Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Mary’s of the Lake:

⬥  This Sunday is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, more commonly known as the Feast of Christ the King. Pope Pius XI instituted this feast in his 1925 Encyclical entitled Quas Primas (Latin: In the First), though its first celebration took place in 1926. It was originally to be celebrated on the last Sunday of October, before the Feast of All Saints.
The Feast of Christ the King was a strong response to the rise of nationalism, secularization, atheism, and communism... in the aftermath of World War I. While the world was increasingly telling Christians that they must compartmentalize their religion and give their highest allegiance to the government, Pope Pius XI wrote regarding the Feast: ‘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’. (Quas Primas 33).



⬥  In 1969, Pope Paul VI revised the Feast, and gave the Feast its current full title –i.e. The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe; and moved the Feast from last Sunday of October to the last Sunday of the liturgical year (one week before Advent). This move is truly meaningful, for it brings the Church Year to a pleasing end by presenting to us the image of Christ, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the King and Lord of all.

⬥  We are living in the world when authorities are easily suspicious and values (even Christian values) are deemed ‘relative.’ The Feast of Christ the King invites us to rededicate our life to Jesus Christ the King of the Universe, the King of our lives. We are called to uphold all Christian values. We are called to view all the joys as well as all the challenges of life against the absolute background --i.e. Jesus Christ the King of the Universe. He always has to be the first priority and not the last resort in our life of faith.

Fr. Philip

➔ Please Plan Ahead to go to 8:30 am Mass on Thanksgiving Day (Nov 28th) to give thanks to God for all we have received, and to ask His blessings upon us.