What makes a knight?
Most people would answer: courage, honour, loyalty, sacrifice.
History would probably add military victories.
Legends would add shining armour and heroic deeds.
But the Church gives a different answer. ‘A knight is recognised long before he enters a battle. He is recognised by the man he has become.’
Every organisation has its constitution.
Every profession has its code.
Every family has its traditions.
All of them tell us something about identity.
The Knights of St Columba are no different. For more than a century the Order has existed to support the mission of the Church. It speaks about Charity, Unity and Fraternity. It calls Catholic men to serve God by serving others. These are not simply values to admire. They are the blueprint for Christian manhood. They are a programme for Christian living. They describe the character that every Knight is invited to develop.
Peter’s confession is not simply the correct answer to a theological question. It becomes the foundation of his entire life.
Before there is service, there is faith.
Before there is leadership, there is discipleship.
Before there is action, there is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Without that foundation, every activity becomes just another voluntary organisation.
With that foundation, every act of service becomes part of the mission of the Church.
It is far more than friendship. It means that another person’s burdens become my concern, another person’s family becomes part of my prayer, another person’s suffering is never faced alone. Surely that is one of the greatest gifts the Knights of St Columba offer one another.
Every day placed into God’s hands.
Every gift used for His Kingdom.
Every sacrifice united with Christ.
That is charity in its fullest sense.
Perhaps that is what the Church needs most from Catholic men today.
Men whose faith gives confidence to others.
Men whose word can be trusted.
Men who serve quietly without seeking recognition.
Men who pray.
Men who love the Church enough to give their time, their experience and their gifts.
The Knights of St Columba have sought to form exactly those kinds of men for over one hundred years. They have supported priests and bishops, strengthened parish life, cared for families, defended the dignity of human life and encouraged one another in holiness. That work has taken many forms, but its purpose has remained the same: to serve God by serving others.
If the Knights of St Columba remain faithful to this invitation, then Charity, Unity and Fraternity will never be merely words written in a constitution. They will become a living witness that strengthens our parishes, supports our families and brings people closer to Christ.
And perhaps that is the finest definition of a Christian knight.
A man whose whole life quietly points others to Jesus Christ.
Rev. Piotr Kucharski
Parish Priest of Sevenoaks and Dean of Tunbridge Wells Deanery
27th July 2026
Given at the Aylesford Pilgrimage.