The Rule of the Tribe 13

 

Allocution to all who read this Rule

 

✠ A Call to the Faithful ✠

To all followers of Christ who refuse the lukewarm path of mere self-preservation,  to all who long to guard the Holy Faith and uphold the reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ on this earth by the protection of their brethren, hear this exhortation.

You who have walked as ordinary men, whose days have been spent more in the service of the world than in the service of Christ, are invited to take up the fellowship of Sword and Cross, alongside those whom God, in His mercy, has drawn out from darkness, setting them apart to defend the weak, the poor, and the ill.

We urge you, join them, and persevere among their number always. Above all, let it be known:
Whoever would enter this Order must bind their confession of faith to unwavering devotion and steadfast endurance.
Such purity of purpose, kept unblemished through the trials of this life, shall grant a share in the company of the warriors of Christ, who fight not for themselves, but for the honor of the King of Heaven.

In this brotherhood we seek to rekindle the ancient calling of Christian knighthood to stand between harm and the innocent, to lift up the widow and the orphan, to protect the Church and her people.

We draw the sword not for cruelty or plunder, nor to spill blood in vanity,but to shield the helpless and uphold righteousness in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

The members of Tribe 13 are lay Christians who embrace the ancient identity of the Warrior-Protector, reborn for the modern age.

Like the Orders of old, the Templar's “The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon” and all Christian defenders of the innocent, we pledge ourselves not to violence but to valor, not to conquest but to Christian service, not to earthly glory but to our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Cross is our Faith.

The Sword is our Courage.

Together, they form our sacred way of life.

 

THE RULE

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1. The Vocation of the Warrior Christian Protector

Every member of Tribe 13 shall strive to live as a Warrior Christian Protector, dedicating their heart to Christ and their strength to the service of His people.

This identity is spiritual, moral, and practical rooted in prayer, lived in discipline, expressed in acts of charity, courage, and defense of the vulnerable.

 

2. The Cross: Foundation of the Tribe

The Cross is the first weapon of the Warrior-Protector.

It must be carried daily in the heart:

• through fidelity to the teachings of Jesus Christ,

• through prayer and the Sacraments,

• through love of the Church,

• through forgiveness and mercy.

No member shall act contrary to the Gospel or undermine the unity of the Body of Christ.

 

3. The Sword: Symbol of Courage and Readiness

The Sword symbolizes:

• courage in adversity,

• readiness to defend the weak,

• martial skills

• discipline of body and mind,

• resistance to evil,

• moral clarity in times of disorder.

Members may train their bodies, sharpen their knowledge, and cultivate skills useful for protection, combat, service, and stability but always in righteousness and never in malice.

 

4. Daily Devotion to Christ

Members shall strive, according to their state in life:

• to attend Mass frequently,

• to pray each day at list 2 times, morning and night.

• to meditate on Scripture,

• to confess regularly.

The Warrior-Protector begins every duty with the sign of the Cross and offers every action to Christ the King.

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5. The Two Ways of Service

Tribe 13 is structured around two distinct yet interconnected spheres of service: the Outer Circle and the Inner Circle.

These two circles form the living framework of the Order one welcoming all who step onto the path, the other reserved for those whose commitment, character, and presence embody the deepest standards of the Warrior Christian Protector.

 

I. The Outer Circle – The Knights of the Tribe

The Path of Formation, Discipline, and Ascent

The Outer Circle is the gateway through which men and women enter the life of Tribe 13.

It is composed of those who have chosen to embrace the Way of the Sword and the Cross, dedicating themselves to spiritual growth, personal discipline, and the craft of protection.

Outer Circle Knights:

• commit to the study of the Warrior Protector ethos;

• undergo physical, mental and tactical training;

• develop moral courage and the capacity to defend the vulnerable;

• contribute through membership, participation, and the support of Tribe missions;

The Outer Circle is not merely an entry point, it is a forge.

It tempers members in resilience, knowledge, readiness, and spiritual clarity.

Through training, mentoring, study, and community, the Knights of the Outer Circle shape themselves into warriors capable of serving Christ, family, and society.

Many remain lifelong Outer Circle Knights, serving faithfully and honorably.

Others, through consistent dedication and the recognition of their Brothers, rise toward the deeper summons of the Inner Circle.

 

II. The Inner Circle – The Brothers of Tribe 13

The Ordained Calling of the Proven Protector

The Inner Circle is the heart of Tribe 13.

It is not reached by application, ambition, or title but by proven loyalty, tested character, and earned brotherhood.

It is composed only of:

• trusted students and long-time companions of the Tribe;

• men who have stood shoulder-to-shoulder through trials, missions, and years of formation;

• protectors whose lives resonate profoundly with the spiritual and warrior principles of Tribe 13;

• individuals who have contributed to events, teachings, pilgrimages, and the growth of the Order;

• those whose commitment has been witnessed personally, consistently, and honorably.

To be called “Brother” within Tribe 13 is to accept a sacred and demanding responsibility:

• To embody the Protector archetype at the highest standard.

• To teach the Way of the Sword and the Cross to the next generation.

• To uphold the spiritual and ethical foundations of the Tribe.

• To guard the unity, mission, and spiritual lineage of Tribe 13.

Brothers are not merely members they are pillars.

They safeguard the essence of Tribe 13 and carry its fire forward.

The Inner Circle continually grows, but only by deliberate recognition and invitation.

Its strength lies not in numbers, but in integrity, mastery, and brotherhood.

 

Two Paths, One Mission

Though different in depth and responsibility, both circles share a common purpose:

To form Warrior Christian Protectors who stand against evil, defend the weak, and walk the path of Christ with courage.

The Outer Circle builds Knights.

The Inner Circle forms Brothers.

Together, under the banner of Tribe 13, they shape a lineage of protectors who rise not for glory, but for duty, faith, and love.

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6. Entry Into the Tribe

A candidate shall:

• learn the Rule,

• declare their intention before their local chapter or leader,

• profess their pledge on the Gospel saying:

“For the love of Our Most High Lord and King, Jesus Christ, I promise to uphold the works of the Order, to live as a defender of the faith and of my brother Christians protecting the weak, the ill and the poor even unto the risk of life and limb; for which purpose I promise obedience to the High Protector-Chaplain and walk in brotherhood according to the Rule of the Order”

 

Upon acceptance, the member receives:

• the Tribe 13 Patch and insignia.

Those who come to the Brotherhood bearing rank from worldly military service shall retain an equivalent standing within the Order.
Let former officers be counted among the leaders of our warriors, and those from religious or clerical calling among our counselors and guides.
And all who distinguish themselves shall receive honor according to their merit.

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7. Brotherhood and Sisterhood
Members of Tribe 13 are Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
They shall: protect one another from harm, correct one another with charity, uphold peace, avoid gossip, division, and scandal, pursue reconciliation quickly when conflict arises.
The unity of the Tribe is a witness to the world.

8. Discipline and Purity of Life
A Warrior-Protector shall: avoid drunkenness, drug abuse, and destructive habits, be modest in speech, clothing, and behavior, resist impurity in all its forms, discipline their body through healthy living, temper their emotions with reason and prayer.
No one may serve as a Warrior-Protector with a divided heart.

Those Brothers sound in body shall abstain from meat each Friday, save on the Feast of the Nativity, in reverence for the Passion of Christ. Let no brother permit another to fall into drunkenness, nor partake of substances that corrupt the body’s purity or the mind’s clarity.

Let no brother speak blasphemy nor take lightly the holy names of God or of His Saints.
Let all labor to cultivate speech that uplifts and purifies, and let none stray from the true and steadfast Christian Faith.

9. Defense of the Innocent
Tribe 13 exists to protect: the persecuted, the vulnerable, the poor, the unborn, the elderly, the marginalized, the lonely,
the spiritually endangered.
This defense is expressed through prayer, support, intervention, presence, charity, guidance, and when morally appropriate physical protection.

10. Charity and Works of Mercy
No Warrior-Protector may neglect acts of mercy.
Each member must: feed the hungry when possible, comfort the sorrowful, visit the isolated, pray for the dying, defend those who have no advocate. Charity is the armor of the Tribe.

11. Training and Readiness
Members may train in any or all of the following:
combat or martial discipline, physical fitness  emergency preparedness, first aid and trauma medicine, crisis response,
strategic thinking and conflict de-escalation, spiritual warfare through prayer, bible study and fasting.
Training must be used for protection, never for domination.

Let the brethren train diligently in martial discipline, strengthening body and skill to stand firm in adversity.
Let no man grow complacent, but refine endurance, strategy, and craft of arms that he may serve with excellence and courage.

Let those who hold knowledge in healing, field medicine, trauma medicine and the care of the wounded share their wisdom freely among the brothers, that none perish through ignorance when hardship or battle comes.
Let each brother learn the arts of survival: shelter, navigation, water, food, and endurance.
Let them be prepared for scarcity and hardship, sustaining themselves and aiding others when comfort fades.

Let spiritual discipline be the heartbeat of each brother. Let prayer, Scripture, meditation, and devotion be practiced daily, morning and night, fortifying faith through habit and presence before God.
For without Christ the sword is vain, and the soul strays from the path of righteousness.

12. Stewardship and Honor
Members shall honor: their commitments, their homes, their families, their communities, their Church, their nation,
their brothers and sisters in the Tribe.
No Warrior-Protector brings shame upon the Cross.
 

13. Conduct in the World

A member of Tribe 13 must:

• speak truthfully,

• act justly,

• seek peace without cowardice,

• resist evil without cruelty,

• show respect without compromise of faith.

Their life is a banner of Christ’s Kingship.

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14. Counsel and Obedience

Members shall heed:

• the High Protector-Chaplain or leader of their local chapter,

• spiritual directors,

• wise advisors within the Tribe.

Obedience guards against pride and confusion.

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15. Saint Michael, Patron of the Warrior Christian Protector

Saint Michael is chosen as the Patron of Tribe 13 because he embodies the two pillars of the Rule: The Sword and The Cross

The Sword teaches courage.

The Cross teaches sacrifice.

Together they shape the Warrior Christian Protector.

Tribe 13 is not a relic of the past but a living revival, a lay brotherhood and sisterhood dedicated to Christ, ready to serve, protect, heal, defend, pray, and stand firm in truth.

So stands Tribe 13 in faith, in courage, in unity, under the Sword and the Cross.