Editing Knights of Columbus (section)

==Awards==

The order sponsors a number of international awards. The first, the ''Gaudium et Spes Award'', is named after the [[Gaudium et spes|document from the Second Vatican Council]], and is the highest honor bestowed by the order. It "is awarded only in special circumstances and only to individuals of exceptional merit" and comes with an [[honorarium]] of $100,000.<ref name="Maryknoll" /> In the first 25 years after its institution in 1992, it was only awarded twelve times.<ref name="Maryknoll" /> The award "recognizes individuals for their exemplary contributions to the realization of the message of faith and service in the spirit of Christ as articulated in the document for which it is named".{{r|uca}}

{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin-left:1em"
|-
! colspan="2" | ''Gaudium et Spes Award''
|-
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| '''Year'''
!style="background:#efefef; font-size:smaller"| '''Awardee'''
|-
|2023
|[[Sisters of Life|Mother Agnes Mary Donovan]]{{r|PJS}}
|-
|2016
|[[Little Sisters of the Poor]]{{r|nhr}}
|-
|2015
|Cardinal [[Francis George]]{{r|bauman}}
|-
|2005
|[[Jean Vanier]]{{r|vanier}}
|-
|2002
|Archbishop [[Michael Sabbah]]
|-
|2001
|Cardinal [[William Wakefield Baum|William Baum]]
|-
|2000
|Cardinal [[James Aloysius Hickey|James Hickey]]
|-
|1994
|Cardinal [[John O'Connor (cardinal)|John O'Connor]]
|-
|1992
|[[Mother Teresa]]{{r|nhr}}
|}

The second international award, also only given when merited, is the ''Caritas Award''.{{r|bee}} Named for the [[Charity (virtue)|theological virtue]] alternatively translated as either charity or love, it recognizes "extraordinary works of charity and service" and was established in 2013.{{r|bee}} It was first awarded to Monsignor Robert Weiss, pastor of St Rose of Lima in [[Newtown, Connecticut]].{{r|bee}} The second was awarded to St. Virgilius Knights of Columbus Council 185.{{r|bee}} Both received the honor, and the $100,000 honorarium, for their actions following the [[Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting]].{{r|bee}}

The ''Saint Michael Award'' was established in conjunction with the ''Caritas Award'' to recognize members of the order who have exemplified a lifetime of service on behalf of the Knights of Columbus. Additionally, at its annual convention each year, the order recognizes other individuals and councils with awards. These include the Family of the Year award, and prizes for the best activities in the categories of church, community, council, [[culture of life]], family, and youth. Additionally, top selling general and field insurance agents are recognized, as are top recruiting individuals and councils.

The order established the Grand Cross of the Knights of Columbus, but awarded it only to [[Cristóbal Colón, 14th Duke of Veragua|Cristobal Colón y de La Cerda]], [[Duke of Veragua]] and descendant of Columbus, when he visited the US in 1893.{{sfn|Egan|Kennedy|1920|p=117}}