This weekend throughout the world, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (sometimes simply known as the Solemnity of Christ the King). This relatively new feast day was instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI in response to three challenges facing the Church: secularism, clericalism, and the political turmoil that threatened the independence of the Holy See. This feast also emphasizes two important theological and spiritual components: the coming nativity of the Newborn King at Christmas and the Kingdom of God that will culminate at the end of time.

All of these topics weighed heavily upon the thoughts and prayers of Pope Pius XI during the 1920s. Pius was a scholarly figure. He held three doctoral degrees, was an expert in ancient and medieval manuscripts, and served as a church librarian for almost two decades. As pope, he normalized relations between the Republic of Italy and the Vatican City State; abandoned the Church’s longstanding preference for monarchical governments; and made peace with the rising tide of democracy and egalitarianism around the world. In addition, he harshly criticized both clericalism in the Catholic Church and secularism around the world.

In the encyclical letter entitled “Quas Primas” (which translates as “In the First Place”), Pope Pius XI argues that because Jesus Christ is composed of the same divine substance as God the Father, he necessarily comes first. Christ is sovereign and supreme over all things with absolute dominion over all creation — including all of us. He reminds us of the Lord’s own words: “All power in heaven and earth has been given to me (Matthew 28:18).” In this context, all human beings, especially those who wield civil or ecclesial power, are called to humility and to appreciate that they serve a higher power, not their own narrow interests.

Years later, the theological foundations of the Solemnity of Christ the King would inspire Pope Pius XI to speak out forcefully against fascism and nationalism in Nazi Germany. In 1937, his encyclical letter entitled “Mit Brennender Sorge” (which translates as “With Burning Concern”) was written in German, smuggled into the country, and preached from pulpits nationwide. In this timeless document, Pius XI condemned the paganism of Hitler’s ideology of bigotry, hatred, and racism. And in one striking and haunting passage, he wrote:

“Whoever exalts race, or the people, or the state, or a particular form of the state, or the depositories of power, or any other fundamental value of human community — however neces- sary and honorable be their function in worldly things — whoever raises these notions above their standard value and divinizes them to an idolatrous level, distorts and perverts an order of the world planned and created by God; he is far from the true faith in God and from theconcept of life which that faith upholds.”

Eight decades letter, Pope Pius XI and the Solemnity of Christ the King remind us that there is no place in our world for bigotry, division, and elitism. And there is no place in our church for privilege, power games, or the proverbial passing of the buck. We are all God’s children. We are all God’s family. We are all accountable (especially our bishops and pastors) to Christ the King, who humbled himself, lived among us, suffered for us, died for us, rose from death for the salvation of the world, and calls us to love and to serve without ever counting the cost.

Cliff Garvey
Associate Minister
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: cgarvey@ccgronline.com

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (11-25-18)
Bringing Home the Word (11-25-18)

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