Christ The King - Fr. Steve Mondiek

We are rapidly approaching the end of the Church year and beginning the Holy Season of Advent. We will lay aside the liturgical color of green, in exchange for violet. But, before we think about a more somber time of preparation for Christmas, the Church celebrates the Feast of Christ the King, also called the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, on the last Sunday of the Liturgical year.

The Feast was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 with his encyclical Quas primas, to respond to a World War that just ended and human life was expendable. The world was rejecting Christ and was being dominated by secularism.

Pope Pius hoped that the establishment of this feast would bring about the following: That this annual celebration would assist the faithful to gain strength in their true King, Jesus Christ; That leaders and nations would recognize that they are bound to submit and give respect to Christ the King; That nations would see that the Church has the right to freedom, and immunity from the state. In these times when we are challenged in our faith and our ability to worship, we must remember that Jesus Christ is our King and that He reigns over all.

Maybe during this Advent Season, your family could recommit your lives to our Savior, Christ the King by having your homes enthroned to Him. It is a simple ceremony that can be done by your family. By now, you might be thinking, what is the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus?

The Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the family home is an act of Adoration that publicly declares Jesus as “Lord of the House” and where He is given authority over the family household. In return, Christ has promised to bless families and individuals who honor Him with the installation and enthronement of a blessed image of His Sacred Heart. The enthronement is also an act of reparation to make up for all who have “dethroned” Jesus in our secular world.

The ceremony is simple and can be readily found online and other sources. Let us make this upcoming Season of Advent a “holy” experience for our families.

Lord Christ Jesus, I acknowledge You to be the King of the universe; all that has been made has been created for You. Exercise over me all Your sovereign rights. I hereby renew the promises of my Baptism, renouncing Satan and all his glamour and works, and I promise from this moment to lead a truly Christian life. In particular, I commit to bringing about the triumph of the rights of God and Your Church. Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You my poor actions so that every heart may acknowledge Your Sacred Kingly Power. May the Kingdom of Your peace be firmly established throughout all the earth. Amen. God Bless.