This feast was instituted by Pope Pius XI in the Holy Year of 1925 to salute the Author and Founder of the Church as “King and Lord” and “King of Kings.” The Pope said that “when once men recognise, both in private and in public life, that Christ is King, society will at last receive the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace and harmony.”
Epistle – Colossians i. 12‒20
Brethren, give thanks to God the Father who has made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light. Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the remission of sins. Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature. For in Him were all things created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and in Him. And He is before all, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the Church, who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all things He may hold the primacy. Because in Him, it has well pleased the Father, that all fulness should dwell. And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace through the blood of His cross, both as to the things that are on earth, and the things that are in heaven.Thanks be to God.
Gospel – John xviii. 33‒37
At that time, Pilate therefore went into the hall again, and called Jesus, and said to Him: “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus answered: “Do you say this by youryself, or have others told it to you of me?” Pilate answered: “Am I a Jew? Your own nation, and the chief priests, have delivered you up to me: what have you done?” Jesus answered: “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now my kingdom is not from here.”Praise be to you, O Christ.
