Deepertruth: The Knights of Columbus

God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the widow and orphan, you called your priest, Blessed Michael McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor. Through the example of his life and virtue, may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ, more closely, fulfilling his commandment of charity and building up his Body which is the Church. Let the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast. We humbly ask that you glorify Blessed Michael McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (The Sainthood of Father McGivney). Through Christ our Lord. Amen

From the moment of our founding in 1882, charity has been the first principle of the Knights of Columbus. We are men of faith and men of action.

“A Knight is a leader who stands in the breach. We defend the faith. We protect the family. And when a need arises, we rise to meet it — with charity, unity and fraternity.”

During 2012, in addition to raising and donating more than $167.5 million to charitable needs and projects, Knights volunteered more than 70 million hours of their time to charitable causes. These figures represent an increase of 6% and .1% respectively over 2011 figures. We undertake these acts of charity because we see those in need through the eyes of faith. Moreover, in the Knights of Columbus, we approach these acts of charity together. Pope Benedict XVI calls this the “practice of love…as a community.”

Our charitable activities encompass an almost infinite variety of local, national and international projects. From international charitable partnerships with Special Olympics, the Global Wheelchair Mission and Habitat for Humanity to our own Food for Families and Coats for Kids projects and other purely local charities, the opportunity to work together with fellow Knights and their families is virtually endless.

Cumulative figures show that during the past decade, the Knights of Columbus has donated $1.5 billion to charity, and provided more than 673 million hours of volunteer service in support of charitable initiatives.

A Knights of Columbus council can work wonders; in fact, with its many programs, it can help change the community, town, city or neighborhood in which you live.

There is no better example than the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. Knights were instrumental in organizing the first march in 1974. And year after year, we’ve helped it grow. The March for Life has become the largest annual human rights demonstration in the world.

Roe is overturned, but we have more work to do. Our principled stand in the public square has made a difference. So has our tireless work to support mothers and children. From the largest cities to the smallest towns, we’ve long supported a nationwide network of pregnancy resource centers.

Day after day, Knights and their families provide a helping hand and a caring heart.Most notably, we’ve supported pregnant mothers through our landmark Ultrasound Initiative.

In 2009, we placed a dozen ultrasound machines in pregnancy resource centers. At the time, we hoped to place a few dozen more. Thirteen years later, we have donated 1,566 lifesaving machines. And we’re not done.The end of Roe is a crucial milestone. But we cannot mistake it for the end of abortion.

The Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic family fraternal service organization with 1.6 million members. It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the Catholic Church, their communities, families and young people.

To further aid councils in implementing service programs, the Supreme Council annually sends out a Surge Kit to all financial secretaries of record. This is usually done by early to mid-June. Use this link to review the materials included in the Surge Kit.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS IS A CATHOLIC FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROMOTING AND CONDUCTING EDUCATIONAL, CHARITABLE, RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL WELFARE WORKS, RENDERING MUTUAL AID AND ASSISTANCE TO SICK AND NEEDY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND PROVIDING INSURANCE PRODUCTS AND ANNUITIES TO BENEFIT MEMBERS, WIVES AND ...

The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded 130 years ago by the Venerable Father Michael McGivney at St. Mary's parish in New Haven, CT, the Knights uphold four key principles as pillars of the order: Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism.

The Knights of Columbus (K of C) is a global Catholic fraternal service order founded by Michael J. McGivney on March 29, 1882. Membership is limited to practicing Catholic men. It is led by Patrick E. Kelly, the order's 14th Supreme Knight.

The Knights of Columbus was founded at a time in U.S. history when Catholics faced harsh discrimination and were frequently looked down upon as morally and socially inferior. Throughout its history, the Knights has stood up for religious liberty as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

What are the requirements to join the Knights of Columbus? Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to men 18 years of age or older who are practical (that is, practicing) Catholics in union with the Holy See.

Knights that have attained the 3rd degree enjoy privileges that include ability to serve as a local council officer, and admission to state and Supreme Council business meetings.

The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus. There are more than 1.7 million members in 14,000 councils, with nearly 200 councils on college campuses.

The Columbiettes, an organization of Catholic women dedicated to our Patronesses, Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Theresa the Little Flower and St. Joan of Arc, are comprised of affiliated Auxiliaries of the Knights of Columbus Councils.

the motto of the Knights of Columbus To Dust We Shall Return

Knights of Columbus. If his former marriage is declared null by the Church and he remarries validly according to the Church's laws, he may be reinstated into the Order.

KOC values go back to the Middle Ages when the history of chivalry began. We owe knights for this specific code of honour. Bravery, loyalty, protection of the weak and the protection of women - all were major moral ideals in the Middle Ages.

The Scabbard holds the sword and is an intricately detailed work of craftsmanship. Hidden throughout the Scabbard are the emblem of the Order and the emblem of the Fourth Degree. A small key-hole-shaped clip connects to the "frog" of the Service Baldric and allows the sword and Scabbard to hang at the Sir Knight's hip.

Knights of Columbus councils raise money through a broad spectrum of activities that include pancake breakfasts, raffles, auctions, tank pulls, rodeos, and its well-known Tootsie Roll drives.

Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practicing Catholic men in union with the Holy See, who are at least 18 years old. A practicing Catholic is one who lives up to the Commandments of God and the precepts of the Church. Application forms are available from any member of the Knights of Columbus.

Members who wish to live out patriotism together can join “the Fourth Degree.” Members of this degree have the special honor of holding the title “Sir Knight,” participating in color and honor guards and organizing programs that promote Catholic citizenship.

What is the Knights of Columbus prayer?

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What are the 5 values of a knight?

The pentangle represents the five virtues of knights: friendship, generosity, chastity, courtesy, and piety. Gawain's adherence to these virtues is tested throughout the poem, but the poem examines more than Gawain's personal virtue; it asks whether heavenly virtue can operate in a fallen world.

1. Solitude Create time alone with yourself. When seeking the wisdom and clarity of your own mind, silence is a helpful tool. The voice of our spirit is gentle and cannot be heard when it has to compete with others. Just as it is impossible to see your reflection in troubled water, so too is it with the soul. In silence, we can sense eternity sleeping inside us. 2. Humility Never announce that you are a knight, simply behave as one. You are better than no one, and no one is better than you. 3. Gratitude The only intelligent response to the ongoing gift of life is gratitude. For all that has been, a knight says, “Thank you.” For all that is to come, a knight says, “Yes!” 4. Pride Never pretend you are not a knight or attempt to diminish yourself because you deem it will make others more comfortable. We show others the most respect by offering the best of ourselves.

5. Cooperation Each one of us is walking our own road. We are born at specific times, in specific places, and our challenges are unique. As knights, understanding and respecting our distinctiveness is vital to our ability to harness our collective strength. The use of force may be necessary to protect in an emergency, but only justice, fairness, and cooperation can truly succeed in leading men. We must live and work together as brothers or perish together as fools. 6. Friendship The quality of your life will, to a large extent, be decided by with whom you elect to spend your time. 7. Forgiveness Those who cannot easily forgive will not collect many friends. Look for the best in others. 8. Honesty A dishonest tongue and a dishonest mind waste time, and therefore waste our lives. We are here to grow and the truth is the water, the light, and the soil from which we rise. The armor of falsehood is subtly wrought out of the darkness and hides us not only from others but from our own soul. 9. Courage Anything that gives light must endure burning.

10. Grace Grace is the ability to accept change. Be open and supple; the brittle break. 11. Patience There is no such thing as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A hurried mind is an addled mind; it cannot see clearly or hear precisely; it sees what it wants to see, or hears what it is afraid to hear, and misses much. A knight makes time his ally. There is a moment for action, and with a clear mind that moment is obvious. 12. Justice There is only one thing for which a knight has no patience: injustice. Every true knight fights for human dignity at all times. 13. Generosity You were born owning nothing and with nothing you will pass out of this life. Be frugal and you can be generous. 14. Discipline In the field of battle, as in all things, you will perform as you practice. With practice, you build the road to accomplish your goals. Excellence lives in attention to detail. Give your all, all the time. Don’t save anything for the walk home.The better a knight prepares, the less willing he will be to surrender. 15. Dedication Ordinary effort, ordinary result. Take steps each day to better follow these rules. Luck is the residue of design. Be steadfast. The anvil outlasts the hammer. 16. Speech Do not speak ill of others. A knight does not spread news that he does not know to be certain, or condemn things that he does not understand.

17. Faith Sometimes to understand more, you need to know less. 18. Equality Every knight holds human equality as an unwavering truth. A knight is never present when men or women are being degraded or compromised in any way, because if a knight were present, those committing the hurtful acts or words would be made to stop. 19. Love Love is the end goal. It is the music of our lives. There is no obstacle that enough love cannot move. 20. Death Life is a long series of farewells; only the circumstances should surprise us. A knight concerns himself with gratitude for the life he has been given. He does not fear death, for the work one knight begins, others may finish. The rest of Rules For a Knight goes on to explore these ideas in greater detail. Despite its fiction status, the book is a timeless meditation on self-improvement and what it means to be a parent.