The Vesting Rituals of the Knights of Peñafrancia

**The Vesting Rituals of the Knights of Peñafrancia** is an article from The Red Hare Courier's first issue and volume, released in September 15 1903. The article was written by Fenghuang, originally written in Tagalog and translated to English in 1989 during the digitization of the Red Hare Courier via MagnaOS. The article details the rituals practiced by a Martyrdom Chivalric order known as the Knights of Peñafrancia

## Content

*My seduction of Visitacion Perez, Knight of Peñafrancia, has provided me with so much information on the Church throughout the years. No matter how devout a woman can be, her lips can be loosened through exploitation of such repressed base urges. One particular piece of information I acquired from her was the “Vesting Ritual”. Say what you want about their Peñafrancia Knights, but the Catholics have a love for the ceremonial. Apparently, a Knight of Peñafrancia’s every action must reflect the sanctity of their god. Every thought, word, and gesture, no matter how trivial, must glorify their trinity. Here is a guide in case our agents were to disguise themselves as a Knight.*

*At the beginning of the vesting, a Knight of Peñafrancia must wash herself thoroughly, using water anointed with holy chrism oil, olive oil mixed with balsam. In washing the body, the Knight also washes the soul, removing residual sin and any nagging doubts that might interfere with the merciless application of the Christian law.*

*Once the washing is complete, the proper vesting can begin.*

*The Knight of Peñafrancia begins with a golden Crucifix necklace, followed by a cotton shirt, dyed a deep black and fastened with golden pins. The clothes are further secured by a golden "underbelt" which is secured by silver pins. Sisters in the Knights are also permitted to wear undergarments tailored to support the breasts.*

*With the clothes and belt secured, the Knight of Peñafrancia is free to move on to the "second garment." This long shirt must be washed in water anointed in holy chrism oil before the sun rises, and pressed over a hot iron. When donning the long shirt, the Knight must also recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and continue doing so while moving on to the next vestments.*

*The Knight’s pants  must also be washed and pressed before wearing. Knights should put on these trousers starting with the left foot and must fasten them using a blue, rope-like belt.*

*Finally, the Knight must drape a blue wool stole about the neck and shoulders, and fasten it with a golden reliquary clasp.. This ends the first vesting, and prepares the Knight for armor-suiting.*

*Before the holy armor can be donned, the Knight must recite the canticle called, God's Flawless Judgment from Isaiah 33:13-16, and appeal to St. Michael, the guardian and patron for warriors, for protection. After receiving St. Michael’s blessing, the Knight begins armor inspection.*

*The Armor of Peñafrancia must be free of any nicks, dents, stains, corrosion, or other aesthetic imperfections. Even minor blemishes are affronts to their god and the holy mother. Knights found wearing imperfect armor shall be subject to severe sanction. The polish should be thorough and uniform, but not garish. The leather undervest must be rubbed with an oiled cloth and flexed to prevent aging and distress. Furthermore, the Knight should oil all joints, and treat all leather with a firm brushing and a liberal application of wax armor dressing. At this point, the Knight should signal an initiate-squire to prepare for armor fitting.*

*The initiate-squire begins with the sabatons and greaves (starting with the left) while reciting a prayer with the Knight to St. James, patron of pilgrims. Once this devotional is complete, the initiate and the knight proceed to the cuisses, reciting another prayer to Saint Isidore, patron of laborers. At this point, the Knight must anoint the breastplate with holy chrism oil and recite another prayer of supplication to the Lady of Peñafrancia before handing it over to the initiate. After fastening the cuirass, the initiate moves on to the rerebraces and couters, both reciting another devotional to St. Margaret of Cortona, patron of penitents. After securing and lacing the pauldrons, the initiate should glove the Knight, starting with the left gauntlet, all the while reciting a prayer to St. Joshua, a patron saint of intelligence professionals, and yes, apparently that’s a thing. These Catholics have a saint for everything. Finally, the initiate must drape the blue prayer stole over the warrior's shoulders, both reciting a final prayer to St. Sebastian, Saint of bravery and perseverance. This accomplished, the assistant is permitted to retreat to the chapel for post-vesting prayer.*

*Final armor preparations are left to the Knight herself. Using the left hand, the Knight must tuck white lily petals beneath her right pauldron. Using the right hand, the Knight must trace the sign of the cross on her chest. The tinder of faith supposedly kindled, the Knight anoints their helm with holy chrism oil, presses her forehead to the helm to likewise anoint herself, then dons the helm. The Knight may now arm themselves with any weapon, so long as it is thoroughly cleaned, and blessed before use.*

*At this point, any action of the Knight of Peñafrancia is protected by divine mandate. So long as they wear the helm, the Knight is considered a faultless hand of Christ, and is authorized to commit any martial action deemed necessary to protect the faith. They are now the merciless arm of their knighthood order, ready to crush heretics and heathens, and so forth.*

*Although this Vesting Ritual has undergone changes throughout the years, at least in terms of prayers to certain saints, the physical acts regarding it are nevertheless consistent. Keep in mind that the following only applies to the Knight of Peñafrancia here in the Philippines, and other Knightly Orders may have different rituals for vesting their warriors.*