2020 was a strange and difficult year, to say the least. But Knights of Columbus continued to raise the bar for charitable work and faith formation, and we’ve been thrilled to feature these stories of hope in Columbia, Knightline and on our website's News Hub. These stories have been a powerful aid to brother Knights across the order, and today we revisit the "Top Ten" stories most read by Knights this past year.
1) Prayer for Protection in Time of Pandemic
In March, as the world locked down in response to COVID-19, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori urged Knights and their families to say a prayer composed by Pope Francis that sought Mary’s intercession under the title of “Health of the Sick.” The Knights also produced an accompanying video with the prayer.
2) Catholic Movies to Watch During Social Distancing
When movie theaters shut down because of the pandemic, people turned to streaming platforms. To help Knights and their families decide what to watch, the Knights created a list of 12 movies that are not only entertaining, but also aim to lift minds and hearts to something higher. Check out our list and start streaming if you haven’t already!
It wasn’t only movie theaters that shut down. Churches around the world canceled public Masses to reduce the spread of the virus. To keep the Word of God alive, many dioceses moved their services online. The Knights compiled a list of Masses for their members and faithful to continue participating spiritually in the Mass from home. Please note that livestreaming times may have changed since this article was published in March.
Attacks against Christopher Columbus were heightened this past year due to ongoing social unrest. Since most of the charges against Columbus were unfair or simply untrue, the Knights published an article in Columbia magazine to help separate myth from reality.
5) St. Faustina and the Image of Divine Mercy (video)
Four years ago, on March 2, 2016, Sister Gaudia Skass of the Congregations of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy was a guest speaker at St. Mary's Church in New Haven. She spoke about the life of St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy message. The message in the video has remained timeless — this year, it continues to be one of the K of C’s most frequently watched videos. Watch her full discussion above.
6) Novena for the Cause of Life
In honor of Respect Life Month, the Knights of Columbus lead Catholics around the world in praying for an end to abortion from Oct. 4-12. The novena included reflections from Pope Francis on the sanctity of life, prayers from the rosary, and St. John Paul II’s prayer from Evangelium Vitae.
7) Father Michael McGivney: An American Blessed (video)
In honor of the beatification of Knights of Columbus’ founder Father Michael McGivney, the Order produced a documentary that explores his life and legacy, as well as his impact on American Catholicism and his impact throughout the world.
8) Jesus’ Seven Last Words to Us
The Knights of Columbus provided spiritual reflections throughout the year, including Holy Week. One of our most popular articles included this piece on what Jesus Christ said during his final hours and what they mean in our own lives.
9) Into the Breach — How to Embrace Suffering (video)
Early this year, the Knights of Columbus released a 12-part series called Into the Breach, which was a call to battle for Catholic men, urging them to embrace wholeheartedly masculine virtues in a world in crisis. The most viewed video of the series addressed the topic of suffering; the video was later nominated at the 62nd Annual Chicago-Midwest Emmy Awards. Watch the full Into the Breach series.
10) New Ceremony: Rooted in Past, Tailored for Present
At the State Deputy meeting in November 2019, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson made a historic announcement for the Order: the introduction of a new and groundbreaking combined exemplification ceremony, unifying the principles of charity, unity and fraternity. The first combined, public exemplification took place at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven on New Year’s Day.
Thank you for reading, and watching, throughout 2020. We can’t wait to continue sharing stories like these that inspire, giving us hope and strengthening our faith in the new year. Vivat Jesus!
Originally published in a weekly edition of Knightline, a resource for K of C leaders and members. Access Knightline’s monthly archives. Or, share your story by emailing knightline@kofc.org.
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