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October 8, 2022: The Dedicated and Devout Work of the Knights of Columbus
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On this Columbus Day weekend, we salute in our Church the dedicated and devout work of the Knights of Columbus. Not only in our Parish of St. Anne’s, but across this great nation established on the grounds of freedom of religion and speech. Is there a more eloquent expression of the freedom of religion than the countless good works performed each week and month throughout the years by the religious group of men known as the Knights of Columbus? What they succeed at doing in times of crises and times of non-crisis is of the greatest advantage to our cities and towns throughout America. What Blessed Michael McGivney (1852-1890), a priest of the Diocese of New Haven, helped to establish in his Diocese just south of us in Connecticut, an organization that cared initially for immigrants coming to America, has flourished into one of the most fruitful organizations of Christian charity and religious freedom our nation has been blessed to witness over almost 250 years.
When we reflect upon the establishment and subsequent decades of work performed by the Knights of Columbus, how can one not notice God at the heart of all they do? This is their first principle: that our good and gracious God in the power of the Holy Spirit is the Driving Force behind this organization’s thinking, planning, outreach, prayer, gatherings, and works of mercy. What I love most about the Knights of Columbus is how this group of faithful Catholics, by far, are not concerned only about people in our own faith. This is what a good, holy, Christian idea will result in. While most Knights of Columbus Chapters across America perform their work and ministry within the boundaries of a respective Parish, when Mother Nature comes along and shows her not-so-pretty side, resulting in the upheaval of many lives, the Knights are completely in tune with such events, large or small, moving forward with their generous Catholic hearts and wallets to make a not-so-small difference of manpower toward assisting the immediate needs of those who suffer, whoever they happen to be.
The second reading on this 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time speaks to the ministry of the Knights of Columbus over the past number of decades, and what will continue to shine forth like the stars in the sky in the decades ahead. From St. Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians, chapter 4, The Apostle writes of making our petitions known to God so that peace may be present. The peace that surpasses all understanding, which personally, I look forward to one day. The peace that only God can give in the life to come. And then Paul writes to the good and faithful Philippians, like the good and faithful Knights who, in this case, we’ll place alongside their brothers and sisters from 1st century Philippi, a heartfelt expression of what it takes to “make a difference” as a Christian. It’s an overall expression that Paul writes of a path that sets any group or individual on the road of being Christ to others. It’s a set of words that speak to the Knights of Columbus and their ministry of love.
“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
We are blessed in the present and past history of our Catholic Church to have so many organizations within our Parishes and Dioceses across the world, not only America, who live and perform the above words of Paul written to his fellow brothers and sisters who worship Jesus in the city of Philippi. I think about the honorable and lovely work each week performed by the many folks who provide food for hungry bodies and souls in our own backyard at this address on Monday mornings. These words were written by Paul for them and the Christian labor they perform. This would include most all other parishes throughout the Diocese of Worcester in their own way, not to mention the great daily success of Catholic Charities or any and every St. Vincent de Paul group to be found in some of our parishes.
It is most accurate to say that with the work performed each day and week where bodies and souls are cared for with true love and attention in and through the Catholic Church, such as the St. Anne’s Medical Clinic, or the St. Francis Xavier Soup Kitchen at St. John’s Church on Temple St., or the food pantry at St. Paul’s Cathedral, such works of love and mercy not only ease the burden of our local governments, but also build up our communities through honest love and care for people in need of basic goods. Such programs and people create peace, not violence or war. Every Catholic should be openly proud of what is accomplished through the dedication of so many of our places of worship who make their lives not about themselves, but centered in the communities in which we live and the basic needs found in said communities.
What the Knights of Columbus accomplishes throughout each year is a level of Christian love that is immeasurable. Their works of mercy, which are only one central part of their mission, are grounded in Christ, yet, they serve all peoples of all faith traditions, or even those with no faith at all. There is no request, prior to assisting others, for some type of religious identification. The Knights see all people as being created by God, which we are. Thus, the option to assist all others is really no option at all, but much more of a requirement through the words of our Lord, to love God and neighbor. These dedicated Catholic men do this with truth, honor, justly, with purity of heart, graciously, and in a most excellent way.
Therefore, may God continue to bless the good work begun in Blessed Michael McGivney with a handful of his parishioners, a good work that has blossomed into the expansive, universal good work of the Knights of Columbus.
Speaking of the Knights of Columbus, one of the prayers this men’s Catholic group promotes is the great prayer of the Rosary. How beautiful is it to know that a group of men, a few of them rough and tumble (in the best of ways, of course), pray the mysteries of the Holy Rosary? The Rosary, as a millennium-old prayer in the Church, is a prayer centered explicitly and implicitly in the word of God. Each mystery of our Lord’s life and that of his Mother that we meditate on emanates from the pages of Scripture. Thus, how appropriate it is that we bless our Parish Rosary Garden on October 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, but also on Columbus Day weekend, reflecting the prayerful devotion of the Knights of Columbus and their evangelizing of this heavenly prayer.
We gratefully thank the many people of St. Anne’s Parish for making our Rosary Garden a possibility through your most generous donations. The list is long. I thank parishioner Jeff Frost for the idea and inspiration to have this Garden built in honor of Our Lady who points us always to her Son: “Do whatever he tells you,” as spoken by Mary at the wedding at Cana. We pray that St. Anne’s Rosary Garden in the years ahead will be a beacon of light for those who come to pray the Rosary through words and meditation, or to simply spend time in the spiritual presence of our Blessed Mother.
May Our Lady’s graces and blessings that flow from the Person of her Son Jesus be upon us in our need, and may Mary continue to intercede to her Son on behalf of the very good work accomplished in and through the Knights of Columbus. Jesus is the Source of all love extended to others in this world. Blessed Mary is the creature who lived the virtue of love to perfection in her role as Mother of God and Mother of the Church. She is the perfect “loving verb” given to us by God. May her special heavenly graces be extended to the Knights of Columbus in their mission to bring the love and concern of Christ Jesus to people in need, as well as all their projects that build up the Kingdom of God among us.