The Feast of Christ the King and Family Life

by Winston and Debbie Garcia, Executive Couple of the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission

Pope Pius XI established the Feast of Christ the King in 1925. He introduced the feast as an antidote to secularism, to remedy the way people were living - as if Jesus Christ simply did not exist!

The feast, intended to proclaim in a striking and effective manner, Christ's royalty over individuals, families, society, governments and nations is celebrated on the last Sunday of Ordinary Time (immediately preceding Advent), where its theme of Christ's dominion made it a fitting end to the liturgical year.

A way of life, which leaves God out of one's thinking and living, troubled Pope Pius back in 1925, and now is being perfected by modern man and is destroying Family Life in particular and society in general.

When Christ is King...

According to the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II, The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World ( Familiaris Consortio ), "The Church is deeply convinced that only by the acceptance of the Gospel are the hopes that man legitimately places in marriage and in the family capable of being fulfilled".

In other words, only when Gospel values form the foundation on which marriages and relationships are built will people's expectations of marriage and the family become a living reality. It follows then that in accepting the Gospel, Jesus Christ must become our greatest influence to rule and triumph in us as King, giving married couples and families the power and grace to faithfully live out their vocations with one another.

What are the benefits of living under the Kingship of Jesus Christ? In St Paul's letter to the Galatians, he instructs them of the immeasurable returns of such living, which include the virtues many find illusive - those of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22 -23). They form the very well-spring of necessary tools essential for building healthy families.

When Christ is not King .

In his writings to the Galatians, St Paul presents the outcome of life without Christ when he states " The works of the flesh are plain: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissentions, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing and the like " (Gal 5:19-21). These characterise human behaviour when Christ is not enthroned as King of our hearts.

When Christ is not King of our individual hearts or of our families, things invariably break down, to the point of collapse and ruin, sometimes, irreconcilable ruin. Back in 1994, on our Engaged Encounter weekend, the staggering statistics were shared with us, namely that two out of three marriages fail.

God without man is God, but man without God is nothing and it is out of this nothingness that society perpetuates a culture of brokenness, which is responsible for moral and spiritual decay in the family and society.

Conquer my heart, Lord..

"Conquer my heart, Lord!" should be the cry of every person seeking to make sense of his/her life. For it is only by God's intervention through personal invitation, will He have that opportunity to come in and establish His sovereignty over our thoughts, words and deeds and begin His repair work in us.

God expresses this desire to reign in us when he tells us through His holy word, " Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to Him and eat with Him, and He with me " (Revelation 3:20). Under the dominion of the all-powerful Jesus Christ we become empowered to do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Practical steps to take...

Consider these three practical steps to making Christ the King of your family:

•  Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - St Joseph 's Covenant Keepers is a ministry to men and families that exhorts men to enthrone a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a prominent place in the home. In doing so, the father of the home, gathers his family and friends and pledges to strive to make his heart like the heart of Jesus and to lead his family under the Kingship of Christ. This can take place especially on birthdays or wedding anniversaries.

•  Family Prayer - Family prayer is prayer offered in common e.g. husband and wife, parents and children together. Set aside a special day and time for family prayer. Develop a routine and stick to it! The Second Vatican Council recommended the recitation of the Divine Office in common for the family. Attend Holy Mass and the sacraments, joyfully entering into the celebrations together.

•  Word-centred Family Life - Develop a culture of reading and discussing the Word of God as a family. This could take the form of stories, scripture reading, quizzes, discussing how bible principles can be applied to everyday living. Reflect together on the readings for weekend Mass before going to church.

In 2005 we celebrate the feast of Christ the King on Sunday, November 20, so let us use this time to truly reflect on: i) Is Christ truly King of our hearts? ii) What happens when Christ is King/not King? and iii) Are we allowing Christ to conquer our hearts and homes daily?

Prayer - An Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King ( Iesu dulcissime, Redemptor )

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before you. We are yours, and yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with you, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to your Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known you; many, too, despising your precepts, have rejected you. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your Sacred Heart. Be King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken you, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbour of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Grant, O Lord, to your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give tranquility of order to all nations; make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honour for ever. Amen.

Prayer Source: Enchiridion of Indulgences , June 29, 1968