Our Patriotic Duty

April 1, 2025

As Catholics and Knights, we have a responsibility to foster love of country in a spirit of gratitude to God and in service to all

By Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly

April 1, 2025

Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly (Photo by Michael Collopy)

The recent celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Fourth Degree on Feb. 22 gave us an opportunity to reflect upon what patriotism really means to us as Catholics and as Knights. For us, it’s a question as old as the Order itself.

When Father Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in the late 19th century, many Americans questioned whether a Catholic could be a good citizen. Yet, from the beginning, Knights knew there was no conflict between our faith and commitment to one’s country. And over the years, we’ve proven that, time and again, by serving proudly in uniform — fighting and dying alongside Protestants, Jews and nonbelievers.

Knights have also distinguished themselves in public service, serving loyally at every level of government, promoting human dignity and the common good. And throughout society, we have transformed entire institutions for the better — from schools to charitable organizations to hospitals.

In our own day and age, many question whether anyone should be a patriot. Cultural elites tell us that patriotism means the same thing as blind nationalism — and that it tends toward arrogance, aggression and advancing one country’s interest at the expense of others. They insist that patriotism is an outdated ideal that should be put aside for the sake of so-called progress. And they tell us that our love of country is misplaced because our country is not worthy of our love.

The Church teaches us that patriotism is not and never has been about national supremacy. Nor is it an excuse to exclude or vilify the foreigner or the immigrant. It’s not a weapon to be used against other nations or people. Rather, patriotism is a duty that flows from a sense of gratitude.

St. John Paul II saw gratitude as the starting point for faith and hope. In his apostolic letter Novo Millennio Ineunte at the close of the Jubilee Year 2000, he urged us “to remember the past with gratitude, to live the present with enthusiasm and to look forward to the future with confidence.”

Twenty-five years later, his words remain wise and timely counsel, and they reflect the spirit of true patriotism. Gratitude and hope lead to love of country and service to neighbor, and they are an antidote to the nihilism and meaninglessness that have a stranglehold on so many people today.

Patriotism is not only a virtue, but also an obligation for us all — especially Knights. And just as patriotism calls us to defend our country, we have a duty to remind our fellow citizens that our nation isn’t defined by its failures, past or present. Nations, just like people, are so much more than the sum of their mistakes. We have inherited something precious, which we must treasure, even if our nation will always be a work in progress. And we must teach future generations to do the same.

Pope Benedict XVI observed that each successive generation faces anew the challenge to build a just and virtuous society — a perennial yet ever urgent task.

“Freedom,” he wrote, “must constantly be won over for the cause of good” (Spe Salvi, 24). During the welcoming ceremony for his visit to the United States several months later, in April 2008, he further reflected, “Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. … The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, and sacrificing for the common good and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands courage to engage in civic life and to bring one’s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate.”

Patriotism matters — and it’s our duty, a duty of gratitude to God that we must instill in our children and our grandchildren.

Vivat Jesus!

Our Patriotic Duty

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