Blessed Michael McGivney was a generous soul, founding the Knights of Columbus for the benefit of laymen and their families. He sought to help men stay strong in their Catholic faith and practice that faith through charitable works in their local communities.
Here is the official collect prayer for his liturgical celebration on August 13, currently observed by the Archdiocese of Hartford and the members of the Knights of Columbus worldwide.
The prayer summarizes his life, highlighting his charitable and gentle heart.
God of eternal mercy,
who set your priest Blessed Michael in the Church
to comfort the suffering and the weary, the lonely and the oppressed
with works of charity and a gentle heart,
grant that, through his intercession,
we too may become vessels of mercy in our day
and so enter into our heavenly inheritance.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
And today we celebrate...