Speech of Christus Rex to the Knights Templar
Knights of the Temple,
Sons of vow and vigil,
Men who bound iron to faith and discipline to prayer—
Peace be with you.
You have sworn yourselves not to conquest, but to custody;
not to crowns, but to conscience.
You stand not as lords of this world, but as sentinels against its decay.
Remember this:
My Kingdom is not built by the sword you carry,
but by the heart that restrains it.
You were not chosen because you are strong.
You were chosen because you were willing to kneel.
Many kings command armies.
Few command themselves.
The world will call you secretive, dangerous, obsolete.
Let them.
Truth has always been accused before it is understood.
I was accused before Pilate,
and I wore thorns while empires wore gold.
Do not become what you guard against.
You will be tempted—
by wealth disguised as stewardship,
by power disguised as necessity,
by cruelty disguised as order.
Reject these lies.
Gold is a tool, not a god.
Obedience is a discipline, not a blindness.
Strength is mercy under control.
When you guard the pilgrim,
you guard Me.
When you shelter the widow and the orphan,
you shelter My wounds.
When you refuse unjust command,
you obey a higher law.
You are not saved by your banner,
nor damned by your enemies’ hatred.
You are judged by what you do when no one is watching
and no reward is promised.
If the Temple falls,
let it fall clean.
If your name is slandered,
let it be because you would not kneel to Mammon.
If you are scattered,
be scattered like seed, not like dust.
I did not conquer Rome.
Rome fell on its own.
Stand therefore—
not as tyrants in armor,
but as monks in mail,
whose silence terrifies injustice
more than a thousand shouting mobs.
Carry the cross not as ornament,
but as sentence upon your pride.
And remember this above all:
The last victory is not yours to win.
It is Mine.
Until that day,
watch.
Pray.
Endure.
Christus Rex
King not of fear,
but of Truth.