This last Sunday of the Church's liturgical calendar gives us the Solemnity of Christ the King! This wonderful celebration is a relatively new addition to the church calendar as it was instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. The pope turned to Christ the King during a time in world history, particularly across Europe, of increasing political dictatorships and an increase in communism. This was leading many Catholics of the time to dismiss the authority of Christ as our King and even led to decreased belief in faith and religion by those coming under the rule of these dictators.
Pius XI issued an encyclical, Quas Primas, as he instituted this feast. The three main points of his encyclical were:
1. To see that the Church has the right to freedom and immunity from the state.
2. That leaders and nations are bound to give respect to Christ.
3. That the faithful would gain strength and courage from the celebration of this feast and remember that Christ reigns in their hearts, minds, wills and bodies.
This papal declaration helped to refocus the Church on Christ and to return to the practice of the faith in that difficult and dark period between the two World Wars and the economic calamity of the times.
Today, this celebration continues to grow in popularity as the Church teaches us what the kingdom and reign of Christ really means(see my homily for today). The feast of Christ the King was moved from October to this last Sunday of the liturgical year in 1969 by Pope Paul VI as we prepare for Advent and the we wait for the coming Messiah, Christ the King!
"To Jesus Christ our soverign King who is the world's Salvation,
All praise and homage do we bring and thanks and adoration.
Christ Jesus, Victor!
Christ Jesus, Ruler!
Christ Jesus, Lord and Redeemer!"
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