IN HOC SIGNO VINCES

CONSPECTUS About the Order of Centurions

TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM

The Order of Centurions is an independent non-profit, non-denominational fellowship open to all Christians. The motto is "Fear God and do what is right" In Acts, Peter’s said of Centurion Cornelius, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

The purpose of the order to emulate the devout life of Cornelius, the faith of the Centurion of Capernaum, and the witness of the Centurion of Calvary. The Order seeks to encourage a belief in God and practice of worship that is like that which was held in the primitive and early Church - like that which the early centurions would have encountered. The Order’s objectives are reflected in its Rule and Vow and include:

• Encouragement of regular reading of and meditation on Holy Scripture [2Tim 3:13-17],
• Prayer [1Thes 5:16-18],
• A fear and love of God [Rev 14:7],
• Right and just acts as Jesus commanded in the Summary of the Law [Matt 22:37-40], and
• Witness of the Faith in words and deeds [Matt 5:16].

The beliefs of the order are what the One Church under Jesus Christ has always held, and are summarized in the passage: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness [2Tim 3:16]. The Order recognizes a statement of beliefs that was used by the Early Church before 340AD: the Forma Romana Vetus. It is likely that this form, or a very similar statement of belief, was held by centurions of the Early Church as a prerequisite to baptism. However, any Christian confession of faith or creed that contains the essential elements of the belief of the Universal Church is acceptable.

IN HOC SIGNO VINCES

TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM

MEDAL

There are two symbols of the Order. One is the Labarum with the CHI-RHO (first two Greek letters of "Christ") at the top of a spear and the initials IHSV for in hoc signo vinces - "Under this Sign Conquer". Constantine ordered the Labarum to be fabricated and carried before his legions when he marched against and defeated a much larger force under the pagan Emperor Maxentius at the battle at Saxa Ruba a few miles north of Rome. Another symbol is the Gladius-Vitis, containing two Roman short swords (Gladius) and a vine staff (Vitis). These appear as centurions’ stacked arms under the Crown of Thorns and the initials INRI (Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews) [John 19:19]. Below the arms is the motto of the Order, time Deum et operare iustitiam meaning Fear God and do what is Right. The Medal of the Order is a disc with the Gladius-Vitis

On the anniversary of the Battle of Saxa Ruba, MMV, the Order activated the Labarum Guard. It is a Service and Support Arm of the Order organized to render service to the Church Militant & community, to encourage growth in virtue, and to defend the faith.

The Order seeks to highlight the lives of faithful Christian soldiers throughout the ages – including this era. In honoring our Brothers in Arms who have fought the good fight and succeeded, we may learn from their walk. The Prayer of the Order reflects this objective:

Almighty God, our Sovereign LORD, who called Cornelius the Centurion to be the first Christian among the Gentiles, who healed the servant at Capernaum in accordance with the Centurion's great faith, and who inspired the Centurion at Calvary to glorify Jesus; strengthen us in our faith that we might follow their example to love, serve, and glorify you as faithful members of the Church Militant, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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