Dr. M.S. Malaszczyk

As America approaches the 2026 midterm elections, the air in America feels thick with the weight of history and the electricity of an uncertain future. As a Knight of Columbus, this is not merely another year; it is a threshold. This past July, we celebrated the United States’ 250th anniversary, a semi-quincentennial that demanded a deep, prayerful accounting of our national soul. In past cultural moments such as this, patriotism has often been hijacked—either reduced to a shallow, performative aesthetic or discarded as an outdated relic of a simpler time. Yet, for those of us bound by the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism, the concept transcends mere civic duty. It is a spiritual mandate. In these challenging times, marked by deep social fragmentation and a shifting global landscape, the intrinsic value of American patriotism lies in its role as a unifying moral compass, guided by the belief that we are truly "One Nation under God."

Within the Order, patriotism is the "Fourth Degree," a distinction that signifies the highest level of membership. However, this is not a promotion to blind nationalism or a mandate for partisanship. Instead, it is the cultivation of "principled patriotism." It is the conviction that our love for our country is a natural extension of our love for our neighbor and, ultimately, our Creator. In 2026, as we navigate the complexities of a "post-secular" society—one that is hungry for meaning but often wary of institutions—this virtue compels us to see the United States not just as a geopolitical entity or a line on a map, but as a providential experiment in ordered liberty.

The theological grounding of this patriotism is simple yet profound: we love our country because it is our home, and we are commanded to care for our home. Just as the Fourth Commandment requires us to honor our parents, the virtue of pietas—as understood by St. Thomas Aquinas—requires a similar honor toward our country and its citizens. In the mid-2020s, this "principled patriotism" acted as a vital bridge. It prevents us from falling into the trap of idolatry (worshipping the nation) or the pit of nihilism (despising the nation). It allows us to hold a flag in one hand and a rosary in the other, recognizing that the former is best served when the latter is used to pray for its guidance.

To understand the Knight’s role in 2026, look back to 1882. Our founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, established the Knights of Columbus at a time when Catholic immigrants were viewed with intense suspicion. The "Know-Nothing" movements of the era questioned whether a man could be loyal to both the Vicar of Christ in Rome and the President of the United States. They feared that the "clannish" Catholics would never truly assimilate.

Father McGivney’s genius was in proving the opposite: that a devoted Catholic makes the best kind of American citizen. He saw that the Catholic ethical framework—valuing the sanctity of life, the dignity of labor, and the necessity of justice—was exactly what the American experiment needed to flourish. Today, that legacy is our metaphorical North Star. In 2026, we are reminded that our faith does not compete with our citizenship; rather, it informs it. Our belief in the inherent dignity of every human person, from conception to natural death, is the most patriotic contribution we can make. It provides the moral bedrock necessary to uphold the rights enshrined in our founding documents, ensuring the passing whims of the age do not erode them.

The "architecture of division" has become the defining feature of the mid-2020s. We live in an era of digital echo chambers where algorithms curate our reality, reinforcing our biases and shielding us from our neighbors. We see this fragmentation in our neighborhoods, our families, and even our pews. Political polarization has turned civil discourse into a zero-sum game, where the goal is not to convince but to conquer.

Patriotism, in its truest form, is the only secular antidote to this fragmentation. It calls us back to the E Pluribus Unum—out of many, one. For a Knight, unity is not the absence of disagreement; it is the presence of a shared purpose. When we recognize our shared identity as Americans, we acknowledge an inheritance that is greater than our individual grievances. This intrinsic value of patriotism lies in its capacity to transform "us versus them" into a collective "we." It provides the common ground upon which we can stand to address national crises—be it the economic instability that threatens the family unit or the "loneliness epidemic" that has left so many of our brothers and sisters in despair. By loving our country, we are forced to love the neighbor who votes differently than we do, recognizing that we are both passengers on the same providential ship.

The most authentic expression of patriotism is not found in a speech, but in service. The Knights of Columbus have always maintained that the most patriotic action is an act of charity. This is the "Patriotism of the Good Samaritan." When a local Council organizes a "Coats for Kids" drive, supports a veteran housing program, or provides relief after a hurricane, they are doing more for the stability of the Republic than any political pundit.

True patriotism recognizes that the strength of America is not found solely in its military might or economic output, but in the character of its people. By practicing radical charity, we fulfill the American promise of "liberty and justice for all." In these times of hardship, patriotism motivates citizens to look beyond their own doorstep. It creates a sense of "social synapses"—the neural connections of a community—that ensure the widow, the orphan, and the marginalized are not forgotten. In 2026, as technology threatens to further atomize our society, the Knight stands as a witness to the power of physical presence and tangible help, proving that the heart of the nation beats strongest when it beats for others.

We are especially cognizant of the intrinsic value of patriotism in defending religious liberty. In an era where the role of faith in the public square is increasingly contested, patriotism demands that we protect the "First Freedom" enshrined in the Bill of Rights. We love our country because it was designed as a place where we are free to worship, to follow our conscience, and to bring our faith-based values into the democratic process.

This is not a selfish defense of our own rights, but a patriotic defense of a principle that benefits everyone. A society that forces people to violate their conscience is a society on the path to tyranny. In 2026, as we face new ethical frontiers regarding biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and the sanctity of life, a patriotic commitment to religious liberty ensures that the "moral voice" of the citizenry is never silenced. We act as the conscience of the state, not to impose a theocracy, but to ensure that the soul of the nation remains anchored in eternal truths that transcend the state.

The intrinsic value of American patriotism is ultimately found in hope. To be a patriot in 2026 is to be a person of hope. It is a refusal to give in to the "doomscrolling" cynicism or the despair that suggests our best days are behind us. Instead, we believe that the American story is still being written, and that its climax depends on our virtuous living today. The Knights of Columbus stand ready to lead with a patriotism that is "ever ancient, ever new." We are called to be the "light of the world" within our own borders, fostering a culture of encounter and a civilization of love. We do not seek a return to a mythical past, but the creation of a more faithful future.

Our earthly citizenship is, in the end, a pilgrimage. We are travelers passing through this land on our way to an eternal home. However, the quality of our journey is defined by how we treat the land and the people we encounter along the way. By loving our country well—by serving its poor, defending its freedoms, and uniting its people—we prepare ourselves for the Kingdom of Heaven. Our patriotism is our pledge to leave this nation better than we found it: more just, more united, and more faithful. In 2026, let us march forward not with fear, but with the quiet confidence of those who know that when we serve our country, we are ultimately serving the King of Kings.

The author is a proud Fourth Degree Sir Knight in the Bishop Baldwin Council #15809 [Garden City, NY]. He taught Advanced Placement Social Studies for 32 Years in the Babylon Union Free School District and is currently an Adjunct Professor of History at Nassau Community College and Southern New Hampshire University.