October 31st, 2010: Feast of Christ the King!

It seems a strange irony for this great feast day to coincide with the eve of All Saints', a day that has been terribly saecularized  in the last century.  If only the recognition of Our Lord's reign over the universe would receive the same priority as the satisfying of sweet-tooths (sweet teeth?) on this last Sunday of October.  If only images of Christ the King appeared in more homes this day than jack o'lanterns and nylon spider webs.  If only more people would process behind a statue of Christ singing hyms of love and praise than people processing in costumes from door to door looking for candy...

  It's human and natural to enjoy ourselves -- in wholesome ways, and the tradition of holding harvest parties through October and November is perfectly wonderful.  We're all about pumpkins and corn stalks, and even love a spooky ghost story at our house.  But I just wish the Feast of All Saints every year -- and the Feast of Christ the King this year were not so eclipsed by worldly revelry, too often (consciously or unconsciously) redolent of witchcraft and satanism. And, geezlouise, I wish people didn't think that my saying this was just me being an old party-pooper, or puritanical religious zealot of some kind.  =sigh=  If you know us, I hope you know better.  We just like to have the kind of fun that heaven joins in on.

God Bless everyone on this day; wherever you go and whatever you do, bring Christ the King with you.

Viva Christo Rey!   

* This Day in the Liturgical Year
On this Double of the First Class Feast of the Sovereign Kingship of Jesus Christ ( Christ the King Sunday), celebrated on the last Sunday of October (the Sunday before the Feast of All Saints ) and initiated in 1925 by His Holiness Pius XI in his Encyclical Quas Primas, there follows after the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass a Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. All kneel in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and, with the priest, recite the following consecration; then the Litany of Christ the King and Benediction. Those in the state of Sanctifying Grace by making a good Confession within eight days and worthily receiving Holy Communion receive a plenary indulgence in praying the following Consecration :

Consecration of the Human Race

to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

on the Solemnity of the

Sovereign Kingship of Jesus Christ

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thine altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but, to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy most Sacred Heart.

Many indeed have never known Thee; many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to Thy Father's house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.

Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism, and refuse not to draw them into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy towards the children of the race, once Thy chosen people: of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may it now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of life.

Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: "Praise be to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor for ever." Amen.

* The Litany of the Sacred Heart can be found here.

* A family procession  is a wonderful and traditional way of celebrating a great feast.  You can find ideas for a Christ the King procession here. (H/T: Catholic Culture)

* Great Craft (and an easy one for Mom to prepare) to celebrate the day here. (H/T:  Family in Feast and Feria).

* Plans for a Party!  for the Feast of Christ the King can be found here.  Though the plans are for an all-out affair and there's not much time to whip anything up very elaborate on the day of the Feast, some of the game ideas can be used at home with the family on short notice.    And, now is the time to start thinking about next year if a large affair might be in our plans. (H/T: The Domestic Church)

* And there are a host of ideas, including desserts and "crown crafts" at this site -- which also has a beautifully written article about the Feast of Christ the King and its connection with Advent.