For Chaplains
Pope Francis and the Knights of Columbus
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| Father Jonathan D. Kalisch, O.P. Director of Chaplains and Spiritual Development |
The Path of Conversion for Your Council
In praying that “every Church community will undertake a fruitful Lenten journey,” Pope Francis’ 2014 Lenten Message clearly spells out what evangelical charity can look like for a Knights of Columbus council. Drawing inspiration from St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians 8:9, Pope Francis reminds us that the path to conversion comes through the poverty of Christ.
In the first place, our councils are called to a charity that does not hesitate to draw near to the poor, in imitation of our Lord. “God did not let our salvation drop down from heaven, like someone who gives alms from their abundance out of a sense of altruism and piety.” The Lord walked among sinners, among those who knew the burden of sin, so as to free them from misery. Our brother Knights must not despise sinners or those who are perceived to be far from God or the Church. Knowing that they are sons of the Eternal Father, our brother Knights should be empowered to share their confidence, trust and desire to do the Father’s will, especially with those who do not live as children of the Most High God. In this way, “God’s wealth passes not through our wealth, but invariably and exclusively through our personal and communal poverty, enlivened by the Spirit of Christ.” The Holy Father is asking each brother Knight and every council to go beyond check-book evangelization and to confront “the poverty of our brothers and sisters, to touch it, to make it our own and to take practical steps to alleviate it.”
By identifying three forms of destitution, Pope Francis highlights specific areas each council can practically bear witness to the Gospel message of mercy and love. In the face of a material destitution, which “disfigure(s) the face of humanity,” every council can work toward binding the wounds of the materially poor by “ending violations of human dignity, discrimination and abuse in the world.” As chaplains, you can assist our brothers in identifying where “power, luxury and money” have become idols and need conversion to “justice, equality, simplicity and sharing.”
Just as tragic is the moral destitution “which consists in slavery to vice and sin.” Manifesting itself as a lack of hope, it is often a “thrall to alcohol, drugs, gambling or pornography” that eats away at the families of so many. Closely aligned is the spiritual destitution of turning away from God and rejecting His Love. “If we think that we don’t need God who reaches out to us through Christ, because we believe we can make do on our own, we are headed for a fall.” The poverty which our brother Knights are called to proclaim is the “liberating news that forgiveness for sins committed is possible, that God is greater than our sinfulness.” This is the joy of the Good News that consoles broken hearts and offers hope to those in darkness. The testimony of the power and mercy of God in their lives is the real treasure our brother Knights are called to give witness to as they draw near to the morally and spiritually destitute.
Recognizing the various forms of destitution and our varying levels of responsibility, we can assist our brother Knights and councils to “become merciful and act with mercy.” Pope Francis reminds each of us that the path of conversion entails a certain pain: “We would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty. Let us not forget that real poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without this dimension of penance. I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt.”
Vivat Jesus!
Fr. Jonathan D. Kalisch, O.P.
Director of Chaplains and Spiritual Development
FrJon.Kalisch@kofc.org
(203) 752-4115