Finish with Christ the King

As we approach Advent with ever increasing speed, and prepare this week for family and feasting and giving thanks, let's take a few moments to consider how we'll celebrate this coming 34th Sunday, the last one of the (liturgical year), the Solemnity of Christ the King.  Every New Year starts better when we finish the old one well.

In the history of Church feasts Christ the King is a baby. A mere 81 years old, it was even more recently moved to the final Sunday of the liturgical calendar, the Sunday preceding the first Sunday of Advent. Really, the contemplation of Christ the King as we approach Advent is the perfect anecdote to the secular practices of the commercial winterfest that will inevitably encroach upon our quiet days of preparation.  Here in this King, who comes to wear a crown of thorns, we have the object of our longing.  Indeed, it was to combat growing numbers of people ignoring the need for Christ to rule the nations that Pope Pius the XI  initiated the feast.  As he explained in the opening paragraph of Quas Primas :  "We referred to the chief causes of the difficulties under which mankind was laboring. And 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." Furthermore, "Men must look for the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ."

So, even as the world around us gears up to party during the Advent season and ignore the true Christmas season, in the end it will fail to bring any lasting satisfaction or joy. What a great grace we have in this feast then, to be reminded on the threshold of the season of preparation that Christ the King  " 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." (33)

Quas Primas is such an easy encyclical to read that I recommend printing it out to read all or in parts as a family, around the dinner table or at prayer time.  Kings, kingdoms and royal courts are all fertile grounds for the imaginations of children.  With Christ as King and Mary as Queen Mother, young ones can be princes and princesses and " it behooves them ever to fight courageously under the banner of Christ their King."(25)   How will they usher in the kingdom of Our Lord during the coming Advent season?  What will they do to promote the reign of Peace? Leading a discussion like this will help prepare hearts in a very concrete way for the sacrifices of Advent. 

This is such a young feast that traditions with which it is associated are not many. At domestic-church.com there is a description of a parish "Christ the King" party which provides many ideas for games to play at home or with friends. The Crown activity at the bottom of the page would make an especially good craft. The "Crown Poster" with "jewel" shapes that have the children's sacrifices written upon them would be an appropriate home activity, with the jewels being added each day between now and the final Saturday of the year.  A Crown Cake like this regal beauty , or this colorful headpiece would be a beautiful centerpiece for the feast day dinner.  On the other hand, if by Sunday you've baked, boiled, roasted and basted enough to last until the end of the Church year, try this Jello Crown Jewel Dessert in a ring mold.

Finally it will be time to pray.  Begin with an Act of Dedication of the Human Race .  Continue by dedicating your home and family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and finish up with a Litany.  Perhaps you'd like to stretch these out encompass the days of the week, ending with a "New Year's Eve" party on Saturday, December 2, and quietly praying before bed in the dwindling hours of Ordinary Time.

Comments

[Alice Gunther]

Gwen! I love this! Great ideas--time to start planning now!

[MaryM]

Wonderful ideas, Gwen and I loved your thorough explanations of this feast's place in the liturgical year, in preparation for Advent.

[Hassie]

Dear Gwen,
Thank you so much! I really love your blog! I have placed a special spot on my desktop for it!
God Bless you and your beautiful family.
Happy Thanksgiving AND Happy Christ the King Day!
Hassie from Louisiana