Need a Prayer Answered? Ask Father Michael McGivney

Why you should pray for Father McGivney’s intercession

Need help finding a job? Know someone struggling with substance abuse? Family at odds with one another? Battling an illness? Loved one fallen away from the faith?

You might ask the intercession of Father Michael J. McGivney.

Pope Francis approved the promulgation of a decree recognizing a miracle attributed to Father McGivney’s intercession on May 27, 2020. The pope’s action means that Father McGivney can be declared “Blessed,” the step just prior to sainthood. An additional miracle attributed to Father McGivney’s intercession will be required for his canonization as a saint.

The miracle recognized as coming through Father McGivney’s intercession involved an unborn child in the United States who in 2015 was healed in utero of a life-threatening condition after prayers by his family to Father McGivney.

Father McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus, the largest Catholic fraternal insurance organization in the world. He wanted to make sure that no family would become destitute if the breadwinner died, as is evident by the story of Alfred Downes. Downes was one of Father McGivney’s young parishioners, and in danger of being separated from his family. Only when Father McGivney stepped in and offered to pay the bond was the family left intact.

He also wanted to ensure that Catholic men could remain strong in the faith. Today, his legacy continues to inspire more than 2 million Knights around the world, who look to him for help and aid. Here are just some of the many testimonials:

Employment and finances

A Knight from Council 9658 in Calgary, Alberta, was laid off from work after oil prices declined in 2015. A week later, he received his copy of Columbia and found the prayer dedicated to Father McGivney’s canonization. After just three days of praying to Father McGivney, he was offered another job.

Substance Abuse

When a couple learned that their son struggling with drug abuse wanted to leave rehab, they turned to Father McGivney and asked for his intercession. The next time they visited their son, he was “intrigued by what he was getting from the program” and was “looking forward to completing” it in order to recover. The son has made “great progress” since then.

Health and Healing

In 2015, a patient was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which has a five-year survival rate of 9 percent. In response, the patient underwent a procedure that removed part of the stomach, gall bladder, small intestine and half of the pancreas. The patient’s mother-in-law prayed every day for Father McGivney’s intercession. Today, the patient is in still in remission, saying that Father McGivney “has given me a second chance to grow spiritually.”

Return to the faith

Several years ago, a man’s brother, an alcoholic and divorced, was dying. His brother hadn't received the sacraments in many years.

In a powerful testimonial, he wrote:

I was traveling to New Hampshire to visit him before he died, I stopped at St Mary's Church in New Haven to pray for him at Father McGivney's tomb. I had the great privilege of being there, alone, for the better part of an hour, after which I resumed my journey. I arrived at the hospital just as the hospital chaplain was hearing my brother's confession and administering the Last Rites! It had probably been 30 to 40 years since he'd been to confession. I thanked the chaplain after he was done and he asked me to join him for Mass. I did, of course and imagine my joy when he offered the Mass on behalf of my brother! When I left a day or two later, I never saw my brother alive again. I firmly believe that, aided by those of our deceased father and mother, along with those of others, it was Father McGivney's prayers of intercession on my brother's behalf that he returned to a state of grace.

Have an intention?

You can ask for Father McGivney’s intercession by offering this prayer:

God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the widow and orphan, you called your priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor. Through the example of his life and virtue may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ, more closely, fulfilling his commandment of charity and building up his Body which is the Church.

Let the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast. We humbly ask that you glorify your venerable servant Father Michael J. McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (here make your request). Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Learn more about the cause for Father McGivney’s sainthood. Submit a favor of your own here.

Published in a weekly edition of Knightline, a resource for K of C leaders and members. Access Knightline’s monthly archives. Or, to share your Knights of Columbus story, email knightline@kofc.org.