Orderpro Merito Melitensi

Orderpro Merito Melitensi
Cross of the order
Awarded by Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Type	Order of merit
Established	1920
Status	Currently constituted
Grades	Collar Grand Cross, Special Class Grand Cross Grand Officer Commander Officer Cross
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Saint John
Military ribbon Civil ribbon

TheOrder of Merit(Italian:Ordine di Merito;Latin:Ordo pro Merito Melitensi) is theorder of meritof theSovereign Military Order of Malta,established in 1920. It is awarded to recipients who have brought honour to theSovereign Military Order of Malta,promoted Christian values and forcharityas defined by theRoman Catholic Church.Unlike Knights or Dames of the Order of Malta (which is amilitary order of chivalry), those decorated with the Order are not invested in a religious ceremony, do not swear anyoathor make any religious commitment. It may therefore be bestowed upon non-Catholics. Conferees include prominent statesmen, such as PresidentsRonald Reagan,who received it while still in office, andGeorge H. W. Bush.

The order comprises two ranks and six grades, includingCommander,now rare in the Order of Malta, and has no nobiliary grades, thus being comparable to numerous orders of merit around the world, including thePapal orders,France'sOrder of National Meritand Britain'sOrder of the British Empire.

The medals are inscribed with the abbreviatedLatin:Militaris Ordo Equitum Melitensum Bene Merenti,which translates roughly as Military Order Knight of Merit Well Deserved. By the medieval period both milites (from which derives the word militaris) and equites are terms for knights, even though the original distinction was foot soldiers and cavalry respectively.

Orderpro Merito Melitensi

• 
  Crosspro Merito Melitensi
• 
  Commanderpro Merito Melitensineck decoration
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  Grand Crosspro Merito Melitensibreast star
• 
  CrossPro piis meritisPro merito melitensi

Collar of the Orderpro Merito Melitensi

Pro Merito MelitensiCollar – Military Class

Pro Merito MelitensiCollar – Civilian Class

Single grade, usually bestowed to Heads of State only.

Cross of the Orderpro Merito Melitensi

Military Class

Grand Cross with Swordspro Merito Melitensi– Special Class

Grand Cross with Swordspro Merito Melitensi

Grand Officer Cross with Swordspro Merito Melitensi

Commander Cross with Swordspro Merito Melitensi

Officer Cross with Swordspro Merito Melitensi

Cross with Swordspro Merito Melitensi

Civilian Class

Grand Crosspro Merito Melitensi– Special Class

Grand Crosspro Merito Melitensi

Grand Officer Crosspro Merito Melitensi

Commander Crosspro Merito Melitensi

Officer Crosspro Merito Melitensi

Crosspro Merito Melitensi

Ecclesiastics Class

Grand Crosspro Piis Meritis Melitensi

Crosspro Piis Meritis Melitensi

Medal of the Orderpro Merito Melitensi

Old style (1920–1960)

Gold Medalpro Merito Melitensi

Silver Medalpro Merito Melitensi

Bronze Medalpro Merito Melitensi

Military Class

Gold Medal with Swordspro Merito Melitensi

Silver Medal with Swordspro Merito Melitensi

Bronze Medal with Swordspro Merito Melitensi

Civilian Class

Gold Medalpro Merito Melitensi

Silver Medalpro Merito Melitensi

Bronze Medalpro Merito Melitensi

The Orderpro Merito Melitensi

Classes of the Orderpro Merito Melitensi

The Orderpro Merito Melitensicomprises the following classes:

• Collar
• Cross
• Medal

The Collarpro Merito Melitensi

The Collar only has a single grade, but is separated into two divisions, namely "Collarpro Merito Melitensi"for Civilians and" Collar with Swordspro Merito Melitensi"for the Military. The Collar is only awarded to Heads of State.

The Crosspro Merito Melitensi

The Cross is bestowed upon both civilians and military personnel, comprising several grades:

• Grand Crosspro Merito Melitensi– Special Class
• Grand Crosspro Merito Melitensi
• Grand Officerpro Merito Melitensi(with Badge for women)
• Commanderpro Merito Melitensi(with Crown for women)
• Officerpro Merito Melitensi(with Coat of arms for women)
• Crosspro Merito Melitensi

N.B: these decorations are "with Swords" for serving military and "without Swords" for civilians.

The Cross"pro piis meritis" pro Merito Melitensi

When awarded to ecclesiastics, it has the same cross as awarded to civilians and military personnel. Nevertheless, this ribbon is black crossed with two thin red lines and comprises only two grades:

• Grand Cross"pro piis meritis" pro Merito Melitensi,
• Cross"pro piis meritis" pro Merito Melitensi.

The Medalpro Merito Melitensi

This class has three grades: Gold, Silver and Bronze.

Ribbons

There are only three different types of ribbons for both the medal and the crosses.

Cross of Merit, Ecclesiastical	Cross of Merit, Civil	Cross of Merit, Military
Ribbon
Black ribbon with thin red stripes	White ribbon with large red stripes	Red ribbon with large white stripes

See also

• Sovereign Military Order of Malta

Further reading

• Orders of Knighthood, Awards and the Holy See, by H.E. Cardinale and Peter Bander-van Duren, 3rd ed. 1985

External links

• Official Website
• Sovereign Military Order of Malta in the United Kingdom - Order pro Merito Melitensi
• Two examples for the ribbons of the Order pro merito Melitensi