Knights of Columbus

A group that I have belonged to since the early days of my Priesthood is the Knights of Columbus. This past week, I was watching the excellent coverage of the 130th National Convention of the Knights of Columbus on Salt and Light Television. My friend Chris, who works at Salt and Light, was involved in the broadcast of the “States Dinner” and so it drew my attention to the broadcast as I wanted to support my friend. However, my friend’s work ended up supporting me. The presentations by the Cardinals and Bishops, the reminders of the good work done by the Knights, and the scene of so many Knights from all parts of the world together, reminded me of why I am so proud to be a Knight.

This fraternal organization of men was founded in 1882 by Father Michael McGivney (1852-1890) in New Haven, Connecticut. In a biography on his life entitled ‘Parish Priest’ he is described in this way: “Calm, mild mannered and dutiful, Father McGivney was known in Catholic circles around New England as a pure hearted reformer. There was by all accounts, something both stoic and angelic about his nature.” (Brinkley &Fenster xiii). When one looks at the valued and important contributions, spiritual and temporal, which the Knights of Columbus have made in the life of the Church, it is without doubt that his example of life must have influenced and generated that sense of calling within the thousands of men who are a part of this vital organization in the life of the Church.

 Father Michael McGivney, at the tender age of 25, called together members of his parish to form an organization who had a singular goal: “to unite the men of our faith throughout the Diocese of Hartford, that we may thereby gain strength to aide each other in times of sickness, to provide for decent burial, and to render pecuniary assistance to the families of deceased members” (p. 109 Brinkley & Fenster). The Knights of Columbus (as they came to be known in time) have gone on, to not only demonstrate faithfulness in that, but also supremacy in adherence to the underlying virtue behind their mandate: Righteousness. McGivney, who in 2008 was declared by Pope Benedict XVI as Venerable, lived his life as a Pastor focused daily on making these Champion Choices which lead to righteousness of heart, but also encouraging the men around him to do the same. To stand for truth, neither beg nor settle along the way, but to excel. Viva Jesus! These became words that were much more than a slogan for the Knights of Columbus, but the foundation, meaning and mission of the Order and McGivney’s life. To care for, look out for, be aware of, and strive to aid those in need; and in doing so make His Name known in truth and charity – to make Christ alive.

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” (Rome, 2005). We all have a responsibility to do this; but here again I wish to return to Father Michael McGivney and the witness that he gave in particular to men, and Fathers. The Second Vatican Council tells us that we should “look to Jesus Christ to find the meaning of human fulfilment. Christian the very revelation of the mystery of the Father and of his love, fully reveals man to himself and brings to light his very high calling” (Gaudium et Spes, 22) The Christian father must look to Jesus Christ, for the meaning of human life and happiness. Turning to Christ we see a very different conception of happiness than that offered by our consumer culture. Together with his wife, in the bond of Christian Marriage, the father is called to be a prophet – the bearer of God’s message – a model of holiness to his children by fulfilling his obligation to teach them the Catholic faith. A uniquely powerful way he can do this is by his choices, by the determination of his priorities, by the living example of the love he has for his wife. Fatherhood is a mission and one that is unique and irreplaceable not only for beauty in the character, but also harmony in the home, order in the nation and peace in the world.

 In our own parish of St Mary of the Visitation, in the past two years, two of our men, members of Council 4916 (as I am also)  have been declared “Knight of the Year” for their virtous example. Our own community has a “Parish Table” of the Knights which we have dubbed “The Wize Guys”. This group is a gentle introduction to a fraternity among men with the hope of more formal membership in the Knights. The Wize Guys gather monthly for social time, but also to undertake activities which support the parish community and develop their own spiritual life. I encourage all men to consider being a part of the Wize Guys in our pairsh, but even more so encourage them to be a part of the Knights of Columbus - I know I am glad to be a Knight!

True Championship

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an Olympic Champion? You know to the best at your sport, the top at your event, the finest in your field. The Olympic games going on right now in England have made me think a lot about being a champion. It goit me thinking about being an Olympic Champion - what does it feel like? What does it take ? How do you become one?. Before we go too far on that road however, let's pause and ask ourselves a related question - what does it take to be a champion in faith?

The life of faith has champions - we call them saints. They help us understand the qualities of spiritual championship, they help us comprehend what it means to be a champion. One in particular that it might be good to focus on, in the shadow of the Olympics, is Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Athletic, articulate, accustomed to being at the service of others, Blessed Pier Giorgio is on the road to sainthood - declared Blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1990- as “The Man of the Beatitudes”, he lived his life not centered on the privilege which was his as of result of his father’s service as a senator and ambassador for Italy, but rather a life centered on responsibility. Frassati was born in 1901 and developed a deep spiritual life, regretfully not from the example of his family. He would make frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament and would spent time reflecting on the social teaching of the church and ways that it could be applied to helping the poor. He himself took the opportunity to provide for those in need, many times taking of the little spending money he was given by his family and using it to care for those in need. Frassati also had great devotion to the Rosary and would recite it twice each day.

Yet what made Frassati a champion was not the extra ordinary actions that were a part of his life, it was the ordinary moments of his life and how he responded to them. He was dedicated to seeking to be the image of Christ, whose named He accepted at Baptism, and doing it not through extra ordinary outreaches, but by responding to the ordinary developments of his life. He saw each person who came into the path of his life as an individual whom God had placed there to be ministered to, including the many poor and sick which he care for from his own resources . In fact his early death at age 24 was due to an acute attack of poliomyelitis which doctors speculated he caught from the poor and sick which he tended. Blessed Pier Giorgio was focused not on self but others and yet founded no group, foundation or service organization to accomplish his task, it was his simple, ordinary, personal outreach and touch to those who came into his life that made him a champion Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati is a model of being a spiritual champion because he gave of himself in extra ordinary ways to ordinary moments. There is the key. He is a champion in the spiritual life because he focussed on the Eucharist as the source and summit of his life. He is a champion spiritually because his focus was not on himself winning medals, but on the crown of righteousness which comes from seeking first the kingdom of God As the Olympics continues, so too will my wonderment of olympic championships, but the more I study Pier Giorgio’s life the more I understand how he became, and what it takes, to be a true champion in this life and the next.