Latin: Ordo Sancti Sylvestri Papae

Italian: Ordine di San Silvestro

Established 7 February 1905
Motto: Multum in Parvo
Knight / Dame Grand Cross of the First Class (GCSS / DCSS)
Knight / Dame Commander with Star (KC*SS / DC*SS)
Knight / Dame Commander (KCSS / DCSS)
Knight / Dame (KSS / DSS)
The Order of Saint Sylvester, originally united with the Order of the Golden Spur, was formally
constituted on 7 February 1905 by Pope Saint Pius X in his motu proprio, Multum ad
excitandos. From that time, the united order became two orders, the Order of Saint Sylvester and
the Order of the Golden Spur. Since the 1905 reforms of Pope Saint Pius X, the grades are, from
highest to lowest, Knight Grand Cross (1st class), Knight Commander with Star (2nd class)*,
Knight Commander (3rd class), and Knight (4th class). Since 1994 women have been admitted to
the Order as Dames in the same grades and divisions as men. It was also Saint Pius X who gave
Papal knights a place of honor in Papal processions and ecclesiastical ceremonies.
As with all Orders of the Holy See, there is no set method of nomination for this Order. The Holy
See is free to nominate and award in any manner in which she sees fit. However, awards of the
Order of Saint Sylvester are typically made on the recommendation of Diocesan Bishops or
Archbishops or Nuncios for special merit or service. If it is processed through the local Bishop,
then the usual procedure is for that Bishop to nominate the candidate through the appropriate
Apostolic Nuncio, who then forwards the recommendation to the Cardinal Secretary of State in
Rome. Awards are also sometimes made on specific recommendation of members of the Roman
Curia. Specific procedures can vary. Upon approval, a diploma is issued in Latin (with the
candidate's forenames also translated into Latin where possible), and it is signed in almost every
case on behalf of the Roman Pontiff by the Secretary of State of the Vatican. The award also
usually requires the payment of a nominal "tax" to cover expenses concerned and support the
work of the Church. It may be paid by the recipient or by someone else on his behalf. Before the
1905 reforms of Pope Saint Pius X, the Order was known as the Order of the Golden Spur, under
the patronage of Saint Sylvester, one of the Order's supposed founders."The members have no
privileges beyond that of wearing a decoration which consists of a gold enamelled Maltese cross
with the image of St. Sylvester on one side and the other the inscription: '1841 Gregorius XVI
restituit.'" (Moeller, C. (1912). Order of Saint Sylvester. The Catholic Encyclopedia.) Even though
Vatican reforms no longer confer a special status on Papal knights, the receipt of a Papal
knighthood ought to serve as an impetus for service on the part of the recipient. Sometimes nonCatholics receive the honor (Guy Stair Sainty. "History of the Papal Orders". Burke's Peerage.) It is
also interesting to note that the Knights of Saint Sylvester retain the privilege of riding a horse
inside Saint Peter's in Rome.