christ the King

Here are bits and pieces of the encyclical letter by Pope Pius XI instituting the feast of Christ the King in 1925 as an anual celebratio for all the faithful...for those who are interested in reading the why behind the feast.

also here is a link for rededicating one's life ot the Sacred Heart which is norm for the feast of Christ the King: oath of fealty

Begin the encyclical:
Moreover, since this jubilee Year marks the sixteenth centenary of the Council of Nicaea, We commanded that event to be celebrated, and We have done so in the Vatican basilica. There is a special reason for this in that the Nicene Synod defined and proposed for Catholic belief the dogma of the Consubstantiality of the Onlybegotten with the Father, and added to the Creed the words "of whose kingdom there shall be no end," thereby affirming the kingly dignity of Christ.

If the kingdom of Christ, then, receives, as it should, all nations under its way, there seems no reason why we should despair of seeing that peace which the King of Peace came to bring on earth - he who came to reconcile all things, who came not to be ministered unto but to minister, who, though Lord of all, gave himself to us as a model of humility, and with his principal law united the precept of charity; who said also: "My yoke is sweet and my burden light." Oh, what happiness would be Ours if all men, individuals, families, and nations, would but let themselves be governed by Christ! "Then at length," to use the words addressed by our predecessor, Pope Leo XIII, twenty-five years ago to the bishops of the Universal Church, "then at length will many evils be cured; then will the law regain its former authority; peace with all its blessings be restored. Men will sheathe their swords and lay down their arms when all freely acknowledge and obey the authority of Christ, and every tongue confesses that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father."[33]


That these blessings may be abundant and lasting in Christian society, it is necessary that the kingship of our Savior should be as widely as possible recognized and understood, and to the end nothing would serve better than the institution of a special feast in honor of the Kingship of Christ. For people are instructed in the truths of faith, and brought to appreciate the inner joys of religion far more effectually by the annual celebration of our sacred mysteries than by any official pronouncement of the teaching of the Church. Such pronouncements usually reach only a few and the more learned among the faithful; feasts reach them all; the former speak but once, the latter speak every year - in fact, forever. The church's teaching affects the mind primarily; her feasts affect both mind and heart, and have a salutary effect upon the whole of man's nature. Man is composed of body and soul, and he needs these external festivities so that the sacred rites, in all their beauty and variety, may stimulate him to drink more deeply of the fountain of God's teaching, that he may make it a part of himself, and use it with profit for his spiritual life


We firmly hope, however, that the feast of the Kingship of Christ, which in future will be yearly observed, may hasten the return of society to our loving Savior. It would be the duty of Catholics to do all they can to bring about this happy result. Many of these, however, have neither the station in society nor the authority which should belong to those who bear the torch of truth. This state of things may perhaps be attributed to a certain slowness and timidity in good people, who are reluctant to engage in conflict or oppose but a weak resistance; thus the enemies of the Church become bolder in their attacks. But if the faithful were generally to understand that it behooves them ever to fight courageously under the banner of Christ their King, then, fired with apostolic zeal, they would strive to win over to their Lord those hearts that are bitter and estranged from him, and would valiantly defend his rights.


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. If to Christ our Lord is given all power in heaven and on earth; if all men, purchased by his precious blood, are by a new right subjected to his dominion; if this power embraces all men, it must be clear that not one of our faculties is exempt from his empire. He must reign in our minds, which should assent with perfect submission and firm belief to revealed truths and to the doctrines of Christ. He must reign in our wills, which should obey the laws and precepts of God. He must reign in our hearts, which should spurn natural desires and love God above all things, and cleave to him alone. He must reign in our bodies and in our members, which should serve as instruments for the interior sanctification of our souls, or to use the words of the Apostle Paul, as instruments of justice unto God.[35] If all these truths are presented to the faithful for their consideration, they will prove a powerful incentive to perfection. It is Our fervent desire, Venerable Brethren, that those who are without the fold may seek after and accept the sweet yoke of Christ, and that we, who by the mercy of God are of the household of the faith, may bear that yoke, not as a burden but with joy, with love, with devotion; that having lived our lives in accordance with the laws of God's kingdom, we may receive full measure of good fruit, and counted by Christ good and faithful servants, we may be rendered partakers of eternal bliss and glory with him in his heavenly kingdom.

rejoice in the goodness of the other

Here for this saturday are a few words form St. Thomas Auinas on eternal life:

"Again, eternal life consists of the joyous community of all the blessed, a community of supreme delight, since everyone will share all that is good with all the blessed. Everyone will love everyone else as himself, and therefore will rejoice in another' sgood as his own. So it follows that the happiness and joy of each grows in proportion to the joy of all."

As we draw close to the liturgiacal year and we celebrate the Feast of Chist the King, it isn't a bad idea to think about eternity. What will it be like? What will we be like? What does it means to profess faith in "live everlasting" or "communion of sainst" or the "resurrection of the body."


These things require and demand attention and thought. The more we can think about them togther with the saints and the mind of the church the more we will be better prepared for thecoming of the King.

In the words of St. Thomas, "we will rejoice in another's good as our own."

Imagine that attitude of living. Rather than take offense at another's fortune or blesseing we will be able to rejoice with them and draw strength from it and allow it to build bonds of unity.

I wonder what that would do for us here and now? What would it look like to rejoice in the goodness of the other? It might taste like eternity or at least a little piece of heaven's pie.


Thinkng on heaven should shape the way we thinnk and live today. The future affects today and today is how we move toward the future.

Christian unity

One of the last prayers of Jesus recorded in the gospel is that "they all be one as you and I are one." As he prayed to the Father on his way to the cross, peering down the road to calvary, Jesus thought of us, prayed for us, hoped for us, and acted in such a manner that makes our unity possible for he reconciled us to the Father by the blood of the cross.

Jesus not only prayed for unity but he acted in a manner to make unity not only a real possibility but a Divine Command brought about by the shedding of his blood & the giving of his life.

On this Friday, as we remember that act meant to unify, the cross on calvary and the life given, here are a few words from our Pope on Christian Unity

"The unity of Christians is and remains prayer, it resides in prayer. On the other hand, another operative movement, which arises from the firm awareness that we do not know the hour of the realization of the unity among all the disciples of Christ and we cannot know it, because unity is not "made by us," God "makes" it: it comes from above, from the unity of the Father with the Son in the dialogue of love which is the Holy Spirit; it is a taking part in the divine unity. And this should not make our commitment diminish, rather, it should make us ever more attentive to receive the signs of the times of the Lord, knowing how to recognize with gratitude that which already unites us and working to consolidate it and make it grow. In the end, also in the ecumenical path, it is about leaving to God what is only his and of exploring, with seriousness, constancy and dedication, what is our task, being aware that to our commitment belongs the binomial of acting and suffering, of activity and patience, of effort and joy."


That they may all be one. The mystical body of Christ longs to be one body, one Sprit in Christ.

creation and the adventure of living

I have been teaching our 8th graders about creation has of lately. It has been an exciting adventure to say the least.

I thought today, since it is wednesday, I would share a few words from Pope Benedict on creation...

"The reasonableness of the universe provides us with access to God's Reason, and the Bible is and continues to be the true 'enlightment," which has given the world over to human reason and not to exploitation by human beings, because it opened reason to God's truth and love. Therefore we must not in our own day conceal our faith in creation. We may not conceal it, for only if it is true that the universe comes from freedom, love, and reason, and these are the real underlying powers, can we trust one naother, go forward into the future, and live as human beings.

God is the Lord of all things because he is their creator, and only therefore can we pray to him, For this means that freedom and love are not ineffectual ideas but rather that they are sustaining forces of reality.
and so we in thankfulness and joy recite the church's creed, "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth." Amen....

The universe is not a product of darkness and unreason. It comes from intelligence, freedom, and from the beauty that is identical with love. Seeing this gives us courage to keep on living, and it empowers us, comforted thereby, to take upon ourselves the adventure of living."

scoot on over

Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22

If you read the first reading to today at mass you get the sense that Jesus really does go out of his way to prepare us.

He sends his spirit to check on the early churches and to advise them. You could say it is their yearly check up and examination. He lets them know where they are and where they need to be.

"I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen what is left, for it will dies, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent."


Also...

"I know your works; I know that you are neither cold or hot, I wish you were either. So because you are lukewarm I will spit you out of my mouth...those whom I love I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent."

IT is time to take our temperature!

Our spiritual temperature! Are we hot or cold or lukewarm. Have we lost the sense of urgency; have our flame of love slowly subsided; have we lost our focus. It is time to turn up the heat.

Then finally Jesus says these words, "I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne."


Now if that isn't motivation for a renewal then nothing is. Not only will we have a place with him but He shall scoot over and make room for us on his throne, his seat with the Father. How humble is our King to allow us to sit where only he deserves.

We shall sit and reign with him.

Jesus scoots over for you and me.

good news has the last word

YEsterday we listen to two readings that described the "end times." There has been much said about this reality, especially in light of the Mayan Calendar.

Everybody wants the inside scoop. All want to be in the know. Yet Time and time again Jesus reminds us we do not know the day nor the hour.

But in reality it isn't the "when" that should be important to us but rather the what of the "end times" that matter most of all.

Apocalyptic literature is what we call the readings and passages that describe the end time, such as the words of Malachi and the words of Jesus in Luke chapter 21.

Apocalyptic simply means to unveil, to reveal, to make known what was hidden.

These readings are important for what they reveal to us and this is where our focus, our gaze, our attention should be. The "when" will be when it comes, but the what remains steadfast.


So what is revealed.

In a nut shell, if you look at the two readings form yesterday, malachi and Luke 21, you discover a mixture of good news and bad news.

Each reading starts off on a sour note.

"Lo the day is coming and it will be blazing like an oven...the wicked shall be burned up." This sounds pretty bad.

Again JEsus says, "not a stone will be left upon a stone...and there will be earthquakes, famines, plagues...there will be wars and violence...yo will be thrown in prison and betrayed by your family."

Again more Bad news. In fact, You could say that it is going to get ugly.

Yet, the Bad news gives way to good news. The words of malachi end on a positive note, "but the there will arise the sun of justice with his healing rays." Again JEsus says, "not a hair on your body will be destroyed and by your perseverance you will secure your lives."


The bad news fades and the good news rises to the front. In fact, what is revealed primarily is that the good news has the last word. This is important for us.

The Good NEws always has the last word. Here is something we can build a life around; here is something that can give us peace and stability.

If we cling to Christ, then we have nothing to fear no matter when the end arrives.

For in Christ, we have a future. The future is filled with real possibilities, with the fullness of life.

There is never a reason to push the panic button. Things will get worse before they get better, but in the end the better will remain, and this is where we stand. We have hope in tomorrow and this hope strengthens us for today.

So in the words of JEsus in the end of Luke 21, "stand erect, raise your head, your redemption is at hand."

The one who has hope lives differently, and this makes all the difference for today.

refresh my heart in Christ

Philemon 1:7-20; Psalm 146 Blessed is he whose help is the god of Jacob; Luke 17:20-25

I love literature. I love writers. I am often fascinated with the way writers choose words to describe actions, thoughts, lives of others. A good wordsmith can open a passage to new worlds and new places and great adventures. With the slight of a pen, we are invited inside people's minds and hearts and we get to see anew as if for the first time through another's eyes.

Kurt Vonnegut, a writer, in describing the madness behind writing said this, "Every successful creative person creates with an audience of one in mind. That's the secret of artistic unity. ... If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia."


The key for him was to keep one person in mind as the story unfolded. If you reach one, you reach the world. If you try to reach the world, the book comes across as contrived nonsense. The key is to fall in love with one and then you are able to love the world, at least through literature.

The same can be said in the life of Faith. Christ inivtes us to love One and in loving one we are empowered to love generally and specifically the world.

To focus our love on the audience of one, the one right before us in each moment is the way we begin to love the many. If you love the one before you, then you learn to love the many that await you. Of course, primarily the audience of one is Christ. To love Him is to be open to love the many.

In the words of st. Paul in today's first reading, "Refresh my heart in Christ; confidant of your compliance, I write you knowing you will do more than I say." 1:20-21


St. Paul invites Philemon and the community that gathers in his home to welcome Onesimus, out the love they have for him, out of the love they have for Christ.

Love always goes back to the audience of one. For the sake of the one, love moves forth. As we see in verse 12, "It is he (onesimus)I am sending back to you-and that means I am sending my heart."

We may not be able to make love to the world, but we can make love to one and that will make all the difference in a world gone mad.

St. Martin of Tours pray for us.

We also pause today to remember and pray for our Veterans. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month we pause in silence begging the Lord to heal the afflicted, mend the broken, raise the fallen; we also beg for peace to reign and violence and terror to end for it has claimed too many of our young lives and hearts.

Soldiers fight because they love. May we fight to show the love they deserve and extend a hand in friendship and gratitude as we remember, lest we forget and in forgetting fight all over again.