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Who founded the Knights of Columbus?

“[Father McGivney’s] zeal for the proclamation of the Gospel and generous concern for the needs of his brothers and sisters made him an outstanding witness of Christian solidarity and fraternal assistance.” – Pope Francis

On August 13, the Church celebrates the Feast of Blessed Michael McGivney. Known as a compassionate man of faith, Father McGivney overcame various personal trials, including poverty and the loss of his father at a young age, before finding his vocation. Despite his struggles, Father McGivney went on to found what is now recognized as the world’s largest Catholic fraternity, the Knights of Columbus. Learn more about his life and legacy and discover where you can find him portrayed in the Basilica in today’s post.

Father McGivney’s Early Life and Education

Father McGivney portrayed in a lower sacristy window

On August 12, 1852, Michael McGivney was born to a working-class couple in Waterbury, Connecticut. As Irish Catholic immigrants, his parents faced many challenges while establishing their new lives in America. During Michael’s childhood, his father worked as a molder in a brass mill and his mother took care of their growing family. Following Michael’s birth, she had 12 more children, but tragically, six of them died in their youth. When Michael was old enough, the McGivneys sent him to a nearby public school, from which he graduated three years earlier than his peers. He then worked at a brass factory for three years to help support his family before moving across the border at the age of 16 to attend seminary in Quebec. His studies took him from the College of St. Hyacinthe to the Our Lady of Angels Seminary in Niagara Falls, and later to St. Mary’s Seminary in Montreal.

Although Michael had been thriving in seminary, when his father passed away in 1873, he went back to Connecticut with plans to set aside his studies to care for his family. However, thanks to the assistance of a Hartford bishop who saw his potential, Michael was able finish his education at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore. Within four and a half years, Michael was ordained as Father McGivney, and in December of 1877, he had the honor of celebrating his very first public Mass in his hometown of Waterbury, with his mother in attendance.

Father McGivney’s Ministry and Founding of the Knights of Columbus

After his ordination, Father McGivney was selected to be a curate at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven. There, he became known as a compassionate man who was “zealous of the people’s welfare.” Father McGivney understood the importance of fostering community amongst church members and often organized group events and outings for them. At one point in his ministry, Father McGivney even counseled a young Catholic man on death row, going so far as to pray with the man as he accompanied him to his place of execution.

While serving in the port city, Father McGivney was frequently confronted with difficulties both within and without the church, from anti-Catholic sentiments to parish debt. Seeking to encourage those within the Catholic community to stay true to their faith amidst hardship and prejudice, and to support parishioners in need, Father McGivney and some of the men in his parish decided to found a new lay organization called the Knights of Columbus.

Named after Christopher Columbus, the Order officially came into being on February 6, 1882, grounded in the principles of unity and charity. Father McGivney served as the supreme secretary for the Order for two years until operations were running smoothly, and then stepped down from the position so that he could serve as the supreme chaplain instead, as he felt that was his “first obligation to the Order.”

Father McGivney’s Life, Death, and Legacy

Father McGivney portrayed in the Hall of American Saints. The book he holds states the guiding principles of the Knights of Columbus, unity and charity.

Around the same time that Father McGivney resigned his role of supreme secretary, he was given pastorship of St. Thomas Church, located over 30 miles from his church in New Haven. For the next six years, Father McGivney worked tirelessly to shepherd his parishioners there, as well as serve as supreme chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, which was steadily growing. Unfortunately, in 1889, when a flu epidemic began to spread throughout the area, Father McGivney became ill with tuberculosis. The illness significantly impacted his health, and when he contracted pneumonia in January of 1890, his already fragile condition grew worse. Unable to regain his strength, Father McGivney entered eternal life on August 14, 1890, just two days after his 38th birthday. Father McGivney was so well-loved that on the day of his funeral, “every available carriage within miles” was rented out! Additionally, two of Father McGivney’s brothers were so impacted by his life of faith that they also decided to join the priesthood, and each later served as supreme chaplain for the Knights of Columbus.

Within 10 years of its founding, the Knights of Columbus gained nearly 6,000 members. Today, that number has grown to over 2 million members in over 16,000 councils across the world, and the Knights continue to serve the underprivileged in their communities in countless ways – from funding academic scholarships and disaster relief, to offering vocational training programs.

Father McGivney was beatified by Pope Francis on October 31, 2020, and today, you can find him portrayed at the National Shrine in a lower sacristy window and in a statue in the Hall of American Saints. One of the most recent additions to the National Shrine’s sacred art collection, this statue was dedicated on December 8, 2023.


Sources:

“A Model for Today – Blessed Michael McGivney,” The Father McGivney Website.

“Explainer: The history behind the Knights of Columbus and its founder, Father Michael McGivney,” America Magazine.

“Knights of Columbus,” St. Anthony Oakley.

“Knights of Columbus Founded,” Knights of Columbus.

“Who is Father McGivney?,” The Michael McGivney Center.

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