Thursday, August 30, 2012

CHARITY, UNITY AND FRATERNITY HEAD WEST



Late 19th century America, in particular the East Coast, was marked by hostility toward immigrants, mostly Catholics, and dangerous factory and mine working conditions that left many families fatherless.  Recognizing a number of needs in his New Haven, Connecticut community, Father Michael J. McGivney gathered a group of men at Saint Mary’s Church on October 2, 1881.

Forming a fraternal organization, the men vowed to be united with their fellowmen in the Catholic faith and to provide for the families of deceased members.  Catholic men were drawn to this new fraternity because of its emphasis on serving one’s Church, community and family with virtue.

As a symbol that their allegiance to America did not conflict with their allegiance to their Catholic faith, they took as their patron Christopher Columbus – recognized as a Catholic and celebrated as the European discoverer of America.  In 1882 they were chartered in Connecticut as the Knights of Columbus.  By 1897 they were established all the way west to California.

Edward L. Hearn wrote in 1898 that a Knight should live according to the vittues of loyalty, charity, courtesy and modesty, as well as “self-denial and careful respect for the feelings of others.”

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