History of the Knights of Columbus
On Oct. 2, 1881, a small group of men met in the basement of St. Mary's Church on Hillhouse Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut. Called together by their 29-year-old parish priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, these men formed a fraternal society that would one day become the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization. They sought strength in solidarity, and security through unity of purpose and devotion to a holy cause: they vowed to be defenders of their country, their families and their faith. These men were bound together by the ideal of Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the Americas, the one whose hand brought Christianity to the New World. Their effortcame to fruition with the incorporation of the Knights of Columbus on March 29, 1882. They were Knights of Columbus.
Father Michael J. McGivney was an assistant pastor at St. Mary's Church, when he founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882. Father McGivney's holiness, devotion to priestly ministry and work to protect family life provide a powerful spiritual influence for Knights, their family members and a growing number of other Catholics.
The cause, or process, for Father McGivney’s sainthood, was opened by Hartford Archbishop Daniel A. Cronin, in December 1997. The cause was presented to the Vatican in 2000, where it has been under review by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. With the authentication of a miracle at Father McGivney’s intercession, the priest could be beatified. A second miracle would be required for canonization. On March 15, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI approved a decree recognizing the heroic virtue of Father Michael J. McGivney. The pope’s declaration significantly advances the priest’s process toward sainthood and gives the parish priest the distinction of "Venerable Servant of God."
Father Michael J. McGivney was an assistant pastor at St. Mary's Church, when he founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882. Father McGivney's holiness, devotion to priestly ministry and work to protect family life provide a powerful spiritual influence for Knights, their family members and a growing number of other Catholics.
The cause, or process, for Father McGivney’s sainthood, was opened by Hartford Archbishop Daniel A. Cronin, in December 1997. The cause was presented to the Vatican in 2000, where it has been under review by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. With the authentication of a miracle at Father McGivney’s intercession, the priest could be beatified. A second miracle would be required for canonization. On March 15, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI approved a decree recognizing the heroic virtue of Father Michael J. McGivney. The pope’s declaration significantly advances the priest’s process toward sainthood and gives the parish priest the distinction of "Venerable Servant of God."
The Emblem of the Order
The emblem of the Order dates from the second Supreme Council meeting May 12, 1883, when it was designed by James T. Mullen, who was then Supreme Knight. A quick glance at the emblem indicates a shield mounted upon the Formée Cross. The shield is that associated with a medieval Knight. The Formée Cross is the representation of a traditionally artistic design of the Cross of Christ through which all graces of redemption were procurred for mankind. This then represents the Catholic spirit of the Order.
Mounted on the shield are three objects: a fasces standing vertically, and, crossed behind it, an anchor and a dagger or short sword. The fasces from Roman days is symbolic of authority which must exist in any tightly-bonded and efficiently operating organization.
The anchor is the mariner’s symbol for Columbus, patron of the Order, while the short sword or dagger was the weapon of the Knight when engaged upon an errand of mercy. Thus, the shield expresses Catholic Knighthood in organized merciful action, and with the letters, K. of C., it proclaims this specific form of activity.
The red, white and blue in the background of the shield and the foreground of the Cross of Malta are the colors of our country. As such, red is the symbol of stout-hearted courage, of pulsing activity and a full measure of devotion. Blue is the symbol of hope, of calm tranquility under God and of confidence in the protection of our country. White is the symbol of nobility of purpose, of purity of aim and of crucible — tried ideals to be carried out.
Mounted on the shield are three objects: a fasces standing vertically, and, crossed behind it, an anchor and a dagger or short sword. The fasces from Roman days is symbolic of authority which must exist in any tightly-bonded and efficiently operating organization.
The anchor is the mariner’s symbol for Columbus, patron of the Order, while the short sword or dagger was the weapon of the Knight when engaged upon an errand of mercy. Thus, the shield expresses Catholic Knighthood in organized merciful action, and with the letters, K. of C., it proclaims this specific form of activity.
The red, white and blue in the background of the shield and the foreground of the Cross of Malta are the colors of our country. As such, red is the symbol of stout-hearted courage, of pulsing activity and a full measure of devotion. Blue is the symbol of hope, of calm tranquility under God and of confidence in the protection of our country. White is the symbol of nobility of purpose, of purity of aim and of crucible — tried ideals to be carried out.
Jesus Lives
The words Vivat Jesus! are much more than a slogan or password for the Knights of Columbus. In these words, “Jesus lives!” we find the foundation, meaning and mission of our Order.
When Pope Benedict XVI spoke for the first time in the homily at his installation Mass, he said, “The Church is alive — she is alive because Christ is alive, because he is truly risen.” It is this reality of the Risen One that animates the work of the Knights of Columbus and why we greet each other fraternally with “Vivat Jesus!”
In his first homily as supreme chaplain at the state deputies’ meeting last June in New Haven, Bishop William E. Lori spoke about the necessity of the earthen vessels of our lives manifesting the glory of the Lord. That, too, is the mission of the Knights of Columbus. As Benedict XVI reminded us at his installation, “the purpose of our lives is to reveal God to men.”
Our Order, perhaps more than any other organization of Catholic laymen, is called to witness to a world that is unbelieving, that is doubtful, that is cynical, and that in many regions has abandoned the Christian faith. This witness comes primarily through our works of charity, through our families, and through the spirit of fraternity that animates our organization; it is a witness that proclaims Jesus is truly alive and so is his Church.
The real “culture war” that we face is the insistence of secular society that Jesus is merely a 2,000-year-old historical fact that can be ignored today. Secular society’s insistence upon legalized abortion, euthanasia and same-sex “marriage” is, in reality, the symptom of this fundamental refusal to see Jesus in his full reality.
Through our works of charity, the Lord’s presence is made manifest, in so many ways, in our parishes, our neighborhoods and our families. This is why Charity remains the first and animating principle of our Order.
This is also why we continue to focus so strongly on charity and why we are so proud that our Survey of Fraternal Activity this year again shows the Knights of Columbus growing in works of charity — nearly $136 million and more than 63 million hours in volunteer service.
With an average of $17 for each volunteer hour, that equates to more than $1 billion in service last year alone, and more than $10 billion during the last decade. And in direct cash payments in the last decade we have exceeded $1 billion.
The real importance of this is not simply a matter of dollars. The real importance is that our councils have an open door and a helping hand for so many neighbors in need.
This month we will celebrate our third Knights of Columbus Eucharistic Congress — a very special event during the Year of the Eucharist. Its theme highlights our principles of charity and unity.
As Catholics our works of charity are rooted in the divine act of charity revealed in the Eucharist, the Eucharist that is also the source of our unity. The Eucharist is our sublime assurance that Jesus lives and that he is with us!
Vivat Jesus!
When Pope Benedict XVI spoke for the first time in the homily at his installation Mass, he said, “The Church is alive — she is alive because Christ is alive, because he is truly risen.” It is this reality of the Risen One that animates the work of the Knights of Columbus and why we greet each other fraternally with “Vivat Jesus!”
In his first homily as supreme chaplain at the state deputies’ meeting last June in New Haven, Bishop William E. Lori spoke about the necessity of the earthen vessels of our lives manifesting the glory of the Lord. That, too, is the mission of the Knights of Columbus. As Benedict XVI reminded us at his installation, “the purpose of our lives is to reveal God to men.”
Our Order, perhaps more than any other organization of Catholic laymen, is called to witness to a world that is unbelieving, that is doubtful, that is cynical, and that in many regions has abandoned the Christian faith. This witness comes primarily through our works of charity, through our families, and through the spirit of fraternity that animates our organization; it is a witness that proclaims Jesus is truly alive and so is his Church.
The real “culture war” that we face is the insistence of secular society that Jesus is merely a 2,000-year-old historical fact that can be ignored today. Secular society’s insistence upon legalized abortion, euthanasia and same-sex “marriage” is, in reality, the symptom of this fundamental refusal to see Jesus in his full reality.
Through our works of charity, the Lord’s presence is made manifest, in so many ways, in our parishes, our neighborhoods and our families. This is why Charity remains the first and animating principle of our Order.
This is also why we continue to focus so strongly on charity and why we are so proud that our Survey of Fraternal Activity this year again shows the Knights of Columbus growing in works of charity — nearly $136 million and more than 63 million hours in volunteer service.
With an average of $17 for each volunteer hour, that equates to more than $1 billion in service last year alone, and more than $10 billion during the last decade. And in direct cash payments in the last decade we have exceeded $1 billion.
The real importance of this is not simply a matter of dollars. The real importance is that our councils have an open door and a helping hand for so many neighbors in need.
This month we will celebrate our third Knights of Columbus Eucharistic Congress — a very special event during the Year of the Eucharist. Its theme highlights our principles of charity and unity.
As Catholics our works of charity are rooted in the divine act of charity revealed in the Eucharist, the Eucharist that is also the source of our unity. The Eucharist is our sublime assurance that Jesus lives and that he is with us!
Vivat Jesus!