Gazizza.Net

Here's a good article on today's solemnity ofChrist the King where the Catholic Church honors Jesus as our King.

Today's Mass establishes the titles for Christ's royalty over men: 1) Christ is God, the Creator of the universe and hence wields a supreme power over all things; "All things were created by Him"; 2) Christ is our Redeemer, He purchased us by His precious Blood, and made us His property and possession; 3) Christ is Head of the Church, "holding in all things the primacy"; 4) God bestowed upon Christ the nations of the world as his special possession and dominion.

Today's Mass also describes the qualities of Christ's kingdom. This kingdom is: 1) supreme, extending not only to all peoples but also to their princes and kings; 2) universal, extending to all nations and to all places; 3) eternal, for "The Lord shall sit a King forever"; 4) spiritual, Christ's "kingdom is not of this world"

This is also the last Sunday of the Church's Liturgical year. (The Church's liturgical calendar always begins on the first Sunday of Advent in anticipation of Christ's birth on December 25th.) Celebrating Christ's Kingship on the last Sunday of the year anticipates his return at the end of time to establish his permanent Kingdom.

A partial indulgence is offered to the faithful who piuosly recite the following prayer today:

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.

A plenary indulgence is offered to those who recite it publicly.

Also suggested is to read Pope Pius XI's encyclical Quas primas (On the Feast of Christ the King) "shows that secularism is the direct denial of Christ's Kingship".

Let us always make sure that Christ is the only King of our hearts.