PRINCIPAL
AIM
The Knights of Mary is a fraternal association of young men whose principal aim is to promote and protect the virtue of chastity among its members through daily intercessory prayer. United under the patronage of Our Lady of Sorrows and St. Michael the Archangel, members form a spiritual brotherhood—young men joined in zeal and intention—supporting one another through grace, with the opportunity of fellowship but always bonded in prayer and purpose.
Milites Mariæ or ‘The Knights of Mary’ is an informal, private and non-canonical fraternity for young men. It has no official status or recognition by the Church, but is simply a private initiative of lay faithful who love the Church, follow the Magisterium, and desire to grow in sanctity under our patroness Our Lady of Sorrows, and our co-patron St. Michael the Archangel. In forming this fraternal association, we exercise our right under Canon 215 of the Code of Canon Law, which affirms that “the Christian faithful are at liberty freely to found and direct associations for charitable or pious purposes.”
Members commit to daily vocal prayers for the chastity and spiritual protection of all of the members of the Fraternity, cultivating spiritual discipline in the pursuit of increasing in sanctity in not only themselves but their brethren.
Under the powerful patronage of Our Lady of Sorrows, the Mediatrix of all graces, and St. Michael, the Prince of the Heavenly Hosts we confidently seek from God special graces through their loving intercession to resist temptations against purity. United in this devotion, we believe in a beautiful, hidden economy of grace flowing between all members—a mutual sharing of spiritual strength and blessings that sustains and uplifts each one in the daily battle for chastity and holiness.
This is more than a personal practice—it’s a spiritual act of charity, a prayerful bond for the good of others and the pursuit of sainthood.
ABOUT
WHY CHASTITY?
Its Preeminence
Chastity holds a place of preeminence among the virtues, as taught by the Saints and Doctors of the Church, for it safeguards the soul’s capacity to love God with an undivided heart. In our time—so marked by confusion, impurity, and attacks on the dignity of the human person—this virtue is both most threatened and most needed. Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that chastity is especially vital today because it “shapes the way we relate to others and to God” and helps us resist the distortions of love in the modern world. At Fatima, Our Lady warned, “More souls go to hell because of sins of the flesh than for any other reason,” calling us to prayer, penance, and purity of life.
Our Goal
Our private, non-canonical association exists in response to this call: to strengthen its members through prayer, particularly by fostering devotion to the Sorrowful Heart of Mary and Saint Michael the Archangel. Through these two great mediators—Our Lady, who suffered in union with Christ, and Saint Michael, defender of souls—we seek the grace to persevere in chastity, resist temptation, and grow in sanctity.
Chastity for All
Chastity is not a virtue reserved only for single or celibate men; it belongs to every Christian state of life, including the married, and expresses itself according to one’s vocation. As the Catechism teaches, “Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being... It blossoms in friendship” (CCC §2337). Even those who do not struggle personally in this area are encouraged to join in solidarity, offering their prayers for the protection and sanctification of their brothers.
By uniting in prayer, penance, and devotion to Our Lady, we strive to live faithfully in this time of great spiritual trial, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
“Chastity, or cleanness of heart, holds a glorious and distinguished place among the virtues, because she, alone, enables man to see God; hence Truth itself said, ‘Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.’” —St. Augustine
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