When the late Supreme Chaplain Bishop Charles Greco was a seminarian, he was deeply moved while
reading the story of St. Bernadine of Siena. He adopted the saint’s favorite prayer — “May Jesus Live,” in
its Latin form “Vivat Jesus,” to use as the motto for his life and priesthood. When he became Bishop of
Alexandria, LA in 1946, Bishop Greco chose the same phrase as his Episcopal motto. Our past Supreme
Knight, Virgil Dechant, thought our Order ought to be devoted to the name of Jesus and chose Bishop
Greco’s motto “Vivat Jesu” as a greeting. The response is “SEMPER,” meaning ‘always.’