SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22
SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE
Plenary indulgence can be obtained on that day (under usual conditions) See below for prayer.
Novena to Christ the King
taken from
http://www.catholictradition.org/Christ/cking-feast4.htm
MEDITATION
JESUS began his public life by announcing His Kingdom. “The Kingdom of God is at hand! Reform your lives and believe in the Gospel!” [Mk 1:14]. The Kingdom of God is primarily spiritual. Its final realization consists in the union of all the blessed in the possession of God in Heaven.
Entrance into this Kingdom comes through the acceptance of the Gospel message by faith and the receiving of Baptism. Christ’s Kingdom is not a worldly kingdom. The name by which the Kingdom of God is most commonly called is the Catholic Church. It is at once Divine and human; on earth and in Heaven. Small as a mustard seed in its beginning, it was destined to become catholic, that is, to embrace all the earth or to be universal. This concept of the Catholic Church as the one universal Kingdom of God makes it evident that there can be only one true Church, just as there can be only one true Kingdom of God.
The Church is Jesus Christ, living on and acting in the world through His duly authorized ministers, until the end of time. He gave to His Church a form, an organization which would enable it to carry on His work on earth —–to teach, to rule, and to administer to the souls of men.
Membership in the Kingdom of God is the most precious thing that a person can possess. We must regard it as a pearl beyond price and gratefully sacrifice for this gift.
Jesus Christ is our King —–all things have been created in Him, through Him, and for Him and as the Son, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, He is the perfect image of God.
It is of faith that Jesus Christ, as Man, has the fullest spiritual power, leading to salvation, establishing the Church and her Sacraments, and disposing of all graces in the supernatural order. In virtue of the union of His human nature with the Divine, He possesses still greater power, which is the foundation of His Kingship.
We, as individuals, must strive to be subject to Christ the King most perfectly, in mind, will, and heart, because we were purchased at the price of His Own Precious Blood. Christ must be King of the home and all human society.
NOVENA PRAYERS
JESUS, Thou didst declare that Thy Kingdom is upon the earth, but not of the earth; it is a spiritual, supernatural Kingdom, the Kingdom of truth. It fights with the power of conviction, and conquers by this means the hearts that by right belong to it. Thou Thyself art witness to this truth, and Thou Thyself art the Truth.
Jesus, I believe that Thou art truly a King because Thou hast come into the world to institute among people the rule of God; every person who is of the truth, who believes in God and recognizes His authority in human affairs, owes Thee a loyal and undivided allegiance and “hears Thy voice.”
As a Catholic I am a member of Thy Kingdom, and Thou art my King. To Thee I owe loyalty, obedience, and love. Help me to carry out these most sacred duties toward Thee. I wish to be “of the truth ” that is “a child of God” and gladly to hear Thy voice and follow Thee in all things. I accept Thee as my King and submit to Thy authority.
Reign supremely in my heart and in my life. Thy reign is heavenly peace; Thy law is love. Help me to pray and work that Thy Kingdom may come into every soul, every family, every nation.
Jesus, since I honor Thee as my King, I come to Thee with great confidence, asking Thee to grant this special favor, if it be Thy holy Will:
(Mention your request).
Lord Jesus Christ, my King, I adore Thee as the Son of God, and through the prayers of Thy most loving Mother I beg of Thee, send me from out of the abundance of Thy loving Heart the grace of the Holy Spirit in order that He may enlighten my ignorance, purify and sanctify my sinful heart, and confirm me in Thy holy love. This I request through the love of the Father and the Holy Spirit, through Thine infinite mercy, and through the merits of all Thy Saints. Amen.
Consecration
CHRIST, Jesus, I acknowledge Thee as King of the universe. All that has been made has been created for Thee. Make full use of Thy rights over me.
I renew the promises I made in Baptism when I renounced Satan and all his pomps and works. I promise to live a good Christian life. Especially, I undertake to help, to the extent of my means, to secure the triumph of the rights of God and of Thy Church. Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer Thee my poor efforts so that all hearts may acknowledge Thy sacred Royalty and the Kingdom of Thy peace may be established throughout the entire universe. Amen.
Citations on the Kingship of Christ from Scripture
“I Myself have set up My King on Zion, My holy mountain You are My Son; this day I have begotten You. Ask of Me and I will give You the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall rule them.” -Ps 2:6-9 – “The Lord God will give Him the throne of David His father. He shall be King over the house of Jacob forever and His Kingdom will be without end.” -Lk 1 :32-33
“The Kingdom of God is at hand! Reform your lives and believe in the Gospel!” -Mk 1:14
“My Kingdom is not of this world. At this Pilate said to Him, ‘So, then, You are a king?’ Jesus replied: ‘You are right in saying I am a King. The reason I was born, the reason why I came into the world, is to testify to the truth.’ ” -Jn 18:36-39
LITANY OF CHRIST THE KING
Lord, have mercy on us,
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us,
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
God, our Heavenly Father,
Who has made firm for all ages your Son’s Throne,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Jesus,
our Victim-High Priest, True Prophet, and Sovereign King,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us with abundant newness,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity,
Three Persons yet One God in the Beauty of Your Eternal Unity,
Have mercy on us.
O Jesus, our Eternal King,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, Most Merciful King,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, extending to us the Golden Scepter of Your Mercy,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, in Whose Great Mercy we have been given the Sacrament of Confession,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, Loving King Who offers us Your Healing Grace,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, our Eucharistic King,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, the King foretold by the prophets,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King of Heaven and earth,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King and Ruler of All Nations,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, Delight of the Heavenly Court,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King Most Compassionate toward Your subjects,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King from Whom proceeds all authority,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, in whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, we are One,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King Whose Kingdom is not of this world,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King Whose Sacred Heart burns with Love for all mankind,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King Who is the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King Who has given us Mary, the Queen, to be our dear Mother,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King Who will come upon the clouds of Heaven with Power and Great Glory,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King Whose Throne we are to approach with confidence,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King Who made Mary the Mediatrix of All Graces,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King Who made Mary Co-Redemptrix, Your partner in the Plan of Salvation,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King Who desires to heal us of all division and disunity,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King wounded by mankind’s indifference,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King Who gives the balm of Your Love with which to console Your Wounded Heart,
Reign in our hearts.
O Jesus, King Who is the Great I AM within us, our Wellspring of Pure Delight,
Reign in our hearts.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
True Sovereign of all earthly powers,
May we serve You.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
subjecting under Your feet forever the powers of hell ,
May we serve You.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
the Light beyond all light, enlightening us in the darkness that surrounds us,
May we serve You.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
Whose Mercy is so Great as to mitigate the punishments our sins deserve,
May we serve You.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
recognized by the Magi as the True King,
May we serve You.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
the Only Remedy for a world so ill,
May we serve You.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
Who blesses with Peace those souls and nations that acknowledge You as True King,
May we serve You.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
Who Mercifully sends us your Holy Angels to protect us,
May we serve You.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
Whose Chief Prince is Saint Michael the Archangel,
May we serve You.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
Who teaches us that to reign is to serve,
May we serve You.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
Just Judge Who will separate the wicked from the good,
May we serve You.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
before Whom every knee shall bend,
May we serve You.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
Whose Dominion is an everlasting Dominion,
May we serve You.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
Lamb who will Shepherd us,
May we serve You.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
Who after having destroyed every sovereignty,
Authority and power,
will hand over the Kingdom to Your God and Father,
May we serve You.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
Whose Reign is without end,
May we serve You.
Jesus, King of All Nations,
Whose kindness toward us is steadfast,
and whose fidelity endures forever,
May we serve You.
Eternal Father,
Who has given us Your Only Begotten Son,
to be our Redeemer, One True Mediator,
and Sovereign King,
We praise and thank You.
Loving Jesus, Sovereign King,
Who humbled Yourself for Love of us
and took the form of a servant,
We praise and thank You.
Holy Spirit, Third Person of the Trinity,
Love of the Father and the Son,
Who sanctifies us and gives us Life,
We praise and thank You.
Mary, our Queen and Mother,
who mediates to Jesus on our behalf, Pray for us.
Mary, our Queen and Mother,
through whom all Graces come to us,
Pray for us.
Mary, our Queen and Mother,
Singular Jewel of the Holy Trinity,
We love You.
Holy Angels and Saints of our Divine King,
Pray for us and Protect us.
Amen.
A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who piously recite the Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King. A plenary indulgence is granted, if it is recited publicly on the feast of our Lord Jesus Christ King. (Nov. 22, 2015)
Prayer:
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before you. We are yours, and yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with you, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to your Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known you; many, too, despising your precepts, have rejected you. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your Sacred Heart. Be King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken you, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you; grant that they may quickly return to their Father’s house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Grant, O Lord, to your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give tranquility of order to all nations; make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor for ever. Amen.
Prayer Source: Enchiridion of Indulgences , June 29, 1968
