“All power in Heaven and on earth is given to Me,” said Our Lord as He sent His Apostles to subdue all nations under the gentle yoke of His Gospel. This supreme, kingly power is His by both a natural right, as the Son of God made Man, and through an acquired right, by conquest, as our Redeemer – the second Adam – Who won back the human race from captivity to the devil.
Christians have always acknowledged Our Lord as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament foretold His royalty, and He Himself spoke constantly of His Kingdom. It was as a King that He was adored in the manger by the Wise Men of the East, and it was as a King that He mounted the Cross for our Redemption.
This year marks the 100th Anniversary of Pope Pius XI establishing today’s Feast. He did so through the encyclical Quas Primas (11 December 1925). This document should be read (and re-read) by all Catholics. Here are just a few excerpts from that instructive document:
“This kingdom is spiritual and is concerned with spiritual things… This kingdom is opposed to none other than to that of Satan and to the power of darkness. [15]
It would be a grave error, on the other hand, to say that Christ has no authority whatever in civil affairs, since, by virtue of the absolute empire over all creatures committed to Him by the Father, all things are in His power. [17]
Thus the empire of our Redeemer embraces all men. To use the words of Our immortal predecessor, Pope Leo XIII: “His empire includes not only Catholic nations, not only baptized persons who, though of right belonging to the Church, have been led astray by error, or have been cut off from her by schism, but also all those who are outside the Christian faith; so that truly the whole of mankind is subject to the power of Jesus Christ.” Nor is there any difference in this matter between the individual and the family or the State; for all men, whether collectively or individually, are under the dominion of Christ. In Him is the salvation of the individual, in Him is the salvation of society. “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men whereby we must be saved.” He is the author of happiness and true prosperity for every man and for every nation. “For a nation is happy when its citizens are happy. What else is a nation but a number of men living in concord?”
If, therefore, the rulers of nations wish to preserve their authority, to promote and increase the prosperity of their countries, they will not neglect the public duty of reverence and obedience to the rule of Christ. What We said at the beginning of Our Pontificate concerning the decline of public authority, and the lack of respect for the same, is equally true at the present day. “With God and Jesus Christ,” We said, “excluded from political life, with authority derived not from God but from man, the very basis of that authority has been taken away, because the chief reason of the distinction between ruler and subject has been eliminated. The result is that human society is tottering to its fall, because it has no longer a secure and solid foundation.” [18]
When once men recognize, both in private and in public life, that Christ is King, society will at last receive the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace and harmony. [19]”
PRAYER TO CHRIST THE KING
Pope Pius XI also mandated that the prayer below be prayed every year on the Feast of Christ the King:
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thy cross. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united to Thee, behold, each one of us this day freely consecrates himself to Thy most Sacred Heart. Many, indeed, have never known Thee; many, too, despising Thy precepts have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to their Father’s house lest they perish of wretchedness and hunger.
Be Thou King of those whom heresy holds in error or discord keeps aloof; call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one fold and one Shepherd. Be Thou King of all those who even now sit in the darkness of idolatry or Islam, and refuse not Thou to bring them into the light of Thy kingdom.
Finally, turn Thine eyes of pity upon the children of that race, which was for so long a time Thy chosen people; and let Thy Blood, which was once invoked upon them in vengeance, now descend upon them also in a cleansing flood of redemption and eternal life.
Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and bring it to pass that from pole to pole the earth may resound with one cry: Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.