By Will Hawn — Army veteran, founder of 1765 Apparel Co.
There are about two million Knights of Columbus in the world, and if you're married to one, raised by one, or serve alongside one, you already know the problem: he doesn't want anything. He'll tell you that to your face. Meanwhile he gives away his Saturdays to pancake breakfasts, coat drives, and parish repairs, and owns exactly one piece of clothing that says anything about it — a council t-shirt from a 5K in 2019.
Here's how to do better.
Start with the founder
Every Knight knows the name Blessed Michael McGivney — the New Haven parish priest, son of Irish immigrants, who founded the Order in the basement of St. Mary's in 1882 so that no Catholic widow would be left to beg and no orphan would be taken. He was beatified in 2020, and his canonization cause is the whole Order's prayer.
Our McGivney shirt carries his name, his city, and his year — New Haven, 1882 — in engraved 19th-century style on a heavyweight American-made tee. For a Knight, this is not merchandise. It's the founder. If you get him one thing, get him this.
For the Knight who takes the "militant" part seriously
The Church Militant — Ecclesia Militans: the old name for the Church still fighting on earth, crowned shield and crusader standards. The Knights were founded as a brotherhood of men who defend — their families, their parish, their faith. This shirt says exactly that.
Militia Christi — Chi-Rho: the standard Constantine raised at the Milvian Bridge, over the words "soldiers of Christ." Fourth Degree Knights especially — the patriotic degree — tend to reach for this one.
The Armor of God — Ephesians 6:11: breastplate, helmet, shield, and the sword of the Spirit. The Scripture every Knight heard at his exemplification, engraved like a plate from an old missal.
For the quieter devotion
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam — "for the greater glory of God," the motto under the IHS christogram. For the Knight whose service is steady and unannounced.
Adoro Te Devote — Aquinas' Eucharistic hymn with a monstrance in radiant engraving. For the Knight who kneels at adoration before the meeting starts.
Why these and not a catalog trinket
Because a Knight is a man of standards, and he can feel the difference. Every shirt here is a heavyweight 6.1 oz Bayside 5100 — 100% U.S.-grown cotton, spun, knit, dyed, cut, sewn, and printed in the United States. Dirt to shirt, American-made, the way he'd insist on it if he were the one buying. $44.99, S–3XL, free U.S. shipping over $55 — two shirts ships free, which conveniently covers his brother Knight too.
Printed to order in the States — give it a comfortable two weeks for Christmas, exemplifications, or Father's Day.
Browse the full line at Catholic gifts for men. And this Friday, watch the story of Blessed Michael McGivney — told in under a minute — on our Instagram @1765apparelco.
Altar. Arms. Allegiance.
