Who are the Knights of Columbus?
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic, family, fraternal, service organization, which has grown from humble beginnings in 1882 to consist today of some 1.6 million men in over 12,000 Knights of Columbus councils throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan.
In Maine, there are 90 Knights of Columbus Councils in 20 districts, with a membership of some 9500 men.
We Knights of Columbus are guided by four core principles: charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism.
Having embarked on a mission to spread God's message of faith and love, we stand united with the Church. In countless ways, our belief strengthens us to speak out for religious and moral values. As well, the Knights of Columbus actively encourages and promotes religious vocations by providing financial support to those who pursue them. Respect for the clergy and for those in religious life is a pillar of our organization.
Knights are also unified with the Catholic Church in our mutual commitment to the sanctity of life. By leading this charge, Knights of Columbus members have impacted thousands of lives.
As Knights, our faith is our foundation. Dedicated to the Catholic Church's growth and her good works, the Knights of Columbus has created several opportunities for Catholic families to be active and faithful through family prayer, eucharistic celebrations and rosary programs. We also encourage lay persons to participate in the Church in a variety of ways.
The Knights of Columbus is an active volunteer organization that raises awareness for needy causes and generates much-needed funds to support a variety of charitable activities.
Today, the Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic service organization in the world. But we are not complacent. We are tireless in our search for the next generation of Knights.
As a Knight, you can make an impact through enduring faith and unfaltering fellowship.
Degrees in the Knights of Columbus
Within our order, there are four "degrees" of Knighthood, each one meant to exemplify one of our four key principles.
These principles are: Charity (First Degree), Unity (Second Degree), Fraternity (Third Degree), Patriotism (Fourth Degree).
To become a full knight, each member is encouraged to attain the Third Degree level. After this, he may go on to the Fourth Degree, the one that embodies patriotism. The Fourth Degree is the most visible degree in our order.
Fourth Degree Knights
On February 22, 1900, the first Fourth Degree exemplification or degree ceremony was held in New York City. The Fourth Degree imparts a lesson on the virtue of patriotism. The primary purpose of this degree is to foster the spirit of patriotism in members and the community at large and encourage active Catholic citizenship. Today there are some 300,000 Fourth Degree Knights out of the total 1.6 million member Knights of Columbus.
Local units, called assemblies, draw their members from Knights of Columbus councils. The qualifications for membership in the Fourth Degree are: membership in the Knights for at least one year and being a Third Degree Knight.
A Fourth Degree Knight may become part of the assembly's color corps. These members are recognized widely by their distinctive attire of tuxedo, feathered hat (chapeau), cape and sword. These members regularly take part in civic events such as parades and wreath-laying ceremonies, and at ecclesial functions at Catholic churches. The various colored capes and chapeau feathers denote different officer positions within the Fourth Degree.
If you would like more information about our order, you might wish to visit our Supreme Council Web Site.
The Knights of Columbus also has college councils, although there are currently none in the state of Maine.
The order sponsors a formal program for young men, aged 10 to 18, called the Columbian Squires. The local Columbian Squires unit is called a circle. There are two circles in Maine; one is located in Windham and the other is in Biddeford.
If you would like more information about the Knights of Columbus in your community, contact our webmaster.
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