Christ the King
Feast Day: Last Sunday Before Advent
Most kings wear crowns of gold.
This King wore a crown of thorns.
Most kings sit on thrones.
This King reigned from a Cross.
And yet He is the only King whose kingdom will never end.
Christ the King, reign in our hearts.
A Feast Born in a Troubled Century
In 1925, the world was still recovering from the First World War.
New political movements were rising that wanted to push God out of public life completely.
Pope Pius XI answered with an encyclical called Quas Primas and a new feast: the Kingship of Christ.
His message was simple.
Nations and leaders come and go.
Christ is King of all of them.
“My Kingdom Is Not of This World”
When Pontius Pilate asked Jesus if He was a king, Jesus answered:
“My kingdom is not of this world.”
— John 18:36, Douay-Rheims
Jesus was not running for office.
He did not come with armies.
His kingdom is the reign of God in human hearts, which begins now and is completed in heaven.
The King on the Cross
Above the head of Jesus on the Cross, Pilate placed a sign: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”
Pilate meant it as mockery.
It turned out to be the truest sign ever posted.
One of the thieves crucified next to Jesus saw it:
“Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom.”
— Luke 23:42, Douay-Rheims
And the King answered:
“Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.”
— Luke 23:43, Douay-Rheims
That is how this King rules.
He forgives.
King of Kings
At the end of the Bible, St. John sees Christ returning in glory:
“And he hath on his garment, and on his thigh written: KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
— Revelation 19:16, Douay-Rheims
That is why the Church places this feast at the very end of the liturgical year.
The year ends the way history will end: with Christ reigning over all.
When Is It Celebrated?
Christ the King is a movable feast.
It was first celebrated on the last Sunday of October.
In 1969, Pope St. Paul VI moved it to the last Sunday of the liturgical year, the Sunday just before the First Sunday of Advent.
Its full name is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.
In 2026, it falls on November 22.
In 2027, it falls on November 21.
What Christ the King Teaches Us
This feast asks a personal question.
Who is really in charge of my life?
My schedule?
My phone?
My worries?
Christ does not force His way in.
But He is the only King worth serving, because He is the only King who laid down His life for His people.
When Is the Solemnity of Christ the King?
The Catholic Church celebrates Christ the King on the last Sunday of the liturgical year, the Sunday before the First Sunday of Advent.
Prayer Inspired by Christ the King
Lord Jesus Christ,
You are King of heaven and earth,
yet You reigned from a Cross and wore a crown of thorns.
Reign over our hearts, our homes, and our nations.
Remember us, as You remembered the thief beside You,
and bring us one day into Your kingdom.
Christ the King, reign in our hearts. Amen.
