After discerning a call to the priesthood, he was ordained a priest in 1877 and offered the Traditional Latin Mass his entire priesthood.
In 1882, seeing that Catholic families were affected by the death of breadwinners, and to provide the men of his parish an alternative to secret anti-Catholic fraternal societies of the time (i.e. among them the Masonic lodges), Fr. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus on March 29, 1882.
On August 14, 1890, at age 38, Fr. McGivney succumbed to an illness and passed into eternal life.
On March 15, 2008, the Congregation of Saints declared Fr. McGivney's life to be of heroic virtue and was recognized as "Venerable".
In May 2020, his first miracle was approved and was beatified on October 31, 2020. His feast day is August 13, the day between his birthday and his passage into eternal life.
To learn more about Blessed Michael McGivney please visit his canonization website:
Deus, pater noster, protector pauperum atque defensor viduarum et orphanorum: vocasti sacerdotem tuum, beatum Michaelem McGivney, familiari vitae christianae apostolum, iuvenibusque ducem ad adiuvandum proximum. Per exemplum vitae virtutisque eius, Filium tuum propius sequamur, Iesum Christum, ut mandatum caritatis perficiamus ad corroborandum corpus Eius quod est Ecclesia.
Fiat nobis inspirationi famulus tuus ut confidentes tuae caritati pergamus curare indigentes et incuria captos. Humiliter petimus ut inter caelites connumeretur beatus Michael McGivney presbyter in terra secundum voluntatem tuam. Concede propitius gratiam hanc ______(pete quod desideras) per Christum Dominum Nostrum. Amen.
God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the widow and orphan, you called your priest, Blessed Michael McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor.
Through the example of his life and virtue, may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ, more closely, fulfilling his commandment of charity and building up his Body which is the Church. Let the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast.
We humbly ask that you glorify Blessed Michael McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (here make your request).Through Christ our Lord. Amen
