New Haven, CT - March 16, 2008 -
Pope Benedict XVI Saturday approved
a decree recognizing the heroic
virtue of Father Michael J.
McGivney, founder of the Knights of
Columbus. The pope's declaration
significantly advances the priest's
process toward sainthood and gives
the parish priest the distinction of
"Venerable Servant of God." If
canonized, Fr. McGivney would be the
first American born priest to be so
honored.
"All of us who are members of the
Knights of Columbus are profoundly
grateful for this recognition of the
holiness of our founder," said
Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. "The
strength of the Knights of Columbus
today is a testament to his timeless
vision, his holiness and his
ideals."
Worried about the religious faith
and financial stability of immigrant
families, Father McGivney founded
the Knights of Columbus with the
help of several men of St. Mary's
Parish in New Haven in 1882 to help
strengthen the faith of the men of
his parish and to provide financial
assistance in the event of their
death to the widows and orphans they
left behind. He was also known for
his tireless work among his
parishioners.
Born in Waterbury, Conn., Aug. 12,
1852, Michael Joseph McGivney, was
the first of Patrick and Mary
(Lynch) McGivney's 13 children, six
of whom died in infancy or early
childhood. His parents, natives of
Ireland, had immigrated to the
United States during the 19th
century. Patrick was a molder in a
Waterbury brass mill, where Michael
himself worked for a brief time as a
child to help support his family.
From an early age, however, he
realized a calling to the Catholic
priesthood. After studying in
several seminaries, he was ordained
in that Baltimore's historic
Cathedral by Cardinal James Gibbons
Dec. 22, 1877. He took up his first
assignment, as curate at St. Mary's
Church, New Haven, Conn., Jan. 2,
1878. Father McGivney was named
pastor of St. Thomas Church in
Thomaston, Conn. in 1884. He became
seriously ill with pneumonia in
January 1890, and died Aug. 14, 1890
at age 38.
The cause, or process, for Father
McGivney's sainthood, was opened by
Hartford Archbishop Daniel A.
Cronin, in December 1997. The cause
was presented to the Vatican in
2000, where it has been under review
by the Congregation for the Causes
of Saints. With the pope's recent
decree, and the authentication of a
miracle at Father McGivney's
intercession, the priest could be
beatified. A second miracle would be
required for canonization.
Still maintaining its headquarters
in New Haven, the Knights of
Columbus is the world's largest
Catholic Fraternal Organization with
more than 1.7 million members in the
United States, Canada, Mexico and
Central America, the Caribbean
islands, the Philippines, Guam and,
most recently, Poland.
