After years of devotion and prayers, the cause for the beatification of Father McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus, has reached a significant milestone. On Saturday, Oct. 31st 2020, Fr. McGivney was officially declared Blessed by the Catholic Church.
I am delighted to hear this wonderful news, not only for the Knights of Columbus, but the whole International Alliance of Catholic Knights, that Fr Michael McGivney is to be beatified later this year.
All of us in the fraternal family of knights throughout the world owe a great debt of gratitude to Fr. McGivney because without his vision and strength of purpose none of the Orders in the Alliance would exist today. When he founded the Knights of Columbus in 1881 I am sure not even he was aware of the future international impact of his actions. Any new or existing Order seeking to join the International Alliance of Catholic Knights must show by its constitution and activities that it operates in conformity with the ethos and aspirations of Father McGivney. In 2008 Father McGivney was declared Venerable. The Cause for his Beatification is in progress.
Pope Benedict XV1 has declared Venerable the founder of the Knights of Columbus, Father Michel J. McGivney. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Supreme Knight Anderson and all members of the Knights of Columbus on this joyful news.