The way to "enter" into God's Kingdom "does not permit shortcuts"; rather, "every person must freely welcome the truth of the love of God. He is Love and Truth and both love and truth never impose themselves: they knock at the door of the heart and mind and, wherever they may enter, they bring peace and joy. This is God's way of reigning; this is his project of salvation, a 'mystery' in the biblical sense of the word, which is a plan that is revealed little by little throughout history." — Pope Benedict XVI
The Feast of Christ the King was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as an antidote to secularism, a way of life which leaves God out of man's thinking and living and organizes his life as if God did not exist. The feast is intended to proclaim in a striking and effective manner Christ's royalty over individuals, families, society, governments, and nations.
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".
— Rt. Rev. Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas
Litany of Christ the King:
Antiphon: The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive power and divinity and wisdom and strength and honor: to Him be glory, and empire for ever and ever.
V. He shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.
R. All kings shall adore Him, all nations shall serve Him.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ the King, hear us.
Christ the King, graciously hear us.
Who didst receive crowns and tribute from the Magi,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
Who rulest by love the Holy Family of Nazareth,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
Who, as King, served Thy people in the example of filial obedience,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
Who drawest to Thy realm the fishermen to be fishers of men,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
Whose Kingdom is not of the spirit of this world,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
Who art King not of the Jews alone but of all creation,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
Who wast mocked in false purple by the little rulers,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
Who wast crowned with piercing thorns,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
Who wast nailed to Thy throne on Golgotha,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
Who didst ransom Thy people by the royal Sacrifice of Calvary,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
Who didst purchase Thy Kingdom with the Blood of the Atonement,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
Who in Thy Resurrection wert the First-born from the dead,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
Who in Thy glorified body art risen triumphant,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
Who art throned and crowned at the right hand of Thy Father,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
In Whom are all created things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
Beneath Whom are all thrones and dominations,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
Beneath Whom are all principalities and powers,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
By Whom all things consist,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
To Whom all the nations of the earth are subject,
May all nations serve Thee, O Lord.
Through Whom all things are reconciled unto Thy Father,
V. His power shall be an everlasting power,
R. And His Kingdom a kingdom that shall not be destroyed.
That the peoples of this world may know themselves subject to Thee,
We Beseech Thee, hear us.
That they may put off their vainglory,
We Beseech Thee, hear us.
That they may dispel the evils laicism has brought upon society,
We Beseech Thee, hear us.
That they may hearken to Thy fiat,
We Beseech Thee, hear us.
That they may bow their heads before Thee,
We Beseech Thee, hear us.
That they may know Thy reign is eternal,
We Beseech Thee, hear us.
That they may submit to Thy just and gentle rule,
We Beseech Thee, hear us.
That they may recognize Thy Vicar on earth,
We Beseech Thee, hear us.
That they may freely accept his rule for Thy sake,
We Beseech Thee, hear us.
That they may know that Thy Church, being Thee Thyself, cannot die as nations die,
We Beseech Thee, hear us.
That the Gentiles may be restored to mercy,
We Beseech Thee, hear us.
That to Christ the King all things may be restored,
We Beseech Thee, hear us.
That in the Prince of Peace true peace may by all be found,
We Beseech Thee, hear us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world:
Spare us, O Christ our King.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world:
Hear us, O Christ our King.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world:
Have mercy on us.
V. His power shall be an everlasting power, which shall not be taken away:
R. And His Kingdom that shall not decay. Alleluia.
Let us pray. Almighty, everlasting God, Who in Thy beloved Son, King of the whole world, hast willed to restore all things anew: grant in Thy mercy that all the families of nations, rent asunder by the wound of sin, may be subjected to His most gentle rule. Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end,
R. Amen.
Prayer to Christ the King:
O Jesus Christ, I acknowledge Thee as universal King. All that has been made, has been created for Thee. Exercise all Thy rights over me. I renew my baptismal vows, renouncing Satan, his pomps and his works; and I promise to live as a good Christian. In particular do I plege myself to labor, to the best of my ability, for the triumph of the rights of God and Thy Church.
Divine Heart of Jesus, to Thee do I proffer my poor services, laboring that all hearts may acknowledge Thy Sacred Kingship, and that thus the reign of Thy peace be established throughout the whole universe. Amen.
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