“It is important, particularly in this day and age, that our Fourth Degree Assemblies encourage active Catholic citizenship and foster the spirit of patriotism in our members and the community at large,” Supreme Master Dennis Stoddard said. There are more than 3,500 Fourth Degree assemblies around the world. They also become part of a Fourth Degree Assembly in their area. Members who wish to live out patriotism together can join “the Fourth Degree.” Members of this degree have the special honor of holding the title “Sir Knight,” participating in color and honor guards and organizing programs that promote Catholic citizenship. Patriotism was added to the Order’s principles in 1900, based on the idea that Knights are loyal to both God and country. At that time people feared that members of the Catholic faith owed their entire allegiance to the Church and could not be trusted as citizens of their country. When the Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882, three principles united its members: charity, unity and fraternity. They are the men who have chosen to embrace the Order’s fourth principle of patriotism, the men who lead the efforts to reach out to veterans and active military and to embody the fact that one can be a faithful Catholic and also be a faithful citizen. They’re present in their distinct regalia at civic and Church events, acting as honor guards and color corps, or standing in respect at the funerals of members or during adoration of the Eucharist.īut there is more to being a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus than a uniform. They are the Knights on Main Street, the men you probably envision when someone says Knights of Columbus to you.
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