What an amazing time is is to be a Roman Catholic in the United States of America! Dioceses nationwide are reporting record growth. For the first time history, Catholics are now led by an American born Pope. Since the beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s papacy, a renewed interest in all things Catholic has taken place in our great nation. Dioceses in our country boasted high numbers of incoming converts this past Easter Season. For the first time in decades, young Americans are either entering the Mother Church or are discerning the Faith.
It is impossible to ignore the fact that Pope Leo XIV’s taking the Chair of Saint Peter has increased curiosity and discernment in Catholicism within the United States. American Catholics and those considering joining the Church will undoubtedly be watching Pope Leo XIV’s papacy more closely than previous Popes due to the fact that he is the first American born Pope.
American Catholics are excited to see what Pope Leo XIV’s initiatives and contributions will be to the Church. While the United States is still mostly unapologetically protestant, it is my hope that the current Vicar of Christ will help the American Catholic Church grow not only in numbers, but also in practicing their Catholic faith more fervently in their everyday lives. In doing so, it is my humble belief that Pope Leo XVI will have to canonize more American born Saints for Americans to look to as examples of fellow Americans who led Christ centered lives.
While many American born Catholics are Blessed and are awaiting canonization, Father Michael McGivney in particular needs to be canonized as soon as possible. Blessed Father McGivney’s case for sainthood is imperative for greater American Catholic evangelization. Father Michael Joseph McGivney is an incredible example for American Catholic men.
I would argue that we men, especially in the United States, find it more difficult to express our religious beliefs and convictions than women do. It seems that our female counterparts find it easier to display their faith in God openly. Women tend to wear their religiosity on their sleeves while most men rarely speak openly about their personal walk with Christ. I believe that it is possible that this is partially due to men simply not being as extroverted as women are. While Jesus was of course a man, we know that we cannot fully be Christlike because we are mortal while Christ was both human and Devine.
While it is also true that men have several male Saints to look up to, we do not have a single confirmed male American born saint. The three American born Saints, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seaton, Saint Katharine Drexel, and the recently canonized Saint Kateri Tekakwitha are all very popular Saints for young ladies to research and name as their Patron Saint while preparing for Confirmation.
Young gentlemen however do not have a single American born male saint to look to for spiritual guidance or for intercession. Young men typically have to research saints from Europe or the Middle East while researching for and choosing their Patron Saint. While there is nothing wrong with this, as my Patron Saint is Saint Peter, I believe that having a male Saint from the United States would increase not only evangelization in young men but also a level of engagement in the Faith previously unseen in the American Church.
Canonizing Blessed Father McGivney would finally allow young men to research and name a fellow American man as their Patron Saint for the first time in history. With the 250th anniversary of the United States still in recent memory, many young men would undoubtedly choose the Blessed Father McGivney as their preferred saint. I for one, cannot think of another American male figure in the Church that I would want to emulate myself if I had to live my life over again.
A second reason why the Canonization of Blesses Father McGivney is imperative for American Catholicism is due to the fact that he established the largest Catholic fraternal service organization in the world, The Knights of Columbus. Founded in 1882 in New Haven, Connecticut, the Knights of Columbus is to this day an extremely important Catholic fraternal order. Boasting more than two million members in several nations, the Knights positively impact American society still in current day. The initial motive for starting the Knights of Columbus was to aid the widows of fallen Knights through charity.
Later on, the Knights developed a life insurance program that thrives to this day to ensure that the families of fallen Knights are taken care of financially speaking in the unfortunate event of death. The Four Principals of the Knights of Columbus are Charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. These four principals are essential in society no matter what the current societal culture is.
It is these same four principals that are needed in our young men today now more than ever. Father Michael McGivney needs to be canonized as a Saint immediately. For a man who died more than one hundred and thirty years ago his contributions to the American Catholic Church are still visibly seen in todays culture. It is my belief that his future canonization will greatly impact Catholic conversion and Parish engagement amongst current Catholics throughout this great country.
Father Michael McGivney would have publicly and vociferously kicked every Democrat out of his organization for their party’s complicit role in the murder of over 63,000, 00 children. Guy, Texas