A New Blessed for the Knights

Richard Whitney / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

Since my book only includes those who have been named saints or blesseds by the Church, I unfortunately had to omit Venerable Michael McGivney, the priest who founded the Knights of Columbus. But the Congregation of the Causes of Saints recently announced the beatification of this holy man; see the news article here.

But Michael McGivney isn’t about to be called “Blessed Michael McGivney” because a group he founded not only continued after his death, but expanded and currently serves the needy all over the globe. He’s being beatified because he lived a holy life.

For example, Michael’s father died when he was a young seminarian studying for the priesthood. He had to leave school to go to work so that he could support his mother and many siblings. When he was able to return to his studies and become a priest, he didn’t need anyone to tell him that fathers were important, including their ability to financially support their families. One of the perhaps lesser-known features of the Knights of Columbus is the life insurance they offer for fathers, in order to protect families like their founder’s from falling into poverty.

Venerable Michael McGivney, intercede for all the fathers I know,
that they might be holy men and good fathers.

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