Clerical medicine, most often called monastic medicine, was developing during the middle ages and was provided as part of a religious duty. The Rule of St Benedict states that "before and above all things, care must be taken of the sick, that they be served in the very truth as Christ is served." Virtually every monastery had an infirmary for the monks or nuns, and this led to provision being made for the care of laity and secular patients. Almost half of the hospitals in medieval Europe were directly affiliated with monasteries, priories of the Knights or other religious institutions and hospices. While today’s Hospitaller is not expected to be a Monk, and while practitioners seeking credentialing are not required (but invited) to be a Hospitaller, through credentialing practitioners we do remain close to our roots, offering safe natural (Monastic) Medicine to those in need. 

Honor the physician with the honor due him, according to your need of him, for the Lord created him; 2: for healing comes from the Most High, and he will receive a gift from the king. 3: The skill of the physician lifts up his head, and in the presence of great men he is admired. 4: The Lord created medicines from the earth, and a sensible man will not despise them.

WONMP was officially Chartered by the Hospitallers October 15, 2007 and charged with the responsibility of membership management. This responsibility includes certification and licensure of practitioners and establishment of Auxiliary Healing Ministries throughout the world.

Our membership includes health care practitioners and counselors from virtually every area of health care, State licensed and traditional, and such practitioners that offer services under certification and licensure by SMOKH do so exclusively through Private Expressive Association. This is a court reviewed and approved method of sharing information through membership, that may otherwise not be acceptable or permitted under law. We find such relationship is necessary within the confines of the U.S. to protect the right of individuals to share in safe, natural medicine. We believe that State licensed practitioners have “equal rights” to share natural health in their practice as a religious right, and that such freedom may not be impeded by States. For more information on the legality surrounding the practice of natural medicine, we recommend attendance at one of our “legal conferences”.