Founder of the Knights of Columbus
(1852–1890)
Feast: August 13
Michael Joseph McGivney was born on August 12, 1852, in Waterbury, Connecticut, to Patrick and Mary McGivney, Irish immigrants who had come to America seeking a better life amidst the harsh anti-Catholic climate of the time. The eldest of thirteen children, Michael grew up in a household where faith, frugality, and devotion to the Church were woven into daily life.
From his youth, he exhibited piety, gentleness of manner, and a willingness to serve others. After completing his early education, he discerned a call to the priesthood and entered St. Hyacinthe Seminary in Canada, later continuing his studies in Niagara Falls and finally at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore. His seminary years were marked by both zeal and hardship, as he temporarily left his studies to help support his family after his father’s death in 1873.
Ordained on December 22, 1877, for the Archdiocese of Hartford, Father McGivney was assigned to St. Mary’s Parish in New Haven, a poor and largely immigrant community. His priestly ministry shone with pastoral charity: visiting the sick, instructing the ignorant, reconciling sinners, and offering special care to widows and orphans, who were often left destitute when breadwinners died unexpectedly.
In 1882, perceiving the grave material and spiritual needs of Catholic families, Father McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus—a fraternal order dedicated to charity, unity, and fraternity, with the added mission of providing financial aid to families in times of loss. His vision combined the works of mercy with practical assistance, uniting Catholic men in the defense of the faith and the support of one another.
Father McGivney’s priesthood was marked by tireless labor and delicate health. Contracting pneumonia while ministering to the sick, he died on August 14, 1890, at the age of 38, fortified by the sacraments. His parishioners mourned him deeply, remembering him as a true father to his flock.
Pope Francis recognized a miracle attributed to his intercession, and on October 31, 2020, Father McGivney was beatified in St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Hartford. He is now honored as a model of priestly charity and a patron of unity among Catholic laity.
Prayer:
O God, who raised up Blessed Michael McGivney to be an apostle of Christian family life and charity, grant that we, following his example and intercession, may work to bring about the kingdom of God among all people. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.