This Month's Challenge
August 2019
“Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.” (Gospel for Aug. 11, Lk 12:35-37)
Semper Paratus — Latin for “always ready” — is the motto of the U.S. Coast Guard, but it also could serve as a motto for you and me in the Christian life. In this Gospel passage, Jesus calls us to constant vigilance. My brothers, whether it’s day or night, we cannot allow our perimeter to be breached by any of the powerful temptations to anger, possessions, lust or other sins. Tomorrow is not guaranteed to any of us. You and I can recall someone whose sudden death reminds us that we do not know when we will be called to account. May our master find us vigilant on his arrival!
Challenge by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori:
This month, I challenge you to exercise daily vigilance through the time-tested practice of a simple examination of conscience at the end of each day before going to bed. I also challenge you to watch with vigilance with your council through the Faith in Action Holy Hour program, or by spending some time in eucharistic adoration on your own.
Questions for Reflection:
Is looking at your phone the first and the last thing you do each day? In this age of distraction, are there ways you can sharpen your vigilance and focus to better pay attention to what is truly important? Did examining your conscience daily help increase your vigilance in your life?
Previous Challenges
Instructions
The Supreme Chaplain’s Monthly Challenge for the month will be available in a number of places:
- kofc.org/challenge
- Columbia
- Knightline
- Chaplain's Report
- Knights of Columbus social media
- Monthly email to Grand Knight and Chaplain
To conduct the Supreme Chaplain’s Monthly Challenge, during a Knights of Columbus meeting (ideally during the Chaplain's Message or the Grand Knight's Report) or other gathering:
1) Open with the Sign of the Cross and perhaps a brief prayer.
Example Opening Prayer: Come Holy Spirit. We thank you for guiding our lives and pray that we may have the courage exemplified by Venerable Fr. McGivney to live our faith to the fullest through our council, our families and in society. May our words today give glory to your Sacred Heart and if we struggled this past month in living our faith, help us to never stop turning to you and always try again.
2) Re-read the Supreme Chaplain's Monthly Challenge from the previous month.
3) Open the floor for discussion on what it was like to try and live last month's challenge. Every month has a number of Questions for Reflection that may help facilitate discussion. Don't worry about what order the men speak in or if there is silence in between men speaking. Not everyone has to speak and it is not a problem if the discussion is brief. Men are welcome to comment on others’ contribution to the discourse.
4) When finished, read the Supreme Chaplain's Monthly Challenge for the next month.
5) End by asking if there are any intentions and close with prayer and the Sign of the Cross.
Example Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time together with our brothers. We ask you to have mercy on all those people and intentions we prayed for. Give us the perseverance to live next month's challenge and to remember that we are united with our brother Knights around the world in doing so.
