The Fiat Lux
What Is It To Fight For A Cause
“A mortal lives not through that breath that flows in and that flows out. The source of his life is another and this causes the breath to flow.” - Philipus Aureolus Paracelsus
This quote is one I believe all good people should live by. In today’s day and age I think many people are searching for something to believe in. Some purpose, religion, quest, idea, or meaning that helps them understand why they live. People want their lives to mean something, to have mattered, to have meant something to someone, to be remembered. I think in truth all men and women desire this, but so few of them go out and make it happen. Many are content with sitting on the couch day after day watching TV.
To live for a cause requires a higher form of living. It requires sacrifice, honor, dedication, commitment, and most important love! This is why I have been so impressed with the time I have been honored to spend in The Knightly Order of the Fiat Lux. Within this organization are members who have found their purpose in this life. They have ignited a fire within their hearts that can never and will never be put out. They choose to live their lives in dedication to the cause of helping those in need.
Each chapter of The Fiat Lux fights a battle to raise money for charities in their local community. At the beginning of each year the members of each chapter meet and commit a number to be raised to each and every charity they support. Then they work tirelessly for the next year to slay this “Dragon” as it is called in The Fiat Lux.
Over the last 7 years I have watched nobel men and their families make extraordinary sacrifices to achieve their fund raising goals. I have seen members give up vacations, fancy new toys, expensive meals, and much much more. These men, and their families have donated their time, talents, and energies for a cause they find just! For a cause that fuels their lives and stokes their passions!
To live for a cause is truly a nobel life filled with adventure, and excitement. It can also be filled with heartache and sorrow. Despite all that The Knights of The Fiat Lux never falter and they never waiver from their course! They have found something much bigger then they themselves are. You see each Knight knows that one day they will be dead and gone, but their legacy and sacrifice will live on in the lives and tales of knights who come after them. Each knight works to spread the light of the cause to the world knowing that with each life touched the light only gets brighter and the cause more just!
This is what it is like to live for something bigger then yourself! This is what is it like to live for a cause surrounded by people of honor and virture. I kow for a fact there will come a day when the light of The Fiat Lux will cover the world, and for my very small contribution I am gald to have been apart of such great organization!
God Bless The Knights of the Fiat Lux!
“Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.”
William Ward
Sir Jason Heilpern
What is The Knightly Order of the Fiat Lux
In today’s society words like honor and chivalry are used as faded literary postmarks of a bygone era; pithy romantic notions that have no relevance in a modern world. To most people these are simply words, nothing more. To some they are obstacles to be overcome, or worse, ignored. They are something that gets in the way of the greedy and the selfish. But to a very few, they are substantive and meaningful. They are the yardsticks against which our lives are measured. They are the guidelines we construct our thoughts and deeds within to ensure that we live up to what we wish to be. This is not out of fear, guilt or promise of reward. It is out of a genuine and earnest desire to be better than what we are, and to help others to do the same.
The Knightly Order of the Fiat Lux is born of such men. In today’s hectic, fast paced, modern world of self-centered instant information and gratification these men are made from better stuff. They have all, of their own volition, made the conscious and deliberate choice to work hard and become better than what they are. They have chosen to put the needs of strangers over their own. They have chosen to sacrifice of their time, talents and treasures to help those who cannot help themselves. They understand what it means to truly be a man of quality. They do not turn away from adversity. They do not give up when challenged. They have a deep and intuitive understanding of brotherhood and fraternity. They know Faith and understand that to become part of something greater than themselves they have to believe in something greater than themselves. They are heroic, ferocious and do not tread lightly. They are gentle, patient and kind. They are a beacon for all to see; knowingly, willingly and cheerfully accepting that burden of leadership. They do it, not for the fleeting applause and accolades of success, but for the indelible mark they make on someone’s life for the better.
This dedication and commitment does not come cheaply. The cost is often high, sometimes painfully so. The difference is that the men of the Knightly Order of the Fiat Lux know this and carry on in spite of the cost. They have profoundly confirmed that the sacrifice is worth it, and it is. Anyone who questions that fact is sadly ignorant of the joyful and grateful faces we have seen of those whom we have helped.
This volume, like all things Fiatian, has been a labor of love. Many years of hard work, trial and error, toil and success, have produced it. As the Order is born of men these pages contain much of their character, belief, commitment and faith. In recognition, this work is dedicated to all those who have heard the call and answered it with resounding and unwavering fortitude. Knights, squires, men-at-Arms and pages, I salute you. For without your esprit de corps there would be no Knightly Order of the Fiat Lux. Go forth and do good things, and always remember that a life of honor begins, is and ends in service.
Lord Michael Black
Knight of the Etoillle
Primoris Miles Militis Fiat Lux
What is it to be a Modern Knight?
What is it to be a knight in today’s society? Obviously, it would be hard to ride a horse down main street with a sword strapped to your side. Armor is not exactly what’s “in style” these days, and I doubt you will see many surcoats on any of the fashion shows. Dragons no longer roam free, making it hard to eek out a living slaying them. However, knights are just as needed today as they were in the days of King Arthur!
The Knightly Order of the Fiat Lux is a group of men who have dedicated their time, talents, and treasures to their society. They give of themselves as they work to “slay” the dragons of the day. They do this by helping raise money for various charities, both in their community, and around the world. They do this by serving each other, their families, their community and their world. They have dedicated themselves to living by The Code of the Fiat Lux.
Thou shalt respect the weak and constitute thyself the defender of them.
Thou shalt love the land to which thou hast sworn fealty.
Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.
Thou shalt make war upon evil without cessation.
Thou shalt scrupulously perform thy noble duties be they not contrary to the laws of the land.
Thou shalt be generous and give freely to everyone.
Thou shalt never lie and shall always be faithful to thy word.
Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.
The question is why? Why would someone choose to dedicate their life to such a cause? Why would someone give of themselves so freely? Why would someone choose to live by such a strict code?
The answer is both simple and complex. The knights of the Fiat Lux believe in something bigger than themselves. And by that belief choose to live in such a way that they not only contribute to that belief, but honor it.
When a man joins The Fiat Lux, it is not by filling out an application or paying a membership fee. It is by the word and honor of another knight, and by the quality of his own life that allows entrance into The Fiat Lux.
The phrase quality over quantity drives the Fiat Lux when looking for new members. We look for men who have what it takes to become a knight.
This process starts at the very beginning. Each new member starts out as a squire, under the tutelage of another more senior member. It is the knight’s responsibility to teach, educate, and train the new squire in the ways of our Order.
He teaches honor by instructing the squire in the principles of our Code. He teaches compassion as he helps the squire understand the Code and apply it in his life. He teaches charity as he helps him raise money for charity, or as we call our causes, “dragons”. He teaches courage by training him in the ways of sword combat. In other words, the knight helps the squire become more then he was, bigger then he is, and beyond what he will be….he teaches him to become a knight.
This process of becoming something bigger then yourself does not stop once you become a knight. Once a squire makes it through the Trials of Knighthood, and is bestowed the honor and title of knight, he is then asked to once again become more than what he currently is. Through service, sweat, and hard work the new knight is then asked to train a new squire, thus spreading the “light”.
He learns what it is to be a mentor. He learns what it is to love unconditionally as he works with his own squire, just as someone once loved him.
He is asked to give of his time, talents, and treasures during events, meetings, and service projects. He quickly finds that even though he is now a knight, he’s still becoming more then what he once was.
Many times he will look back on who he was and where he once was and be amazed at how far he has come.
And the growth continues, as knights are asked to serve in leadership positions and committees.
The point, then, is that the knights of the Fiat Lux are always growing and striving to make themselves, and those things around them, better. It is an Order of fellowship, love and service. Each member of the Fiat Lux will tell you he is who he is today because he believes in something bigger then himself, he believes in the Fiat Lux.
Sir Jason Heilpern