Father Michael McGivney, Founder
His Life and Times
Over a century ago, in mid-August 1890, one of the largest funerals in the history of Waterbury, Conn., took place. The throngs who attended were grieving the death, at age 38, of Father Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus.
The bishop of Hartford and more than 70 of Connecticut's Catholic
priests were joined by many civic leaders. It was reported that
mourners rented every available carriage within miles for the great
procession.
Father McGivney's funeral was an indication of the love and respect the people felt for this hard-working, holy, parish priest. It also reflected the deep personal appeal that immigrant Catholics immediately found in the Knights of Columbus. Delegations were present from almost every one of the 57 Knights of Columbus councils that had been chartered in the Order's first eight years.
To mark their 100th anniversary in 1982, the Knights of Columbus brought the remains of Father McGivney from Waterbury back to St. Mary's Church in New Haven, where he founded the Order. There he now rests in a setting in which daily Mass is offered for deceased Knights and prayers are said in his honor.
His Legacy: The Knights of Columbus
In fidelity to the vision of Father McGivney, may you continue to seek new ways of being a leaven of the Gospel in the world and a spiritual force for the renewal of the Church in holiness, unity and truth.
-- Pope John Paul II,
Through the Knights of Columbus, Father McGivney gave Catholic laymen a new opportunity – the chance to grow in holiness while contributing to their parishes, communities and security of their families. Today, more and more Church leaders are recognizing his spiritual genius in animating the laity.
The Knights of Columbus has grown to more than 12,000 local units in the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan. Over the past decade, Knights have raised and donated nearly $1 billion to charity and given nearly 400 million hours in humanitarian service.
Knights donated $1 million to Special Olympics to send athletes from
the United States, Canada and
Mexico to the 2003 international Summer
Games in Ireland. They provided 2,000 wheelchairs to land mine victims
and people with disabilities in Afghanistan. The nature of most service
by Knights is determined locally. Knights in Illinois, for example,
have devised a sophisticated system for providing interest-free
financing for group homes for people with developmental disabilities;
councils in the Philippines regularly conduct free medical and dental
clinics for the poor.
Wherever they exist, Knights continue the tradition of support for bishops and parish priests exemplified by Father McGivney. Each year tens of thousands of Catholics attend the Marian Hour of Prayer programs, rosary prayer services, and pro-life Masses Knights sponsor.
Father McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus as a fraternal benefit society offering low-cost life insurance to immigrant families facing destitution if a breadwinner died. Today the Knights of Columbus has more than $50 billion of life insurance in force. Its insurance program has received the highest possible ratings from both the A. M. Best Co. and Standard & Poor's.
His Faith
High ideals are not the exclusive preserve of the young, but they seem to go hand in hand with youthful energy and optimism. The trick is to keep our ideals burning brightly even when the vitality of youth begins to fade. This is, in part, what distinguishes a saint from the rest of us. A saint keeps the vision of God's love and the call to serve one's neighbor bright and clear to the end. In fact, when we look at the lives of holy men and women, we see that their ideals grow stronger with the passage of time. Physical energies may fade, but sanctity requires a clarity and consistency that remain to the end of one's days.
Father McGivney was an idealist. He was a man whose youthful vision and creativity expanded and matured even as his physical well-being diminished. His intense idealism is often expressed today in titles ascribed to him as his cause for canonization progresses: "Apostle to the Young" and "Protector of Christian Family Life." These provide an outline for a spiritual portrait of Father McGivney.
Process For Sainthood
The process of "saint making," more properly called the process for canonization, is normally long and complex. The candidate for sainthood must first be proposed to the local bishop. Once the bishop accepts and formally opens the "cause" for canonization, a thorough investigation into the person's life and work is begun. This entails an exhaustive study of the candidate's written works and, when possible, interviews with those who knew or worked with him. There is careful scrutiny of his life, virtues and weaknesses. The investigation aims at getting at the truth of the person's life and virtue. Only one who has lived the Christian life in an extraordinary manner, who has manifested "heroic virtue," can be seriously considered for canonization.
If the diocesan process is positive, all the information is
forwarded to Rome where the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
undertakes a new investigation under the supervision of professional
historians and theologians. The arguments and proofs for the person's
holiness of life are refined and focused. Once complete, the evidence
is presented to the bishops and cardinals who make up the congregation,
and their judgment is forwarded to the pope. Only the Holy Father makes
the decision to beatify or canonize the candidate for sainthood.
The Holy Father looks to a sign from God as confirmation of God's positive judgment concerning beatification or canonization. Miracles are a positive sign that God indeed confirms the decision of the Church.
More information on Fr. McGivney can be found by visiting the McGivney Guild Web Page.
