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The Time After Pentecost
Together with her divine Son, she has given us salvation and an abundance of grace. She stands
even today at the throne of God as our advocate and our all-powerful intercessor, armed with
irresistible intercessory power, the mother of all those who are in the state of sanctifying grace.
We renew our faith in the mystery of Mary’s divine motherhood. “Hail, Mary, full of grace, the
Lord is with thee.” God is thy child, having taken His humanity from thy flesh.
“Come over to me . . . and be filled with my fruits,” for it is Christ Jesus whom I give you.
He was first given to us when we were reborn through baptism; He is given to us today at Mass
and Holy Communion: “Hath He not also with Him given us all things?” (Rom 8:32.) Since
Mary has given us all things through Christ, we today express our gratitude to her.
Prayer
O God, who didst will that at the message of the angel Thy Word should take flesh in the womb
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant to Thy suppliants that we who believe her to be truly the
Mother of God, may be aided by her intercession with Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Feast of Christ the King
Today is a day of thanksgiving to the Father for having made His Son the King and Lord of all
things. It is a day of homage to the God-man, Jesus Christ, to whom is given all power in heaven
and on earth. “He shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river [Euphrates] to the ends of the
earth. And all kings of the earth shall adore Him; all nations shall serve Him” (Gradual). We,
too, adore and serve Him today and forever.
“I am a King.” One of the great events in the history of mankind was the appearance of Jesus
before the representative of the pagan Roman empire. “Art Thou the King of the Jews?” Pilate
asked Him; and later, “Art Thou a King then?” Jesus answered him, “Thou sayest that I am a
King. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world, that I should give testimony to
the truth.” But He also assured Pilate “My kingdom is not of this world” (Gospel). His is the
kingdom of God, in which the sick are healed, the blind receive their sight, and the oppressed
are freed. His is the kingdom of God which destroys the power of Satan and sin, which gives
us divine life, divine freedom, and divine gifts. His is “a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom
of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace” (Preface): the joyful kingdom of
God in our soul. Christ’s divine kingdom consists of the personal presence of God within us,
governing our thoughts, our intellect, our will, our whole spiritual life, through our union with
Christ our head. The kingdom of God has been brought by Jesus upon this earth. He established
it through His doctrines, His example, and especially through His death on the cross. He is the
Ruler of this kingdom; He makes its laws and commandments. God “hath given all judgment
to the Son” ( Jn 5:22), “that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in
heaven, on earth, and under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus
Christ is in the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:10 f.). Joyfully we adore Him; for “the Lamb
that was slain [on the cross] is worthy to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength,
and honor. To Him be glory and empire forever and ever” (Introit). “The Lord shall sit a King
forever. The Lord will bless His people with peace” (Communion).
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