My husband and I hardly ever keep secrets. We tend to sit down and unburden our hearts to each other on our date nights, which occur quite regularly each week.
 
We have rarely missed one of these occasions during our nearly 27 years of marriage. We relax by the  fireplace in the winter and on the back deck in the warmer months. There, we sip wine, have supper, listen to music and talk. We cover a smorgasbord of topics: his art, my writing, family near and far, and our faith journeys.
 
Last night, though, he came home with a secret. He was away for the evening, and when I asked him how it went, he said, “I can’t say.” This response didn’t bother me at all, however. Instead, it rather thrilled me.
 
You see, I think it’s fine if men keep some secrets from their wives, when it comes to defending their family, their religion and their country. I think there are things we women might not want to know about the weapons men wield, for example, or the plans they make as they endeavor to take care of us. I also think men carry secrets in their hearts as they try to become more like Jesus Christ.
 
Last night my husband became a member of the Knights of Columbus, the largest Catholic fraternal service organization in the world. Its initiation ritual is a  well-guarded secret, and so I will not ask him again what happened. Instead, I will just continue to be delighted that he has taken this step.
 
And forgive me for sounding a bit flighty, but the first time I saw some Knights at a Confirmation ceremony at our church, I knew very little about all the good work they do. I simply was enthralled by the sight of these fine men wearing capes and brandishing swords.
 
Since then, I have learned that there is much more to these men than meets the eye. The Knights of Columbus are an extremely pro-life organization. They sponsor events that raise money for organizations like Birthright, a group that helps pregnant women in crisis pregnancies keep their children. Knights also donate millions a year to various charities throughout the world.
 
In our parish, the members host parish fish fries during the Fridays in Lent. I’ll admit I have sometimes grumbled that the fish is on some occasions overcooked, but in my heart of hearts, I am pleased that the men are doing the cooking — and thrilled they are serving others in a simple and humble way.
 
What I especially admire is that the Knights are traditional. There is none of this wishy-washy, cafeteria-line approach to faith. I also like the fact that it is a men-only group. At our church, the guys get together now and again to have a beer and maybe shoot pool — and just be men. Men need to find their own definition of what following Jesus means, because the masculine tie to Jesus will always be a different flavor from the feminine style.
 
I’ve always thought of my husband as my knight in shining armor because he rescued me, so many years ago, from a life of loneliness. He also came to my rescue when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, assuring me that he would be with me throughout the difficult months that followed.
 
That was nine years ago, and we have had many fireside suppers and many chats on the back deck since then.  I love this man with great fervor, and I have a secret to confess here: Now that he is a Knight in the service of Jesus Christ, I love him even more.