Ave Christus Rex: Hail Christ the King

One of the greatest Solemn Feast Days of the year in the Church is the Feast of Christ the King, which was instituted by His Holiness Pope Pius XI in 1925 in the masterful encyclical Quas Primas. In the opening paragraph, Pius XI stated, “We remember saying that these manifold evils in the world were due to the fact that the majority of men had thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives; that these had no place either in private affairs or in politics: and we said further, that as long as individuals and states refused to submit to the rule of our Savior, there would be no really hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations. Men must look for the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ.”

Pius XI continued, “So he is said to reign “in the hearts of men,” both by reason of the keenness of his intellect and the extent of his knowledge, and also because he is very truth, and it is from him that truth must be obediently received by all mankind. He reigns, too, in the wills of men, for in him the human will was perfectly and entirely obedient to the Holy Will of God, and further by his grace and inspiration he so subjects our free-will as to incite us to the most noble endeavors. He is King of hearts, too, by reason of his “charity which exceedeth all knowledge.” And his mercy and kindness which draw all men to him, for never has it been known, nor will it ever be, that man be loved so much and so universally as Jesus Christ. But if we ponder this matter more deeply, we cannot but see that the title and the power of King belongs to Christ as man in the strict and proper sense too. For it is only as man that he may be said to have received from the Father “power and glory and a kingdom, “since the Word of God, as consubstantial with the Father, has all things in common with him, and therefore has necessarily supreme and absolute dominion over all things created.”

“The Catholic Church, which is the kingdom of Christ on earth, destined to be spread among all men and all nations, should with every token of veneration salute her Author and Founder in her annual liturgy as King and Lord, and as King of Kings… When once men recognize, both in private and in public life, that Christ is King, society will at last receive the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace and harmony.”

We read in St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians 1:12-20:

“Giving thanks to God the Father, who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins; Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

For in him were all things created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and in him. And he is before all, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he may hold the primacy: Because in him, it hath well pleased the Father, that all fulness should dwell; And through him to reconcile all things unto himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, both as to the things that are on earth, and the things that are in heaven.”

This passage so perfectly showcases the true supremacy of Christ as King and Lord. St. Paul notes that the Father has incorporated us into a true Kingdom which is ruled and governed by Jesus Christ, who is the “image of the invisible God.” What a powerful phrase indicating the true divine nature of our Lord, who is consubstantial with the Father. In the next breath, St. Paul then tells us He is “the firstborn of every creature,” which displays the sheer excellence of the Hypostatic Union and His true human nature. Jesus Christ is true God and true Man. So much of the formulation of our Nicene Creed really comes to us in the exegesis of this sublime passage. As we profess in the ancient Creed: “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.”

St. John Chrysostom notes that St. Paul specifically uses the phrase “firstborn,” as opposed to first created. He is coequal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. In the Greek, prōtotokos has the connotation of preeminence. As the New Adam, in His human nature He holds the prominence and authority over all of creation. And as well, as St. John teaches in His Gospel, Jesus is “the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father.” It is also noteworthy to see how St. Paul so strongly emphasizes the deity of Christ. “All things were created by Him and in Him… by Him all things consist… it hath well pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell.”

In the Gospel according to St. John 18:33-37, we read:

“Pilate therefore went into the hall again, and called Jesus, and said to him: Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus answered: Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of me? Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Thy own nation, and the chief priests, have delivered thee up to me: what hast thou done?

Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now my kingdom is not from hence. Pilate therefore said to him: Art thou a king then? Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world; that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice.”

Here we have the epic scene of the King of Kings and the Lord of Heaven and Earth standing before this measly Roman procurator. From the perspective of the world, Pontius Pilate has the authority over the preaching carpenter. However, from the perspective of Heaven, Pilate will one day meet his mortal end just as all of us will, and when he does, he will answer to his Judge and Ruler, whose name is Jesus Christ.

Our Lord says He came into the world to give testimony to the truth, and every one that is of the truth hears His voice. We recall the words of Jesus in the tenth chapter of St. John’s Gospel: “I am the good shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me… My sheep hear my voice: and I know them, and they follow me.” And in the fourteenth chapter of the same Gospel: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would without doubt have known my Father also: and from henceforth you shall know him, and you have seen him.”

The Church reminds us that Jesus Christ has rightful authority over all nations, the entire universe, and every individual human heart. No effort of man can diminish this reign. Even as we see the rotten fruits of Communism and Freemasonry spreading across the world, and human vice reach new levels of filth and depravity, He continues to reign supreme and calls all people of good will to be loyal subjects to His Kingdom. He calls us to serve Him alone, and He assures us that, in the end, Christ alone reigns supreme.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. We love you. Save souls. Amen.