Christ the King (and Donald Trump)
October 30, 2016
THIS Sunday, when Catholics observe the Feast of Christ the King, which recognizes the sacred truth that Jesus Christ has royal prerogatives not just over the hearts of men, but over the social order too, is a fitting occasion to pray for the election of Donald Trump.
It may seem contradictory. Trump is not a saint. And it’s not as if he is going to install a Catholic government. He isn’t even Catholic. But he is something of a miracle. After the intense destruction of the Obama presidency, God sent us someone with the strength to battle the hydra of globalism and the fanatical intolerance of political correctness. I have gained much respect for Trump, despite all his weaknesses, and will vote for him without hesitation next week. He is still standing after being attacked relentlessly. His enemies are our enemies. (His enemies include, by the way, the most dangerous man on the planet — the false pontiff, “Pope” Francis. See details of his latest interview here. How can any Catholic who is not in a coma listen to Francis-talk and still mistake this man for one of the faithful, let alone a “Pope?”)
Trump stands between us and the despotism of an extremely evil woman who chillingly champions the killing of even late-term infants in the womb; wants the further erasure of American borders and sovereignty; is a proven crook; has every intention of creating her dream socialist utopia by force; speaks of launching military attacks in response to cyber attacks and is openly provoking the world’s second major nuclear power.
While he may not make America great, he could make it better and prevent it from becoming a living hell. Let’s pray that the immense popularity Donald Trump enjoys is honored at the polls one week from Tuesday, and he becomes our next president.
[Update: Another sermon by Father William Jenkins on the election can be found here. He discusses what he believes is the possibility of civil war and the subsequent establishment of martial law.”These are things that should make us pray. … We need to be very, very concerned about the point where the country stands now.” He also further discusses — and justifies — voting for “the lesser of two evils.” He suggests we have a moral obligation to vote for Trump.]
— Comments —
Dan R. writes:
I was chatting about your blog post of today and was told by a Catholic convert that the Feast is actually later in November, before Advent. Checking with another source, I read the following at a Catholic website:
In Quas Primas, Pius XI established the celebration of the feast “on the last Sunday of the month of October—the Sunday, that is, which immediately precedes the Feast of All Saints.” He tied it to All Saints Day because “before celebrating the triumph of all the Saints, we proclaim and extol the glory of him who triumphs in all the Saints and in all the Elect.” With the revision of the Church’s liturgical calendar in 1969, however, Pope Paul VI moved the Feast of Christ the King to the final Sunday of the liturgical year—that is, the last Sunday before the First Sunday of Advent. As such, it is a moveable feast; the date changes every year.
When Is the Feast of Christ the King This Year?
I am not Catholic, so was wondering why the difference in the dates? The thought that occurred to me was that possibly it bore some similarity to the divide between pre- and post-Vatican II. Any information would be appreciated.
Laura writes:
Thanks for the question. I should have mentioned that while Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast on the last Sunday of October, the date was changed by the Vatican II Church. I still observe the original date, as do other Catholics who reject the Novus Ordo.
