The Solemness of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe, earlier referred to as “Christ the King,” was constituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 to counter secularism, a way of life which leaves out God from man’s thoughts and life and seeks to organize his life as if God does not exist. The feast that is celebrated intends to promulgate in a striking and effectual manner Christ’s royalty over individuals, families, civilizations and governments.
The titles for Christ’s royalty  over men are established as:1. Christ the Creator of the universe is God and hence has supreme power over all  things that were created by Him;2. Christ is our Redeemer, He acquisitioned us by His precious Blood and has made us His  asset and possession;3. Christ – Head of the Church holds the primacy in all things;4. God bestowed upon Christ the nations of the world as His special possession and dominion.
The qualities of Christ’s kingdom are:1. Supreme- extending over all people, including their princes and kings;2. Universal- extending over all nations and all places; 3. Eternal- as “The Lord shall sit as King forever.”4. Spiritual- Christ’s “Kingdom is not of this world.”
A Brief HistoryIn 1925, Pope Pius XI constituted the “Feast of Christ the King”’ for the universal church, in his encyclical Quas Primas. He associated the increasing denial of Christ as king to the emergence of secularism throughout most of Europe. During the period of Quas Primas, many Christians dictatorships in Europe, saw Catholics being drawn towards these earthly leaders. These dictators frequently attempted to assert their influence over the Church. The Feast of Corpus Christi was especially instituted when devotion to the Eucharist was shrinking, the Feast of Christ the King was also instituted at a time when respect for Christ and the Church was declining, thus, the feast was needed to change the trend.Pope Pius expected the institution of the feast would trigger the following: 1. That nations would recognise the Church’s right to immunity and freedom from the state (Quas Primas, 32).2. That nations and leaders would realise that they are bound to respect Christ (Quas Primas, 31).3. That the faithful would draw strength and courage from the feast celebrations, as it would  serve as a reminder that Christ must reign in our hearts, minds, wills, and bodies (Quas Primas, 33).
Today also, a similar mistrust of authority exists and the problem has gotten worse. Individualism has become extreme, so much so, that for many, the only authority is the individual self. The thought of Christ as leader is discarded in such a stoutly individualistic system. Also, many shy away at the thought of kings and queens, deeming them to be outdated    and possibly oppressive. Some even snub the titles of “King” and “Lord” for Christ Jesus as they consider that these titles are borrowed from the oppressive systems of government. However, these statements may have some truth in them (some monarchs have been oppressive), these individuals miss out on the point that Christ’s kingship is one of humility and service. Jesus knew of the oppressive nature of so called secular kings, and in sharp contrast to them, He associated His task as king to humble service, and He ordered his followers to be servants, as well. In the Scriptures, his kingdom is linked to His suffering and death. While Christ comes to judge the nations, His teachings elucidate a kingdom of judgment and justice balanced with radical love, peace, mercy and forgiveness. The celebration of Christ as King, is not the celebration of an oppressive ruler, but one who willing died for humanity and whose “loving-kindness endures forever.” Christ is the king that grants us true freedom, freedom in Him. Thus, Jesus Christ radically transformed and redefined the whole notion of kingship.Christ the King Sunday was earlier celebrated on the last Sunday of October, however after the calendar reforms of 1969, the feast is celebrated on the last Sunday of the Ordinary Time- the Sunday before Advent. It is most appropriate that the feast celebrating Christ’s kingship is observed right before Advent, at a time when we liturgically await the promised Messiah (King).

-Rodney D’Silva