Christ the King marks the last feast of the Church’s liturgical year. The season of Advent starts the Sunday after.
The Feast of Christ the King was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 to remind Catholics that Jesus Christ is the Lord of the Universe, both as God and Man. Pius XI announced the feast in his encyclical Quas Primas. At the end of the encyclical he declared that he expected three blessings to flow from the celebration of the feast:
- “Men will doubtless be reminded that the Church, founded by Christ as a perfect society, has a natural and inalienable right to perfect freedom and immunity from the power of the state”;
- “Nations will be reminded by the annual celebration of this feast that not only private individuals but also rulers and princes are bound to give public honour and obedience to Christ”;
- “The faithful, moreover, by meditating upon these truths, will gain much strength and courage, enabling them to form their lives after the true Christian ideal.”
Source: www.thoughtco.com
This feast day is about looking at Christ the King as our ultimate leader. The most important part of leadership lies in love. Christ the king shows us that the ultimate power is the power of love. Regardless of what happened to him, Jesus Christ always loved. No one could stop him. His love continued to flow from the cross and reveal the mercy and power of God.
The Feast of Christ the King serves to remind us of his love. We are urged not to lose our perspective. Through the power of love, we can effect change in our world and continue to create a life filled with forgiveness and mercy in a world where justice and peace reign supreme.
For resources on teaching about the Feast of Christ the King, head to Understanding Faith.
PRIMARY
Title | Part | Page |
32: Preparing For and Celebrating Christmas | 1 | 2 |
37: Celebrating the Paschal Mystery Through Liturgy | 3 | 5, 13 |
53: Encountering God Through Liturgy | 1 | 9 |
55: Celebrating Lent and Easter | 1 | 2 |
SECONDARY
Title | Part | Page |
0: Introduction to the Catholic Faith | 8 | 1 |
3: Celebrating the Liturgical Cycle | 4 | 1, 9 |
6: In Search of An Australian Identity | 6 | 4 |
33: Search for Meaning | 4 | 4 |
38: Jesus – Face of God | 3 | 5 |
50: Who is a Human Person | 5 | 11 |