The Economy of Pope Pius XI

 

THE SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING: Encyclical letter of Pope Pius XI

The foundation of this power and dignity of our Lord is rightly indicated by Cyril of Alexandria. "Christ," he says, "has dominion over all creatures, a dominion not seized by violence nor usurped, but his by essence and by nature'. His kingship is founded upon the ineffable hypostatic union. From this it follows not only that Christ is to be adored by angels and men, but that to him as man angels and men are subject, and must recognize his empire; by reason of the hypostatic union Christ has power over all creatures. But a thought that must give us even greater joy and consolation is this, that Christ is our king by acquired, as well as by natural right; for he is our Redeemer. Would that they who forget what they have cost their Savior might recall the words: You were not redeemed with corruptible things, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Iamb unspotted and undefiled. We are no longer our own property, for Christ has purchased us with a great price our very bodies are members of Christ.

Let us briefly explain the nature and meaning of this lordship of Christ. It consists, we need scarcely say, in a threefold power which is essential to lordship. This is sufficiently clear from the scriptural testimony already adduced concerning the universal dominion of our Redeemer, and moreover it is a dogma of faith that Jesus Christ was given to man, not only as our Redeemer, but also as a lawgiver, to whom obedience is due. Not only do the gospels tell us that he made laws, but they present him to us in the act of making them. Those who keep them show their love for their divine Master, and he promises that they shall remain in his love. He claimed judicial power as received from his Father, when the Jews accused him of breaking the sabbath by the miraculous cure of a sick man. The Father, instead of passing judgement on any man himself, has left all judgement to the Son. In this power is included the right of rewarding and punishing all men living, for this right is inseparable from that of judging. Executive power, too, belongs to Christ, for all must obey his commands; none may escape them, nor the sanctions he has imposed.

It would be a grave error, on the other hand, to say that Christ has no authority whatever in civil affairs, since by virtue of the absolute empire over all creatures committed to him by the Father, all things are in his power. Nor is there any difference in this matter between the individual and the family or the state; for all men, whether collectively or individually, are under the dominion of Christ. In him is the salvation of the individual, in him is the salvation of society. Salvation is not to be found elsewhere; this alone of all names under heaven has been appointed to men as the one by which we needs must be saved. He is the author of happiness and true prosperity for every man and for every nation. "For a nation is happy when its citizens are happy. What else is a nation but a number of men living in concord?"

Oh, what happiness would be ours if all men, individuals, families and nations, would but let themselves be governed by Christ! "Then at length will many ills be cured; then will the law regain its former authority, peace with all its blessings be restored”.