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Confirmed: Pope approves 'heroic virtues' of Knights of Columbus founder
American Papist ^ | March 16, 2008

Posted on 03/16/2008 1:40:57 PM PDT by NYer

From the Canadian Press, Vatican City press office:

Pope Benedict on Saturday set the founder of the Knights of Columbus, one of the world's largest lay Catholic groups, on the path to possible beatification and sainthood, the Vatican said.

The Pope recognized the "heroic virtues" of reverend Michael McGivney, who in 1882 created a fraternal society for Catholic men who suffered discrimination because of their religion and immigrant origins.

...

The effort to canonize him was opened in 1997. That process received important support last year, when the Vatican's No. 2 official, Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, celebrated mass at the Knights of Columbus annual meeting in Tennessee and said he would work to have the priest declared a saint.

update: the Hartford Courant has more. The KofC have issued a press release and a news release with the reminder that Father McGivney would be first American born priest to be declared a saint.
The KofC has a website dedicated to Father McGivney info, including a page on his sainthood cause:

... Only one who has lived the Christian life in an extraordinary manner, who has manifested "heroic virtue," can be seriously considered for canonization.

The Holy Father looks to a sign from God as confirmation of God's positive judgment concerning beatification or canonization. Miracles are a positive sign that God indeed confirms the decision of the Church.

The chief postulator of Father McGivney’s cause for canonization is the Dominican priest Fr. Gabriel O'Donnell, O.P., who serves as my Academic Dean at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception.



TOPICS: Catholic; History; Prayer
KEYWORDS: frmichaelmcgivney; knights; knightsofcolumbus; kofc; mcgivney; michaelmcgivney; sainthood

1 posted on 03/16/2008 1:40:58 PM PDT by NYer
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To: Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...

Catholic ping!


2 posted on 03/16/2008 1:41:35 PM PDT by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
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To: Coleus

Who does the K of C pings now?

This is a great story!


3 posted on 03/16/2008 4:42:19 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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Vatican declares Knights of Columbus founder "venerable"
 
Fr. Michael J. McGivney would be first American-born priest to be declared a saint
 
McGivney portrait
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.
 
LINKS:
 

4 posted on 03/16/2008 5:24:00 PM PDT by Coleus (Abortion and Euthanasia, Don't Democrats just kill ya?)
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To: 2ndMostConservativeBrdMember; afraidfortherepublic; Alas; al_c; american colleen; annalex; ...
Knights of Columbus: Celebrating 125 Years of Faith In Action
 
 
    

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be
added to or taken off  the Knights of Columbus ping list

5 posted on 03/16/2008 5:26:29 PM PDT by Coleus (Abortion and Euthanasia, Don't Democrats just kill ya?)
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To: Coleus
Venerable Michael McGivney, pray for us!




6 posted on 03/16/2008 6:35:40 PM PDT by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3rd Bn. 5th Marines, RVN 1969. St. Peregrine, pray for us.)
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Home  |  Knights of Columbus  |  Site Map  |  Contact the Guild English  |  Espanol  |  Francais
His Influence Today
His Faith
His Legacy - The Knights of Columbus
His Life and Times
Process for Sainthood
Guild Activities and News
Tell the world how Father McGivney helped you.
Enlist Father McGivney as an intercessor for your prayers. View prayers others have submitted
View video on the life of Father McGivney
Capuccio painting of Father Michael J. McGivney
Learn more about Father McGivney's life
Read More >
Pope Declares Father McGivney Venerable
Read More >
Find out how and why you should participate in the Guild
Read More >
"I first called on Father McGivney at Saint Mary's. I found a quiet, saintly man ... earnest and sincere." - Judge Daniel J. Donohue

7 posted on 03/16/2008 9:06:38 PM PDT by Coleus (Abortion and Euthanasia, Don't Democrats just kill ya?)
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To: Salvation

If there is a Knights list please put me on it.


8 posted on 03/18/2008 10:09:33 AM PDT by verga (I am not an apologist, I just play one on Television)
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