Solemnity of Christ the King 2024

Ambrogio Ratti was born in 1857 in Desio, Italy.  Growing up he proved himself to have a bright and brilliant mind.  He was ordained a priest in 1879 and because of his sharp mind was selected for further studies.  He obtained three doctorates from the Gregorian University in Rome: one in philosophy, one in theology, and one in canon law.  For years he taught as a professor in a seminary and worked as a librarian.  In 1918 Ambrogio was chosen by Pope Benedict XV to serve as a kind of diplomat to the war-torn country of Poland.  Russian armies were poised to take over the country and the government was preparing to leave.  American, Italian, and Danish envoys had left.  Only Ambrogio Ratti remained to see the Polish armies roll back the Russian armies from the gates of Warsaw.

Then, almost when it seemed that Ambrogio Ratti was the only man who could comb out all the tangles and knots from Eastern European politics, he was called back to Italy and named the Archbishop of Milan.  During his time as archbishop, he witnessed the growth of the Italian Communists and the growing powers of fascism in his own city.  He was only in Milan for a year when he was summoned to Rome for the conclave after the death of Benedict XV.  He never returned.  At that conclave he was named Pope Pius XI.

By the time he was elected pope, Pius had seen the tragedies and horrors that emerged from wars caused by nationalism – a concern and identification with one’s own country to the detriment of other countries.  Nations struggled for political power as they treated their citizens and soldiers as disposable pawns.  Pope Pius had seen more than what most popes see.  And he knew that the problems which these struggles and wars sought to solve would never be conquered by any worldly power or authority.

It is a tendency of the human heart to seek security, peace, and prosperity in worldly authorities.  This was a problem during the life of Pius XI and it remains a problem today.  This tendency was made evident in the high and tense emotions which surrounded the presidential election.  So many are deeply invested in political leaders and worldly authorities.  Why are they invested?  Because they think that the right leader or the right form of government is going to fix things.  But we have to realize that no worldly authority or political solution is going to solve the persistent problems that plague humanity.  Adultery will remain an issue regardless of who sits in the White House.  Anger and malice will always remain a temptation regardless of who our governor is.  Addictions of all varieties will continue to plague society regardless of who leads our country.  We seek worldly solutions to problems that only God can fix.

Now, I am not saying that politics and elections are not important.  They are very important in moderating society and maintaining justice and the common good.  But what I am saying is that we should not look to political leaders to be our savior.  Only Jesus is our Savior.  Only Jesus is our king and has the rightful claim to authority over our hearts.  From all of his experience in the political sphere Pius XI knew this.  He saw government upon government grasping for power in the search for solutions plaguing the world.  This prompted him to compose the document Quas Primas which introduced the feast day of Christ the King which we celebrate today.  In it he writes:

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. (Quas Primas, 33)

We often treat Jesus as one voice of authority among many.  However, this is not to treat Him as our king.  We have to stop treating Jesus as if He were one voice among many.  He is not a member of congress.  He is not president and head of some executive branch of government.  He is not a prime minister.  He is king.  And He has authority over every aspect of our lives.

To place our minds, wills, hearts, and bodies under the sovereignty of Christ means to live according all of the doctrinal and moral teachings of Jesus mediated through His Church.  The Church is the kingdom of God manifest on earth.  One day at the end of the ages it will be fully purified and fully developed into the Kingdom of God, but right now it is manifested in the Church on earth even though the Church has many blemishes.

The choice is left up to you.  Jesus is a king.  He is not a tyrant.  He invites but does not impose His rule on us.  Yes, one day He will separate the sheep and the goats.  But we are the ones who choose what we will be and where we will stand.  Will you choose to place yourself under His sovereignty or not?  Will you treat Him as one who has supreme authority or as an equal among many voices of authority?  Will you choose to live as a citizen of the Kingdom of God by fully adhering to all the Church’s teachings, even the difficult ones, or will you pick and choose what you want to believe and follow?  The choice is yours.  Jesus Christ is King.  Do not be afraid to give your full allegiance to Him.