By Njoki Githinji
ABUJA, JULY 16 2020 (CISA)-Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja has called on political leaders who profess Christian and Islam faiths to translate the values that they stand for in their daily duties of governance for the sake of a peaceful and progressive nation
“Imagine our level of productivity and progress if all religious Nigerians were translating the tenets of Christianity and Islam into practice. How great our nation would be if national and state legislators, members of the judiciary and executive were so dutiful, selfless and honest as we seem to be pious. We all practice religion and we all appear to go to church or mosques. If all this category of people could mean what they are doing we shall have a wonderful country and our people would not be poor or violent,” he said.
The Archbishop was preaching during the Mass of Investiture for Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM) into the fourth degree of the order at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral Garki Abuja, where he called on the knights and ladies to stand firm in defending the Church against all threats from those who are against her.
“This is the call to our Knights of St. Mulumba, who today have their investiture. During the Crusades in the middle ages, Knights were military warriors protecting pilgrims and sacred places in the Holy Land. Today, even though Knights carry symbolic swords and wear para-military uniforms, they are called not to physical war, but to a spiritual warfare, beginning with conquering self, transforming their families into holy families and a domestic Church; explaining and defending our Catholic doctrines and traditions; resisting the assaults on the Church because of her stand on abortion, same-sex marriage and other moral issues,” he said.
He urged them to deepen their spiritual lives and strive to be of service to the church in humility.
“Knights must avoid externalism. Rather, deepen your interior life. You must also avoid the clamor for power and positions in the Church. Rather you are to be motivated by humble and selfless service. Whatever you are however you appear, you are here to serve humbly,” he said.
The Order of Knights of St Mulumba is a Catholic Action group of over 12,000 persons from the 54 Catholic Dioceses in Nigeria and in Uganda and the Cameroons. It was founded in 1953 by the Fr Abraham Ojefua, for the spiritual development of Catholic faithful and the cause of charity in action. It is a member of the International Alliance of Catholic Knights with affiliations all over the world.
