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TJR357
Guest
I am a Catholic male that knows nothing of the Knights of Columbus. I would like to know all about it.
Is there memorization involved?
Is there memorization involved?
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michaeldaniels
Guest
www.kofc.org
It is a wonderful organization…I am a 4th Degree Knight and I wouldn’t trade it for anything
It is a wonderful organization…I am a 4th Degree Knight and I wouldn’t trade it for anything
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Brendan
Guest
Yes, you must commit to memory (without fail) all of the following:
- The Names of each Person of the Blessed Trinity
- The name of the mother of the 2nd person of the Blessed Trinity
- The complete text of each (and every) prayer said during the Rosary
It is a great organization, and the biggest thing you will need to remember is to first and foremost be a faithful Catholic, and secondarily, put that faith into practice with service.
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ctkrcia
Guest
Check out www.kofc.org for lots of information. The KC’s are the largest fraternal service organization in the world. I have been a member for around 30 years and have served in most of the officer positions in my own council, including Grand Knight.
One personal story. I live in central Texas. When the olympics were in Atlanta (1988?), many of the youth in our community were recruited by a business to go to the olympics and work selling souvenirs, concessions, etc. The business was to provide food and housing for them all. Several of the youth were from our own parish.
They were all picked up by a bus provided by the vendor. At the end of the olympics, they were to ride the bus back here. When they got there, they realized the business was not set up as an “official” vendor. Therefore, the guy abandoned the enterprise and left all these youth stranded. Like most teenagers, most of them had no cash and no one to lean upon besides each other.
They all called their parents. They were scared and did not know what to do. One of the dad’s is a KC. He called a state officer here in Texas and explained what happened. That officer in turn contacted a state officer in Georgia, who mobilized the local KC’s. They picked up the kids, gave them food and shelter. When their parents made travel arrangements, they took the kids to the bus station, airport, etc.
I am not associated with any other group of men with whom I would trust my children without even meeting them. The KC’s are the typically the “best of the best” men in each parish. While some parishes have had bad experiences with KC’s (up to the pastor actually refusing to allow a council to be formed), this is by far the exception. Most pastors and bishops recognize the charitable efforts and the strength of numbers. I strongly encourage you to learn more and join the first opportunity you get.
Just be sure and don’t share the secret handshake!
One personal story. I live in central Texas. When the olympics were in Atlanta (1988?), many of the youth in our community were recruited by a business to go to the olympics and work selling souvenirs, concessions, etc. The business was to provide food and housing for them all. Several of the youth were from our own parish.
They were all picked up by a bus provided by the vendor. At the end of the olympics, they were to ride the bus back here. When they got there, they realized the business was not set up as an “official” vendor. Therefore, the guy abandoned the enterprise and left all these youth stranded. Like most teenagers, most of them had no cash and no one to lean upon besides each other.
They all called their parents. They were scared and did not know what to do. One of the dad’s is a KC. He called a state officer here in Texas and explained what happened. That officer in turn contacted a state officer in Georgia, who mobilized the local KC’s. They picked up the kids, gave them food and shelter. When their parents made travel arrangements, they took the kids to the bus station, airport, etc.
I am not associated with any other group of men with whom I would trust my children without even meeting them. The KC’s are the typically the “best of the best” men in each parish. While some parishes have had bad experiences with KC’s (up to the pastor actually refusing to allow a council to be formed), this is by far the exception. Most pastors and bishops recognize the charitable efforts and the strength of numbers. I strongly encourage you to learn more and join the first opportunity you get.
Just be sure and don’t share the secret handshake!
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imkingdad
Guest
I too would 2nd the recommendations & advice you have already received.
I certainly couldn’t have said more or done it better.
The KofC is a great organization. It does many fine works locally, Nationally & globally.
You must be a practical Catholic in good standing at your parish & nominated by a member.
It is usually a conservative leaning group in that we support the Pope & the Holy See.
I would encourage you & others to inquire of & about the Knights website. You can usually find a council of two listed in your phone book. Call them & ask to have someone on membership or the Grand Knight or Deputy GK call you back. I’m sure they’d welcome your
interest.
Good Luck
Vivat Jesus
PGK , GK etc
I certainly couldn’t have said more or done it better.
The KofC is a great organization. It does many fine works locally, Nationally & globally.
You must be a practical Catholic in good standing at your parish & nominated by a member.
It is usually a conservative leaning group in that we support the Pope & the Holy See.
I would encourage you & others to inquire of & about the Knights website. You can usually find a council of two listed in your phone book. Call them & ask to have someone on membership or the Grand Knight or Deputy GK call you back. I’m sure they’d welcome your
interest.
Good Luck
Vivat Jesus
PGK , GK etc
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damooster
Guest
There are some things that Knights of Columbus “should” know, but they are actually things all Catholics should know. One of the local councils included this info on their website, which you can find here kofc11947.org/faith.htm. No one is going to stop you and quiz you on the spot or anything like that, and I’m not sure this is an “official” list.
I do hope you look in to the Knights. I joined last year and I am now an officer in my council (I’m the Recorder). I will be taking my 4th degree next year. I challenge you to find a better group of guys!
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tee_eff_em
Guest
Just a point of clarification:
While you do need a proposer to sponsor your membership, the KofC is not by “invitation only”*. If you inquire with a local council and they are satisfied that you meet the other requirements (to be a practical Catholic gentleman, at least 18 years of age), someone will be happy to propose your membership.
(* I myself had been under this mistaken impression, or else I would have joined the order *years *sooner than I actually did
)And please: Come and join the [group=16]Catholic Answers Knights of Columbus Social Group[/group]!
SK tee
PGK, DD
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mpernot
Guest
Similar to the OP’s question (not intending to hijack the thread), I am interested in becoming a Knight and just received contact information for the Grand Knight in the council I would enter. I received a book with some of the rules and things, and it listed some things that all Knights are expected to know as good, practicing Catholics:
- The Apostles’ Creed
- The 10 Commandments
- The Greatest Commandment
- The 7 Sacraments
- Two kinds of Grace
- The Precepts of the Church
- The Six Holy Days of Obligation
- The 7 Capital Sins
- The 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit
- The 4 Cardinal Virtues
- The 15 Mysteries of the Rosary
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bpbasilphx
Guest
And are there adaptations of these requirements for Eastern Catholics?
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Renko
Guest
I joined about three years ago, and I am not sorry that I did. You must be a practicing catholic to join and at least 18 years of age.:knight1:
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Renko
Guest
I didn’t have to memorize anything when I joined.
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tee_eff_em
Guest
That may be, and is of course, your call. But of the 8760 hours in a year, don’t you have 24 hours you can give to the Knights?
Put another way: If you can attend one business meeting and help with one service project per year, you would be as (or more) active as many Knights.
Finally, if what is consuming your time is some other kind of volunteer service, I bet I know a council of 50 or 100 guys who might be interested to help you.
tee
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damooster
Guest
That’s an excellent question. I don’t have an answer for you at the moment but I will definitely research it this weekend.
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tee_eff_em
Guest
That list seems a little larger than typical. Things it might behoove you to know (whether as a Knight, or as a Catholic in general) can be found in the appendix of *These Men They Call Knights *(which each Knight should receive a copy when he is initiated in the 1st Degree).
(I do not believe there is anything contained therein which is unfamiliar or inappropriate to Catholics of eastern rites? I certainly know individual Knights, and even (I think) whole councils attached to eastern parishes)
tee
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Blairamir
Guest
I’m a 3rd degree member of the Knights of Columbus and I think it’s a great organization, however I do have a few ‘issues’ with them. First I think the name of the org should be changed since Christopher Columbus is not a saint and is actually quite reviled by many in North and South America. The supreme council could rename the org in honor of a famous saint. My second issue is the 4th degree which is patriotism. How can a knight be patriotic to a country that continues to uphold the legality of abortion? A country with high profile Catholic politicians that support abortion and are not being excommunicated?
Supreme Knight Renews Consecration To Our Lady Of Guadalupe
ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=103085
Supreme Knight Renews Consecration To Our Lady Of Guadalupe
ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=103085
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dconklin
Guest
It is a wonderful group of men and thusly, families. Through the first three degree ceremonies I have not found I have had to memorize anything. The one bit of memorization I have had to do was due to the fact I was invited to be on the 1st degree team. I love it!
I cannot make many of the meetings, but there are many times that I can lend a hand. I can make great coffee for our monthly pancake breakfasts and open cans of tomatoes for the spaghetti dinners. A good council will learn what your gifts are and help you use them.
I cannot make many of the meetings, but there are many times that I can lend a hand. I can make great coffee for our monthly pancake breakfasts and open cans of tomatoes for the spaghetti dinners. A good council will learn what your gifts are and help you use them.
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Chatter163
Guest
Many Catholics, including many saints, have been reviled by large groups of people. What does that count for? Nothing.
No one has claimed that Christopher Columbus was a saint, any more than the many Catholic schools and organizations named for Catholics who are not saints. However, he did bring the Catholic faith to the Americas, and many immigrants of the late 19th century brought their faith here, just as he did. As a fourth degree Knight of Columbus, I am proud of the organization and its founder.
Patriotism is indeed the virtue that exemplifies the fourh degree and the ceremony for that makes clear why American Knights may rightly be patriotic. Other countries obviously have their own variations on the exemplifcation. Being a patriotic Catholic in no way means that the Knights endorse every move made by their civil government. As no Pope has expressly instructed the American bishops to excommunicate particular politicians, neither do the Knights tell their bishops whom they believe should be excommunicated.
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Ignatias20
Guest
I am an active 4th degree K of C in Texas. I have taught CCD and find that many Catholics are just like you.
MY ADVICE to you is : If you want to know more about the Knights of Columbus try to find
a 4th degree Knight and simply ask him your questions! You will find that the Knights do many things that is not publicized such as Lots of Charity. Saying Rosary’s for Feast Days and at Funerals. Just ask. The various Councils are varied in in interests.
Just ask a Knight.
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Ignatias20
Guest
Hello Blairmir, Are you failing to become a 4th degree Knight because we pledge to be patriotic and you say Christopher Columbus was not a Saint? You know the Biblical passage, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God”.
It was Jesus who said that.
The Knights were founded in the 1800’s by mostly Irish-Americans. At that time the Irish were looked upon with com tempt by the other groups. Remember the saying - No Dogs or Irish need Apply here." Father McGilvery, the founder, wanted all to know that the Irish were patriotic Americans. At that time it was very important. Today we wonder if organizations who represent illegal aliens will pledge allegiance to the USA. If they did what the Knights of Columbus has done there would be no question.
We all say we will obey the laws of our country - how can that be unpatriotic? How?
The meetings of the Assemblies (4th degree) contents are never to be told to someone who is not a 4th degree Knight. How did you learn of the inner workings of the 4th degree? You are 3rd degree.
Back in the 1800’s most Protestants thought the Catholics would only be faithful to the Pope and not the USA. That word "patriotic’ is a very small obstacle to you becoming a 4th degree Knight. That word was very important in the 1800’s! Ask someone in your parish ( a 4th degree Knight) about that.
When the Knights were formed C. Columbus was a hero who discovered the New World. The Irish Catholics took his name for the order because he was an American hero.
We never did hear that Columbus was not a hero UNTIL RECENTLY! Some small groups have tried to say that Columbus was a very bad man to the original residents of America.
That wasn’t Columbus at all - IT WAS THE SPANISH SOLDIERS THAT CAME LATER.
One of the greatest Orders of Catholicism is commonly called the Jesuits. St. Ignatius de Loyola is responsible for forming the Jesuits - yes he is a Saint now. But what is the true name of of the so-called Jesuits? It is The Society of Jesus, not the Jesuits. It is a highly respected religious order of the Catholic Church.
So, WHY does the Order we call the Knights of Columbus need to bear the name of a Saint?
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