Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus ( German: Knights of Columbus ) are one of the largest Roman Catholic fraternal lay organizations worldwide. The Order is based in New Haven, Connecticut was founded in 1882 in the United States and is named after the navigator Christopher Columbus. He is dedicated to the principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. There are more than 1.7 million members in 14,000 councils ( councils ). 200 councils are located at universities. Membership is limited to practicing Catholic men over 18 years. Branch of the organization, there are in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, the Philippines, Guam, Saipan, Japan, Cuba, and Poland. Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus was from 1993 to 2009 Bishop Roger Louis Kaffer.

History

A precursor of the Order was founded by the Irish- American Catholic Father Michael J. McGivney in New Haven ( Connecticut ) on October 2, 1881. As a result, the Knight of Columbus, a large number of Irish- Americans had as members.

Main purpose of the community was to help each other. Father McGivney wanted to create a hedge for the care of widows and orphans. He himself had to temporarily leave the seminary when his father died. The organization was also founded to show that American Catholics can be patriotic and loyal citizen of the United States. At the same time they should provide an alternative for Catholic men who either inclusion in existing fraternal organizational by themselves (most rejected the recordings of Catholics and Jews from ) or from the Roman Catholic Church (like the Masons ) was prohibited. Originally, the organization was given the name "Sons of Columbus ", but James T. Mullen, who later became the first Supreme Knight opted for " Knights of Columbus ". This should come back to the old ideals of Western chivalry honor bonds. The Order was founded in 1882 by Christopher Columbus ' arrival in the New World 10 years before the 400th anniversary. It was a time of renewed interest in the Genoese discoverer.

In recent years, the club was one of the main fundraisers in the Roman Catholic Church in the debate on the introduction of same-sex marriages in the United States.

Coat of arms, shield and colors

The coat of arms is inspired with the Knights Templar. It shows a Formée Cross ( a modified Tatzenkreuz ), a Roman short sword and fasces and the anchor of Columbus. The shield recalls the mercy of the knights. The motto is: In service to one. In service to ave ( In the service of the One, in the service of all. )

The colors of the Knights are blue, purple, white and yellow.

Grade

The Knights of Columbus have a strong system of degrees and levels of membership, the Masonic organizations is similar in many ways.