Feast of Christ the King

Pope Pius the XI, who instituted the Feast of Christ the King in response to atheism and secularization states in his encyclical, Quas Primas (1925):  “…those who belong to the Kingdom of Christ cannot be subject to any external power….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…He must reign in our wills…He must reign in our hearts…” Ultimately this Feast reminds us that it is Our Lord who rules over all of creation, and all persons and principalities are subject to His reign.

In the Old Rite, this Feast is celebrated on the last Sunday in October and precedes the Feast of All Saints on November 1st. This year the Feast of Christ the King falls on October 26th. The last Sunday of October is also the end of the liturgical year, and this Feast sets the crowning glory upon The Mysteries of the Life of Christ, which have been previously commemorated. Before celebrating the triumph of all the Saints, we proclaim and praise the glory of Him who triumphs in all the Saints.