Dear Friends in Christ our King,
This year, we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the promulgation of the encyclical Quas Primas by Pope Pius XI, instituting the feast of the Kingship of Christ, so dear to the heart of the Institute.
We recall Christ’s words before Pilate: “My Kingdom is not of this world.” Christ’s Kingdom is spiritual, and as St. Thomas Aquinas teaches, it can be understood in three ways. First, it is the Kingdom of Heaven itself: it is the eternal gathering of angels and saints. Second, it is the reign of Christ within our souls through grace, by which we already begin to share in heavenly life while still on earth. Third, it is His visible Kingdom on earth, the Catholic Church, which labors to teach, sanctify, and guide souls toward eternal salvation.
Because Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world, the state exists to safeguard man’s higher calling rather than dominate it, respecting God’s law above all. Yet we live in times when society often rejects Christ’s reign. This should not lead us to discouragement, but rather to greater zeal. We must first promote His Kingdom within ourselves through prayer, the liturgy, and the sacraments, and then extend it to others by sacrifices, spiritual works of mercy, and by giving witness to Christian virtue in our daily lives.
Finally, Christ extends His reign through the priesthood. Priests are called to administer the sacraments, preach the truth, and direct souls to holiness. We must pray for priestly vocations, support seminarians, and provide generously for their formation so that Christ’s Kingdom may spread in a world so desperately in need.