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CV NEWS FEED // The Knights of Columbus will mark the 125th anniversary of the creation of the Fourth Degree of Knighthood with a special celebration Feb. 22 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.
The Fourth Degree, conferred upon men who exemplify patriotism, is the highest rank within the Catholic fraternal organization. According to a press release from the organization, Cardinal Timothy Dolan will celebrate the 5:30 p.m. vigil Mass, and more than 600 Fourth Degree recipients and Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly will be in attendance.
The organization will also present a statue of their founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The statue was sculpted by Chas Fagan, who also sculpted a marble statue of Blessed McGivney at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, statues of Saint John Paul II at the entrance of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, DC, and the statue of President Ronald Reagan in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.
The Knights of Columbus have four degrees that Knights can earn in succession: the first degree, for those who exemplify charity; the second degree, granted to men who embody unity; the third degree, given to men who embody fraternity; and the fourth degree, for men who embody patriotism.
The Knights’ website explains that the Fourth Degree was established in 1900 as a response to the suspicion of some Americans that Catholics were not trustworthy citizens because they owe their allegiance to the Church. The degree aimed to show that Catholics can serve both God and country.
Members of the Fourth Degree continue to embody patriotism by supporting veterans, military members, and priests through both prayer and outreach.
Supreme Master Dennis Stoddard stated, “It is important, particularly in this day and age, that our Fourth Degree Assemblies encourage active Catholic citizenship and foster the spirit of patriotism in our members and the community at large.”
