By Archbishop Thomas Wenski - The Archdiocese of Miami
Homily by Archbishop Thomas Wenski at Mass with the Knights of Columbus gathered for their State Convention in Orlando, Fl. May 22, 2026.
We, Knights of Columbus, gather for our State’s Convention over this Memorial Day weekend. May God bless those who have given their lives in the service of this great nation – and may God keep safe those in our armed forces who today stand in harm’s way in the Middle East and elsewhere.
In about two and a half weeks, the bishops of the United States will also be here in Orlando for their Spring meeting. On June 11, they will gather at the Basilica Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, to consecrate the United States to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The consecration will celebrate America’s semiquincentennial, that is, the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. We are called to bring our faith into the actions we take and into the lives we lead in our communities. We celebrate the ways the Church has contributed to a more just world, and we invite all in our society to see the face of Christ reflected in each sister and brother.Knights in their history have promoted a Catholic identity that is strong in faith and unafraid. In defending religious freedom at home and abroad, you have resisted those that would tell you that faith must be separated from society and that one’s beliefs should be kept to oneself. And, in doing so, you have promoted the legitimate place of Catholic citizenship in a pluralistic, democratic American society. Such was the vision of Father McGivney when he founded the Knights in 1880; it is the vision that must continue the inspire and guide the Knights of Columbus today.
In linking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with the devotion to the Sacred Heart, the Bishops invite us to reflect with gratitude on the blessings God has bestow on our nation but, at the same time, devotion to the Sacred Heart demands that we consider how we might foster truth, justice, and charity in American life. Thus, our celebrations around the Fourth of July will foster a constructive and forward-looking patriotism as opposed to a divisive, exclusionary, blind nationalism. In his book, Memory and Identity, St. John Paul II wrote of the difference between a constructive patriotism and a destructive nationalism: Patriotism is love for everything to do with our native land: its history, its traditions, its language, its natural features. It is a love which extends also to the works of our compatriots and the fruits of their genius. Whereas nationalism involves recognizing and pursuing the good of one’s own nation alone, without regard for the rights of others, patriotism is a love for one’s native land that accords rights to all other nations equal to those claimed for one’s own. Patriotism, in other words, leads to a properly ordered social love.
The Knights of Columbus since its founding by Blessed Father Michael McGiveny have shown that one is no less an American patriot for being a good Catholic and no less a Catholic for being a patriotic and loyal American. Christ gave himself for us, dying on a cross. This self-offering of Christ for the sake of all, should naturally lead us to ask why we too should not be ready to give our lives for others. Like Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” He asks us as well. And when says that he does love him, Jesus says to him “Feed my sheep”. Thus, in DilexiTe, Pope Leo XIV invites us to contemplate Christ’s love, which moves us out on our mission to attend to our sisters and brothers suffering in the world today, particularly in our care for poor and vulnerable people.
On the eve of our nation’s 250 birthday, we recognition that our American experiment in democracy is still a work in progress. As American Catholics we recognize how far short our nation falls in many areas in forming a more perfect union. But while we recognize flaws and work to correct them, we also acknowledge the blessings of liberty we enjoy in this great country. In spite of extreme polarization, bitter partisanship, and entrenched divisions, we Catholics do not despair of America.
We love America – but let’s love her as Jesus loves, not just with a sentimental, saccharine love but with love in truth – a love that is stronger than sin. A love that names the sin not to damn the sinner but to call the sinner to conversion of heart and mind. For the love that opened its arms on a cross of wood and opened its side to a soldier’s lance piercing his heart is love that believes that the sinner can be redeemed.
Knights in their history
have promoted a Catholic identity that is strong in faith and unafraid. In
defending religious freedom at home and abroad, you have resisted those
that would tell you that faith must be separated from society and that
one’s beliefs should be kept to oneself. And, in doing so, you have promoted
the legitimate place of Catholic citizenship in a pluralistic, democratic
American society. Such was the vision of Father McGivney when he founded the
Knights in 1880; it is the vision that must continue the inspire and guide the
Knights of Columbus today.
