October 12, 1492: For Columbus Is Ours

Today, Thursday October 12 is the 531^th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the New World.

In 1892, Pope Leo XIII decreed that a votive Mass of the Holy Trinity be offered today in thanksgiving for Columbus’ discovery and bringing the Catholic faith to this hemisphere.  Commending Columbus, Pope Leo XIII wrote in his 1892 encyclical:

For Columbus is ours; since if a little consideration be given to the particular reason of his design in exploring the mare tenebrosum, and also the manner in which he endeavoured to execute the design, it is indubitable that the Catholic faith was the strongest motive for the inception and prosecution of the design; so that for this reason also the whole human race owes not a little to the Church.  – Quarto Abeunte Saeculo, 1892

We decree, therefore, that on October 12, or on the following Sunday, if the Ordinary should prefer it, in all the Cathedral churches and convent chapels throughout Spain, Italy, and the two Americas, after the office of the day there shall be celebrated a Solemn Mass of the Most Holy Trinity…  – Quarto Abeunte Saeculo, 1892

http://w2.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_16071892_quarto-abeunte-saeculo.html

In recent times, Columbus and his legacy has been unnecessarily criticized through lies and falsehoods.  But as Servant of God, Fr. John Hardon, SJ observed in his book “Christopher Columbus: The Catholic Discovery of America”, Columbus had a deep faith for Christ and expressed it in many of his writings. Fr. Hardon provides several examples from Columbus’ log:

As is our custom, Vespers were said in the late afternoon, and a special thanksgiving was offered to God for giving us renewed hope through the many signs of land He has provided.  I now believe that the light I saw earlier was a sign from God and that it was truly the first positive indication of land.  - October 11, 1492.

I want the natives to develop a friendly attitude towards us because I know they are a people who can be made free and converted to our Holy Catholic Faith, more by love than by force. – October 12, 1492. 

For Fr. Hardon, it was clear that the zealous missionary faith of both Columbus (a Third Order Franciscan) and Servant of God Queen Isabella the Catholic (declared in 1974), led them to pursue this mission.  This hunger for souls for Christ may have also been one of the reasons, Blessed Fr. Michael J. McGivney, choose the name Columbus for his new fraternal order, the Knights of Columbus.

The Knights of Columbus main website has some great resources helping to clarify Columbus' place in history:

Courage and Conviction: The True Story of Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus and Fake History

Why Columbus sailed

Five Myths About Columbus

Why the Knights of Columbus?

Additionally, several Knights councils will be organizing Masses to defend Columbus and honor Pope Leo's call for thanksgiving for the bringing of Christ to the New World. 

 

For us Knights in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, we should be grateful for Columbus' bringing the Holy Faith to these shores.  As such, we close with Pope Leo XIII:

And, above all, it is fitting that we should confess and celebrate in an especial manner the will and designs of the Eternal Wisdom, under whose guidance the discoverer of the New World placed himself with a devotion so touching. – Quarto Abeunte Saeculo

As some in the Church today struggle with how to minister to pagan cultures, let the story of Columbus, the Franciscans who followed him, and the North American Jesuit martyrs serve as an example to all on how to reclaim the Holy Faith that was introduced to these lands five centuries ago and with zeal share it with those who are separated from it or who lack it entirely.

Opportunity for Councils to Evangelize Tradition

Brother Knights,

With the crisis in the Catholic faith continuing to grow, our Network has an exclusive opportunity for you and your councils to reverse this by hosting a 1-day seminar on the importance of Sacred Tradition and to evangelize the faith.

A member of our network, Brother Raymond de Souza, KM, a noted lecturer and writer, has spoken at many different Catholic conferences and has been involved with many different Catholic and pro-life initiatives, is offering to our Network to come and speak to your council on a variety of topics related to the faith and tradition.

Goal: The goal is to help Councils recruit more traditional-minded men into the council, while also helping to catechize the men of your parish.

Topics: Brother Raymond can speak on any one of these topics including:

• Importance of the Latin Language
• Ad Orientum worship
• 12 promises of the Sacred Heart
• Fatima Messages
• And much more at his website: https://www.raymonddesouza.com/

Cost: He is offering the talk free. The Council would only cover transportation and accommodation costs (e.g. travel and housing); and provide a table at the event to sell his books and CDs.

Advertising: Councils would be asked to promote the event for at least 2 months ahead of the date. All Catholic men (Knights and non-Knights) are invited. A second day could be added to have Br. Raymond speak to families.

To learn more about Brother Raymond’s background visit: https://www.raymonddesouza.com/ and to see a video Br. Raymond made several years ago about the need to evangelize the faith: https://youtu.be/edI-IzoMxFA?feature=shared

To contact Br. Raymond please visit: sacredheartinstitute(at)outlook.com

Vitat Jesus

Traditional Knights Latin Mass Network

Christopher Columbus Latin Mass - October 12, 7pm - Raritan, NJ

Brother Knights,

Columbus Day is in a few weeks and some Councils have already announced the offering of a Traditional Latin Mass, in thanksgiving for Columbus’s discovery of the New World, as requested by Pope Leo XIII in 1892. We share one parish in Raritan, NJ which is organizing one the evening of October 12 (see image below). This is part of our Network’s effort to honor Columbus, the Knights’ namesake, with a Traditional Latin Mass.

Additionally, the Mass in NJ will be a sung Mass, and the organizers are looking for donations to help cover the costs. If you would like to help, please contact Br. Jay Rattino (member of St. Thomas more Council #2188) to learn how to donate. Any amount is welcome and will be a blessing: promo@rattinomail.com

To learn how to organize a Columbus Day Latin Mass see our "Defend Columbus" page. 

Vivat Jesus,

Traditional Knights Latin Mass Network

 

TLM Pilgrimage and Columbus Day Latin Mass Reminder

Brother Knights,

For those in the DC or Northern Virginia region, this Saturday September 9, there will be a National Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage in Washington DC in support of the restoration of the Traditional Latin Mass.

 

The pilgrimage starts at 10am at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, and concludes at the Cathedral of St. Matthew in Washington. To learn more visit: https://www.tlmpilgrimage.com/  

 

Requesting a Traditional Latin Mass on Columbus Day (October 12)

 

Secondly each October our Network encourages Knights to honor and defend Knights of Columbus name sake, Christopher Columbus, with a Traditional Latin Mass.  In 1892, Pope Leo XIII asked parishes in the Americas to offer a votive Mass of the Holy Trinity to commemorate Columbus’ Discovery of the New World.

 

We are again inviting councils to request or organize a Traditional Latin Mass on Wednesday October 12 (votive Mass of the Holy Trinity).  

 

Can you let us know if you have one scheduled or offered? 

 

For more information please visit our webpage or Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical on Columbus:

 

• Defend Columbus with a Latin Mass: https://www.latinmassknights.org/p/blog-page.html
• Pope Leo XIII’s Encyclical on Columbus: http://w2.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_16071892_quarto-abeunte-saeculo.html

 

Vivat Jesus,

Traditional Knights Latin Mass Network