Mind the gap? Papal bulls and statutes that determine the continuation of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem

Abstract

The Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem was reorganized in the late 19th century after a period of some 60 years when it had no or little evidence of members remaining. This period was still canonically legitimate for its existence since an Order instituted by the Holy See does not become extinct until 100 years of inactivity, that period usually defined as beginning with the death of the last legitimately received member. In the case of the Order of Saint Lazarus, that period was determined by the death of the last living member admitted during the ancient régime (Marquis Antoine Charry des Gouttes: admitted 1788, died 1856), and thus the window for continuation or extinction of the Order would have closed in 1956.