Homily for the Votive Mass of Blessed Michael McGivney by Most Reverend Patrick C. Pinder, S.T.D.

Readings:

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4
Matthew 5:1-12a


Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Faith, fraternity, family and friendship bring us together for this 141st Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus under the theme: “First in Faith and Charity.”

As we gather let us take a brief moment to remember, in prayer, another gathering of Catholics taking place at this time.  I refer to World Youth Day in Portugal.  May that gathering of Catholic Youth from around the world, graced by the presence of Pope Francis, yield much benefit and much good fruits in the lives of the thousands of young pilgrims who have gathered in faith.

Today we celebrate the Votive Mass of Blessed Michael McGivney.  As we do so, we have proclaimed for us some words of Sacred Scripture.  Firstly, we hear from the Letter to the Ephesians.  The Letter as a whole is a profound statement about the Church.  The passage before us is an urgent call for unity in the Church.  The faithful are instructed to strive “… to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.”  It names what is called the seven unities, namely “One Body (Church), One Spirit, One Hope, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God and Father of all.”

This unity which is urged is unity of belief, but not only that.  It is to be demonstrated, made real, in the lives of individuals who, by their acts of service, show the community to be like Christ.  You could say that this unity is Charity in action, Charity fully alive.

Our Gospel today is very well known to us.  It is the Beatitudes.  They form a part of the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount.  That discourse of the Gospel of Matthew is three chapters long and contains some of the most well-known teachings of Jesus.  It is there that we find, for example, the Lord’s Prayer.  There we find the Golden Rule.  “Do unto others whatever you would have them do to you.”

The Beatitudes, which stand at the introduction of the Sermon on the Mount, teach us the appropriate attitude and disposition we must assume if we are to show the face of Christ to each other and to our world.

These words from Ephesians and Matthew are placed before us as we celebrate this Votive Mass of Blessed Michael McGivney.  Fr. Michael McGivney, as we know, founded the Knights of Columbus at his Parish in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1882.

One of the remarkable resources of our Church is a spiritual treasury of excellent examples.  This spiritual treasury is made up of women and men, ancient and modern of every time and culture.  They teach us, by the example of their very lives, how to live the Unity of which Ephesians speaks.  They show us the beatitudes in real time.  They lead us along the path of service which makes the Church more like Christ and reveals the face of Christ to our world. Blessed Michael McGivney is numbered among this treasury of excellent examples.

He died at the young age of 38 in 1890.  His cause for canonization was opened in the late 1990’s.  In a letter to the Supreme Convention of 2002, Pope St. John Paul II said this: “This yearly assembly enables the Supreme Council to commit your Order ever anew to the noble ideals of fraternity and service of the Church laid down by your Founder ….” At the conclusion of his letter John Paul II returns to the vision of Blessed Michael McGivney.  

This is what he says: “… in full fidelity to the vision of Fr. Michael McGivney [the Knights of Columbus] will make every effort to draw young people to Jesus Christ and help them to understand that the meaning and value of life is found in the generous gift of self to God and others.  In this way a new generation will discover, at the heart of the Church, the spiritual resources necessary for building a society marked by authentic freedom, respect for the demands of truth and selfless concern for the good of all, especially the poor and the underprivileged.”

In 2003, addressing the Leadership of the Knights of Columbus, John Paul II again made reference to Blessed Michael McGivney.  He said: “In fidelity to the vision of Fr. Michael McGivney, may you continue to seek new ways of being leaven of the Gospel in the world and a spiritual force for the renewal of the Church in holiness, unity and truth.”

In a homily at St. Patrick’c Cathedral, New York, in 2008, Pope Benedict XVI praised the vision and zeal of Venerable Michael McGivney which led to the establishment of the Knights of Columbus.

In his Apostolic Letter declaring Michael McGivney Blessed, Pope Francis noted that his “zeal for the proclamation of the Gospel and generous concern for the needs of his brothers and sisters, made him an outstanding witness of Christian solidarity and fraternal assistance.

The beatification took place on October 31, 2020, in the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Hartford, Connecticut.

The following day, at his general audience in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Pope Francis mentioned the Beautification of Michael McGivney.  He describes the newly beatified in these words.  “Dedicated to evangelization, he did everything possible to provide for the needs of the needy, promoting mutual aid.  May his example be an impetus for us to witness ever more to the Gospel of charity.”

As we celebrate this Votive Mass of Blessed Michael McGivney, we pray for the advance of his cause to Canonization.  At the same time, we look to his life for example and for inspiration.  As we do so, two things suggest themselves to us for continued focus, commitment and engagement.

Firstly, Blessed Michael McGivney was the son of migrants.  He was deeply concerned about the faith of migrant Catholics.  He was particularly concerned about those leaving the faith.  His vision and his example are an invitation to us today.  There are studies which indicate that a significant number of Catholics leave the faith before the age of 18.  There are studies which indicate that significant numbers of Catholics do not hold to the official teaching on the Real Presence in the Eucharist.  The Bishops of this country have responded with a National Eucharistic Revival which we heard of first hand at the Supreme Convention in Nashville last August. Still, fidelity to the vision and example of Blessed Michael McGivney may be calling the Knights to deeper engagement.  The CORE initiative of the Knights of Columbus is vital here.  It deserves wide support!

Secondly, as a son of immigrants, Blessed Michael McGivney had deep concern for immigrants, especially immigrant families.

The issue of migration today is global, and it is daunting.  Millions and millions of persons are moving from their country of origin fleeing repression, persecution and desperate situations.  They are seeking a better way of life for themselves and their families.  There is hardly any nation in our region which is not affected by this movement of people, in one way or another.

The Holy See is very invested in the global reality of human migration.  In its Pastoral Orientations on Intercultural Migrant Ministry, (2022:6.1) we find these words:

“The Catholic church is called to see the presence of many migrants and refugees … as a providential opportunity to fulfill her evangelizing mission through witness and charity.”

The charitable work of the Knights of Columbus is measured, annually, in tens of millions of man-hours.  This is separate and apart from the total amount of funds donated to charity by the Knights.  That is remarkable by any measure.  This is reason to speak of being, First in Faith and Charity.

Is fidelity to the vision and the example of Blessed Michael McGivney calling the Order to an even deeper engagement in the challenge of migration both at home and abroad?  The effort of the Knights to oppose human trafficking is indeed praiseworthy.  Could the next miracle in the process toward Canonization of Blessed Michael McGivney be found in a migrant family being ministered to by Knights of Columbus?

Fidelity to the vision and example of the founder will make each Knight of Columbus a missionary disciple, preserving the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace and making the beatitudes our common attitudes.  Thus we reveal the face of Christ to our world and Jesus Christ will be alive among us.

Continuing the service rooted in Faith and Charity, faithful to the vision and the example of our founder, we pray humbly and sincerely: Blessed Michael McGivney, pray for us!

Amen!