FOURTH DEGREE KNIGHTS
Faithful to God. Faithful to Country.
You’ve seen them at parades, Masses, and funerals: the Knights in regalia standing at attention. Those are Fourth Degree Knights. 64 of them come from Father Ragan Council.
Who Are the Fourth Degree Knights?
When most people picture the Knights of Columbus, they picture the Fourth Degree. These are the men in regalia who carry the flags in a parade, form the honor guard at a bishop’s Mass, and stand watch during Eucharistic adoration. When a brother Knight dies, they stand at his funeral.
Fourth Degree Knights have chosen to live out the Order’s fourth principle, patriotism. They lead the Knights’ outreach to veterans and active-duty military. And they show their neighbors that a man can be a faithful Catholic and a faithful citizen at the same time.
Why Patriotism?
Blessed Michael McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882 on three principles: charity, unity, and fraternity.
At the time, many Americans believed Catholics owed their full allegiance to the Church and could not be trusted as citizens. The Knights answered that suspicion directly. In 1900, the Order added a fourth principle, patriotism, built on a simple conviction: a Knight is loyal to both God and country.
Knights who want to live that principle together join the Fourth Degree.
What Fourth Degree Knights Do
Veterans and Military
Lead the council’s outreach to veterans and the men and women serving today.
Catholic Citizenship
Organize programs that show what it looks like to bring your faith into public life.
Honor Guards
Stand watch at Masses, Eucharistic adoration, and the funerals of brother Knights.
Color Corps
Carry the flag and lead the procession at parish feasts, parades, and civic ceremonies.