Solemnity of Christ the King

Celebrated on the last Sunday of the liturgical be clear that not one of our faculties is exempt year, the Solemnity of Christ the King was from his empire. He must reign in our minds, instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 with his which should assent with perfect submission and encyclical Quas primas to respond to growing firm belief to revealed truths and to the doctrines secularism. The Holy Father saw that attempting of Christ. He must reign in our wills, which to “thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law” out of should obey the laws and precepts of God. He public life would result in must reign in our hearts, continuing discord among which should spurn natural people and nations. desires and love God above all things, and cleave to him The Solemnity reminds the alone. He must reign in our faithful that Christ reigns bodies and in our members, as king of the entire world which should serve as forever, and it encourages instruments for the interior Catholics to respond to this sanctification of our souls, reality. Pope Pius XI notes: or to use the words of the “The kingship and empire of Apostle Paul, ‘as instruments Christ have been recognized of justice unto God.’” in the pious custom, – Quas primas, 33 practiced by many families, of dedicating themselves to the Sacred Heart of We love Christ the Jesus; not only families King with all our have performed this act of dedication, but nations, too, hearts. and kingdoms” (Quas primas, “And since there is in the 26). Let us rededicate Sacred Heart a symbol and a ourselves this year to bearing witness to the sensible image of the infinite love of Jesus Christ reign of Jesus Christ and his Sacred Heart. which moves us to love one another, therefore is it fit and proper that we shouldconsecrate We recognize the reign of Christ the ourselves to His most Sacred Heart-an act which is nothing else than an offering and a King with our whole lives. binding of oneself to Jesus Christ, seeing that “If to Christ our Lord is given all power in whatever honor, veneration and love is given heaven and on earth; if all men, purchased by his to this divine Heart is really and truly given to precious blood, are by a new right subjected to his Christ Himself.” – Annum sacrum, 8 dominion; if this power embraces all men, it must

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