To become a Knight of Columbus, a man must be at least 18 years of age and a "practical" Catholic in union with the Holy See.

What is a practical Catholic?
A practical Catholic is defined as a person who follows the commandments of God and the laws of the Church. It is very important for candidates presenting themselves for membership to have a thorough understanding of the implications of this requirement.   A practical Catholic:

The following is a road map of how we practice our faith:

The Ten Commandments:

The Laws of the Church:

Love is a virtue that enables us to love God, our neighbor, and ourselves. When we practice the virtue of love, we come to know why St. Paul ends his description of love by saying that of three virtues of faith, hope, and love, "the greatest of these is love."  

In our Catholic tradition, we know some very specific ways to practice the virtue of love. These are called the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.

The Corporal Works of Mercy
Show us how to care for the physical well-being of our neighbors.

The Spiritual Works of Mercy
Show us how to care for the spiritual well-being of our neighbors.

The Emblem of the Order dates from the Second Supreme meeting, May 12, 1883, when it was designed by James T. Mullen, who was then the first Supreme Knight. A quick glance at the Emblem indicates a shield mounted upon a cross similar to a Maltese cross, turned sideways. The shield is that associated with a medieval Knight. The cross of Malta is the representation, in a traditionally artistic design, of the Cross of Christ through which all graces of redemption were procured for mankind. This, then, represents the Catholic spirit of the Order.

Mounted on the shield are three objects; a mace standing vertically, and crossed behind it, an anchor and a dagger or short sword. The mace from Roman days of authority, which must exist in any tightly-bonded and efficiently operating organization. The anchor is the mariner's symbol for Columbus, patron of the Order, while the short sword or dagger was the weapon of the Knight when engaged upon an errand of mercy.

Thus the shield expresses Catholic Knighthood in organized merciful action, and with the letters K. of C., it proclaims this specific form of activity. The red, white, and blue in the background of the shield and the foreground of the Cross of Malta are the colors of our beloved country As such, red is the color of stout-hearted courage, of pulsing activity and a full measure of devotion. Blue is the symbol of hope, of calm tranquility under God, and of confidence in the protection of our country, established under God. White is the symbol of nobility of purpose, of purity of aim, and of crucible-tried ideals to be carried out.

Faith, Hope, Charity

But there is another symbolism of color in red, white, and blue. This is the ecclesiastical symbolism in which red becomes the reflection of the drops of Christ's redemptive blood, shed upon Calvary, and of the Martyr's blood shed in defense of the faith.

Red, then, is the symbol of Faith, of belief in Christ, in the Redemption, and in the mission of every man to spread the knowledge and love of...Jesus Christ.

White is the color of the Eucharistic Host, pledge of God's Eucharistic presence among men, of the infinite love God had for man, and of the overwhelming affection which the God-man had for each individual. White then is the symbol of Christ-like Charity.

Blue is the color of Our Lady's mantle, in which she draped her beloved Son, through Whom salvation came to a sinful world. Blue is then the symbol of Hope.