Loyal to the King

September 1, 2026

The witness of the Mexican martyrs reminds us that we are called to remain faithful to Christ above every earthly allegiance

By Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly

September 1, 2026

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

On Aug. 1, we commemorated the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the Cristero War in Mexico. Viewing the Catholic Church as a threat to its authority, the government of President Plutarco Elías Calles unleashed a sweeping campaign of persecution in 1926. Parishes were closed, convents were dissolved, and many courageous Catholics were imprisoned. Priests, religious and lay faithful were executed, among them many brother Knights, including nine who have been canonized or beatified.

In that moment of crisis, Mexican Catholics, including Knights of Columbus, were forced to choose between loyalty to the state and loyalty to Christ and his Church. Their choice was made clear in their resounding cry: ¡Viva Cristo Rey y Santa María de Guadalupe! — Long live Christ the King and Our Lady of Guadalupe!

Today, most of us are not faced with such a dramatic conflict of loyalties. Indeed, the very idea of loyalty is often disregarded or ignored.

Loyalty binds us to the persons, groups and institutions that matter most. It is a steadfast commitment to protect those relationships and sacrifice for them.

We live in an era of individualism that resists commitments to relationships and institutions whenever they limit personal freedom or threaten our popularity. Personal autonomy is king, and loyalty is often regarded as a quaint relic from a less sophisticated time. But this should not be the case for us as Knights. Loyalty — especially to Christ and his Church on earth — should be a defining virtue for us. To be in solidarity with our bishops and priests is more than a slogan. It is a reality that we strive to live out in thought, word and deed.

Loyalty binds us to the persons, groups and institutions that matter most. It is a steadfast commitment to protect those relationships and sacrifice for them. We are loyal to those to whom we are deeply attached — our families, our friends, our country, and the organizations we belong to and cherish.

But true loyalty is neither blind nor servile. It has limits set by justice and charity. Loyalty cannot excuse wrongdoing or sins — whether our own or others’. Charity demands that we will another’s good, even when doing so appears disloyal.

As Catholics, our primary loyalty is owed to God. In Scripture, the idea of loyalty is often expressed as faithfulness or fidelity. God seeks a relationship with us and remains faithful when we are not. As St. Paul tells us, “If we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself” (2 Tim 2:13).

Despite our unfaithfulness — our lack of loyalty — God never abandons us. In fact, he proves his unfailing loyalty by sending his Son, Jesus, to restore us to right relationship with him. Jesus models the loyalty to the Father that we should strive to imitate.

As baptized Catholics, we are called to be loyal sons of the Father and faithful sons of the Church; as Knights of Columbus, we are also called to be loyal brothers to one another. Loyalty unites us as an Order, enabling us to support a brother Knight and his family whether nearby or across the world.

Loyalty also demands faithfulness to Christ our King — obeying his commands and faithfully following wherever he leads us as “builders of communion” and “servants of the coming Kingdom” (Magnifica Humanitas, 16). When we serve the least of our brothers and sisters, we serve Christ himself as his faithful disciples. We remain loyal by maintaining our relationship with him through daily prayer, frequent reading of Scripture and regular reception of the sacraments.

In this way, we will be prepared to prove our loyalty to Christ when it is tested. The Cristeros faced the ultimate test of loyalty, and they met it as true Knights — willing to accept death rather than betray their King. May we follow their example, placing God above all else so that we can say with them:

¡Viva Cristo Rey y Santa María de Guadalupe!

Flags wave in front of the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

Loyal to the King

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