Field Agent Shares an Emotional Message

Matthew Seltzer shares what it means to carry on our founder’s legacy

Editor’s note: After the beatification of Blessed Michael McGivney last year, Knights of Columbus field agent Matthew Seltzer wrote the following email to his brother Knights about a friend who passed away from COVID shortly after joining the K of C.

Brothers,

As I watched the Mass for the beatification of our founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, I thought of something to share with you. It’s especially fitting during this season of All Saints and All Souls Days.

We all know that our unspoken primary principle, as we daily live out our stated principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism, is solidarity with our priests.  It is a great honor for the Order that Father McGivney has been officially elevated to the recognized communion of saints.  While we know he strove to live a holy life, we might not know anything about him, had he not been our founder.  It made me think of the many holy priests serving in our own diocese – hard work, long hours, and way more work to do than can ever be finished.  Just as Father McGivney did in his time, especially in this challenging time we’re living in, our priests are putting aside their personal safety to bring us the sacraments.  We should be so very grateful to them, and to our bishop who has been a leader in our whole nation in his insistence that the faithful need their sacraments.

Last week, we lost several brother Knights.  One of those men was a personal friend, who I’ve been inviting to join the Knights for years.  He recently retired and decided that part of his focus would be to serve the Church as a Knight of Columbus.  He joined on August 18.  He wanted to have an insurance policy through the Knights, just to make sure if he passed before his wife, she’d have what he felt she needed financially.  He joked that she’d surely get the money, because he would die first.  Last week, after a short, but intense, battle with COVID, he died.  He was a Knight for just over two months, and an insured member for six weeks.  I am so thankful that we insured him right away, even though he had the appearance of a long and happy retirement ahead of him just three months ago.  Memento mori, indeed.

Please take the time to meet with me to make sure your family is cared for.  Please continue to pray for a second miracle, which will lead to the canonization of Father McGivney!

Vivat Jesus!

Matthew Seltzer

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