Blessed Michael McGivney, A Model Seminarian and Priest

June 1, 2022

Blessed Michael McGivney’s life and example inspire men in priestly formation and those ministering amid today’s challenges

By Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

June 1, 2022

Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

The chartering of a new Knights of Columbus council is always a cause for rejoicing. It means that the Order is growing, and that good Catholic men are taking their faith seriously and exercising leadership. It means that more Catholic men and their families will have the opportunity to live their faith in the spirit of Blessed Michael McGivney.

Recently, an extraordinary new Knights of Columbus council was chartered at the nation’s oldest seminary, St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore. This is where Michael McGivney completed his priestly formation for the then-Diocese of Hartford in 1877. The new council is named after our Founder and was formed with the support of the seminary rector and the leadership of the seminarians themselves, representing dioceses around the United States.

At the conclusion of Solemn Vespers in honor of Blessed Michael, our worthy supreme knight presented the charter. That evening, various speakers discussed Father McGivney’s path to the priesthood. It was not an easy path — interrupted, as it was, by the premature death of his father and his family’s financial needs. Nonetheless, this intrepid seminarian from Connecticut persevered. A capable student, he was well liked by his fellow seminarians, enjoyed playing baseball and served as head sacristan.

While he showed signs of leadership, no one foresaw what a great parish priest McGivney would become and what vision and creativity he would demonstrate in founding the Knights of Columbus. Nor did Archbishop (later Cardinal) James Gibbons of Baltimore imagine that he was ordaining a priest who someday would be on the path to sainthood.

‘In fulfilling these duties with extraordinary love and generosity, Blessed Michael is an accessible model for those who aspire to be priests and for those of us who are already ordained.’

But Blessed Michael overcame many challenges on his way to the priesthood, and he grew in holiness through the ordinary duties of a priest — in his daily life of prayer, in celebrating the Mass and the sacraments, and in generously ministering to the needs of his people. In fulfilling these duties with extraordinary love and generosity, Blessed Michael is an accessible model for those who aspire to be priests and for those of us who are already ordained.

Father McGivney is also an attractive model for seminarians and priests because of the challenges he encountered in his ministry. As soon as he was ordained, he found himself the de facto leader of St. Mary’s Parish in New Haven. He was thrust into heavy responsibilities, just as many newly ordained priests are today. Father McGivney also served at a time when the Catholic Church was under attack, but he did not let that discourage him. He knew his parishioners and their needs, and he labored selflessly and joyfully on their behalf. He created a parish with activities for parishioners of all ages. He went out of his way for the poor, the widow, the orphan and the outcast. He also had great respect for the laypeople to whom he ministered and for their God-given gifts.

Blessed Michael founded the Knights of Columbus as an extension of his priestly ministry. He saw that the men of his parish needed a way to strengthen their faith, to be supported by fellow Catholic men in living their faith, and to provide for their families in the event of their death. Thus was born the world’s largest Catholic fraternal order!

By joining Blessed Michael McGivney Council 17759, seminarians at his alma mater will be drawn to Father McGivney’s witness and see more clearly how the Knights of Columbus carries forward his mission of charity, unity and fraternity. They will also be equipped to serve as chaplains of the Order when, God willing, they are ordained and assigned to parishes.

I am grateful that the seminarians at St. Mary’s in Baltimore are engaging in an excellent program of priestly formation. May the prayers and example of Father McGivney help them to become the priests that our Church truly needs.

Metal bucket at draw-well in European village.

Blessed Michael McGivney, A Model Seminarian and Priest

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