THE SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE: The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe ends the liturgical year, this feast of Christ the King is the last Sunday of the liturgical year before a new liturgical year begins with the first Sunday of Advent, next Sunday. Today’s feast focuses on the Authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each year the church celebrates the Solemnity of Christ the King to acknowledge the Kingship of Jesus Christ. For Jesus Chris is the King of All Creation and the Redeemer of Mankind. He deserves all glory, honor, and praise.
The Feast of Christ the King was instituted by Pope Pius XI for the universal Church during the Jubilee Year of 1925 in his encyclical Quas Primas as an antidote in order to combat a global rise in the evils of atheism, secularism, and communism due to the majority of mankind having rejected Christ and his law, a way of life which leaves God out of man’s thinking and living and organizes his life as if God did not exist. Pope Pius XI declared that without honoring the authority of Christ as King, the world would have no hope of lasting peace. His goal was that all world leaders, governments, and nations would honor Christ the King in their civil and political affairs, as well as uphold the rights of His Church, and that the faithful would be reminded that Jesus must reign as King in each individual heart, mind, will, and body.
This feast is intended to proclaim in a striking and effective manner Christ’s royalty over individuals, families, society, governments, and nations. Pope Saint Paul VI expanded its name to “King of the Universe” in 1969. Jesus is not just a King of Hearts. He is more than a Universal Coach, Teacher, or Consoler of mankind. By “King of the Universe” the Church is communicating Jesus’ metaphysical scale, that God encompasses all of reality, not just man’s reality. We say in the Nicene Creed that God created all things visible and invisible. So Jesus is King over all the planets, stars, black holes, quasars, and exploding suns in the blackest corners of remote space. He is King over the earth and all its waterfalls, rainforests, mountain peaks, desert plains, and dark sea floors. He lords over all creation because He is its source. Saint Thomas Aquinas taught correctly when he wrote that God is not the most perfect being inside of creation but Being itself. God is reality, not just the most impressive being inhabiting the reality bubble. Today’s feast calls on us to grow as disciples of Christ the King by bearing witness to the way of truth and love that Jesus embodied .
A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who piously recite the Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King. A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who on this day will:
☆Publicly recite the Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King.
☆Say one Our Father and one Hail Mary for the intentions of the Pope.
☆Make a Sacramental Confession within a week of (before or after) the Feast of Christ the King.
☆Receive Holy Communion.
ACT OF DEDICATION TO THE HUMAN RACE TO JESUS CHRIST KING: Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before you. We are yours, and yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with you, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to your Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known you; many, too, despising your precepts, have rejected you. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your Sacred Heart. Be King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken you, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you; grant that they may quickly return to their Father’s house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Grant, O Lord, to your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give tranquility of order to all nations; make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor for ever…Amen🙏
PRAYER: Christ the King, Your sovereignty over all creation is not heavy. You order all reality toward Yourself and govern Your creatures with justice and humility. Help us to be faithful and subservient to what You desire, so that we can live one day in Your heavenly kingdom… Amen🙏
Almighty ever-living God, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of the universe, grant, we pray, that the whole creation, set free from slavery, may render your majesty service and ceaselessly proclaim your praise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever… Amen 🙏
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