Christ the King

"I think that when statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties, they lead their country by a short route to chaos."
--Sir Thomas More (A Man for All Seasons)

Today Catholics celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. Celebrated on the last Sunday of the liturgical year, the solemnity was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 in response to growing secularism which, in the holy father's view, was attempting to "thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law" out of public life, thus fueling discord among people and nations.

He was right, of course. Nearly one hundred years after his encyclical, it is difficult to argue that Pius was right, and that godless rule among men continues to divide.

The solemnity reminds the faithful that Christ reigns supreme as king of the world--regardless of the perceptions of earthly rulers and their minions who seem to believe otherwise.