all, hardly incompatible with each other. What is certain, however, is that the tools, the ‘weapons’, which Francis took with him to fulfil his mission were not the usual swords and lances of the Crusades which were raging at that time but rather the weapons of peace, of respect and of love which are the weapons of the gospel.”
Archbishop Costelloe said St Francis was, and remains today, a perfect example of what both Pope Benedict and Pope Francis often repeated, “we must never give up proposing the beauty, the richness and the promise of our faith to others, but we must never impose by force our own convictions on them: never by physical force, never by psychological force, never by spiritual force. Propose ceaselessly but never impose.”
Speaking to the Order directly, Archbishop Costelloe suggested there were two well-known images of St Francis which he believed had or could have particular power for all members.
“One is the image of Francis receiving the stigmata, the wounds of the crucified Christ in his hands, his feet and his side. The other is the image of Francis standing at the foot of the cross. Jesus, with one arm freed from the Cross, embraces Francis, uniting this simple, humble man to himself in his death.
“Both images speak of the passionate love of Francis for Christ, of his total commitment to Christ, and of his desire to share in Christ’s sufferings so as to share in his resurrection.
“As we welcome new Knights and Dames into this sacred Order of the Holy Sepulchre, I offer you this morning the figure of Saint Francis as a sure guide as you continue on your own journey of faith in company with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for us so that we might have life in him,” he concluded.
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a global, Catholic, lay order of knighthood that is dedicated to supporting the Christian presence in the Holy Land.
The Order has its origins in the time of the Crusades, when knights protected the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
The Perth chapter celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025.
In an audience with members of the Order on 13 September 2013, Pope Francis said the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, in its particular vocation, is called to support the Church in the Holy Land with commitment and perseverance. “This commitment helps to sustain the Christian presence in the places of our Redemption, but also to support the growing needs of the communities through charitable works,” he said.