FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING
Pope Pius XI, whose motto was ‘the peace of Christ
in the reign of Christ’ instituted this Feast in 1925.
Benito Mussolini had just declared himself ‘Il Duce’
(‘The Leader’) of Italy, and the Holy Father wanted to
remind his flock that, for them, there could be only one
‘duce’, Jesus Christ. He placed the feast, appropriately,
at the hinge of the Church year, to indicate that all time
and all seasons belong to the Lord. Christ is a king with
a difference. His kingdom is a reign not a realm. He did
not come to reign on a golden throne, but on a wooden
cross. His power comes, not through domination, but
through humble service. As his life ebbs away on the
cross his final words sum up His entire ministry as He
breathes out love and forgiveness to the criminal who
hangs beside him. Then King and criminal walk hand
in hand into paradise. It’s a beautiful image with which
to exit the Church year.
Hail Redeemer King Divine
