Why We Are Called the Knights of Columbus: A Historical Perspective
- Sun, Oct 11, 2026 9:37 AM
Why We Are Called the Knights of Columbus: A Historical Perspective
On Columbus Day, the Michigan Knights of Columbus pause to reflect on the name that has defined our Order since its founding. Blessed Michael J. McGivney, a young Irish-American priest serving as assistant pastor at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut, established the Knights of Columbus on March 29, 1882. The organization was created to strengthen Catholic men in their faith, unite them in fraternity, provide mutual financial support for the widows and children of deceased members, and offer an alternative to secret societies whose principles conflicted with Church teaching.
Father McGivney originally proposed the name “Sons of Columbus.” After discussion among the founding members—mostly Irish-American laymen—the group adopted “Knights of Columbus.” James T. Mullen, who became the first Supreme Knight, suggested the change to better convey the ritualistic character of the new society and the ideals of chivalry: honor, defense of the vulnerable, service, and virtue.
The choice of Christopher Columbus as patron was deliberate and meaningful in the late 19th century. At a time of strong anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant nativism, Catholics—particularly Irish and other European immigrants—were often viewed with suspicion and treated as outsiders. By taking Columbus, a Catholic Genoese navigator sailing for Catholic Spain and widely celebrated as the discoverer of the New World, the founders asserted that Catholics were not aliens in America. Rather, a Catholic had played a foundational role in the opening of the Americas to European civilization. As one early member observed, the name conveyed that Catholics “were not aliens” but had participated in the very foundation of the new civilization.
Columbus also served as a unifying symbol among Catholic ethnic groups. The Irish founders of the Order chose an Italian explorer to help bridge differences with other immigrant communities. In an era of renewed interest in Columbus ahead of the 400th anniversary of his 1492 voyage, American Catholics already held him in high regard as a “pious, zealous, faithful Catholic” and enterprising navigator. Naming the Order after him linked Catholic identity with American patriotism and demonstrated that loyalty to the Church and loyalty to the country were fully compatible.
The principles of Charity and Unity guided the Order from the start; Fraternity and Patriotism were later formally added. Today, more than 140 years later, the Michigan Knights of Columbus continue that mission—serving our Church, our communities, our families, and our country. On this Columbus Day, we honor Blessed McGivney’s vision and the historical truth that Catholics have long been part of the American story.