Christ the King Above All Nations

by Fr. John Granato  |  11/23/2025  |  Words from Fr. John

My Dear Friends,

There's been a lot of talk about kings lately, both real kings and pseudo kings. In 1776 the colonists overthrew King George III of England and we began a country of the United States under a political system that is known as a Constitutional Republic. It has survived for 249 years (next July is the 250th birthday of our country) under both good and bad presidents, good and bad congressmen and good and bad senators. It has survived through countless wars, including a civil war. It has had its fair share of good and bad governors as well. We have been blessed in this country despite some of its moral failings, both historical as well as current moral failings.

Even though our country began under a violent act (the Revolutionary War) and has engaged in other violent acts throughout its history, whether legitimate (World War II) or illegitimate (other wars and political assassinations and racial acts of violence), we as a people must put aside our differences and learn to respect one another in peaceful forms of protest. Jesus himself was a victim of political and religious acts of violence, which led to his death on a cross. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, but being a lamb, he is also the lion of Judah, and his resurrection is the glory of God redeeming his people. Jesus rightfully takes his place as King, being a Son of David and the rightful heir to David's throne.

He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, but he is not only King of the Universe, as our feast tells us today, but he is also the King of our hearts and the King of our lives. All peoples and nations are called to give him homage as the King of this world for he has defeated the prince of this world, Satan the great deceiver. Pope Pius XI instituted the feast of Christ the King for that very reason in the 1920's when the rise of fascism and communism were seeking to destroy the faith. Countries such as Russia, Germany, Spain, Japan and Mexico went through revolutions.

Pope Pius XI, in placing the feast of Christ the King on the last Sunday in October, recognized the danger of these movements and called upon the Christian faithful to take back the month of October that the communists co-opted and call upon Jesus Christ as our sovereign ruler. Today, all Christians are called to give allegiance to Jesus Christ's kingship. No country is perfect and no political system is perfect, but we have perfection in the one King and one Ruler who is above all kings and all rulers. He is the one ruler who truly allows all people to live in true freedom.

God bless!