That Christ may reign in all Hearts
‘Vivo Christo Rey!’ Long live Christ the King!
With these words in 1927 after having been falsely accused of an assassination attempt against the President, and without trial, Fr. Miguel–now Blessed Miguel–Pro was executed by firing squad. Before the wall where he was to be shot he made one last request that he be able to pray. This he did, then as the shots fired out he screamed ‘Vivo Christo Rey!’ as he embraced his martyrdom.
‘Long Live Christ the King!’ How much more must we proclaim this great desire that should be on all our lips as we celebrate today’s feast of Christ the King. In our own world fewer and fewer people seem to choose Him as their King, and fewer and fewer young people in particular. Today we are reminded in the liturgy that no matter, Christ will reign, whether others like it or not. The question for me: will He reign for me in my life?
Here in this world He reigns as a shepherd King. This shepherd King leads and rules, not by authoritative edict, not by sword or rod, but by invitation and example. Through His Church we hear His voice – calling us to pray, to sacrifice, calling us to the Holy Mass, calling us to the sacraments, to seek justice, to live charity, to live peace. This King invites His sheep to follow, never forcing, ever patient, always calling. Never does He condemn, though His warnings are clear. His Kingdom is not a kingdom of this world, He tells us, but a Kingdom nonetheless. In this world He leads His sheep by example, laying down His own life for theirs, and bids us follow. He bids that His ‘sheep’ listen to His voice in the voice of the Church and return home with Him. Once home, he binds their wounds–most wonderfully through the sacraments, especially confession–and heals and places them, gently once more, amidst the flock.
But there is another Kingship. This is His Kingship of the world that is not our own. The Kingship of the world beyond time. How will that Kingship appear?
On him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship and men of all people, nations and languages became his servants. ‘I am the Alpha and Omega’ says the Lord God, ‘Who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’
So when we shout ‘Vivo Christo Rey’ two types of Kingship are presented to us: the one where He reigns now, before the end of time, and the time of His final coming, whose time we cannot know.
Now he reigns as Shepherd King – inviting, calling, leading – not by force – but by the power of Truth:
For Thou sayest that I am a King. For this was I born, and for this I came into the world, that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth My voice. (Jn 18:37)
Will we listen? How much do we listen to the Truth? If Truth is Christ in person, am I prepared to die for it, for Him? Before we die for Him, before we die for Christ, there are small proofs that we must give of our fealty to Christ the King.
How much do we still dally with the world – listening to the ABC, reading bad books, wasting time on questionable or immoral sites? Oh, no Father, I only do that a little bit. Here we can put before our mind an image of a sparrow. This little bird is unable to fly off because its leg is tied by a piece of cotton string to the ground. Cut the string, the tiniest filament, and the bird can be free. The string, however, remains tied.
For this is the cost of fealty to Christ the King. I must leave behind myself, my desires, my wants, and walk His Royal Road. And the Royal Road is the road of embracing suffering. Blessed Miguel Pro described it this way:
Does our life become from day to day more painful, more oppressive, more replete with sufferings? Blessed be He a thousand times who desires it so. If life be harder, love makes it also stronger, and only this love, grounded on suffering, can carry the Cross of my Lord, Jesus Christ.
Alas, in our comfortable world, in a world of instagram and image and spending, suffering has become a dirty word. And because even Catholics have ascribed to this way of life, the Apostasy rages. It will not do so forever.
Soon–and forever–He will come, no longer as the Shepherd King, no longer calling and inviting, but rather as Him who reigns. At that moment there will no longer be any time, and those who will not serve will be lost. As the Gradual said: ‘He shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. And all kings shall adore Him, all nations shall serve Him.’ (Ps, 71:8,11)
If we are to walk with Him when He calls, we must learn ways to conquer ourselves, train ourselves in the spiritual life, such that denying ourselves and serving Him will be possible. We can begin with regular meditation. To that we might add penance. Our Lady spoke precisely of this at Fatima. We must reject the ‘softness’ of our world and its lies.
There was nothing soft about the men and women who became the Cristeros martyrs. Perhaps you’ve seen the film. One day I hope you might take up their history and read of their heroic lives, fighting the Freemasons who had infiltrated Mexico and were depriving Catholics of the Sacraments of Holy Church. Ordinary men and women took up the fight to see Christ reign, not just in the future, but in their own lives, and sometimes at the cost of those same lives. The accounts of the massacre of thousands of people for Christ is not pleasant reading, but, it does make us think: How much do I want to see Christ reign? What would I be prepared to do in order to receive the sacraments? Here are just a few examples – and these of young people.
José Sanchez was 13. 13! In February 1928 he was surrounded by the Federales, the army of the Masonic Government. He gave up his horse to the group leader who was wounded and covered that leader’s retreat. Running out of ammunition, he was captured. “Know it well,” he said, “I am not surrendering, I have merely run out of ammo.” He was slaughtered. A note was found in his pocket: “My dearest Mom: Here I am a captive, and they are going to kill me. I am happy. The only thing that troubles me is that you are going to cry. Don’t cry. We shall meet again.” Signed, José, killed for Christ the King.
Tomasino was a member of the executive committee of the ACJM (Mexican Catholic Youth Association) and prefect of the congregation of Mary. Arrested, he was offered his freedom if he talked. ‘Really,’ he said, ‘you would be making a mistake: free, I would continue to fight for Christ the King. For us, the fight for our freedom of worship is not optional.’ In August 1927, he was hanged. He was 17.
Manuel Bonilla, a student, kept a daily diary:
I well know that, to do great things, God uses littler ones, and that help does not come whence we were expecting it…I trust in God’s goodness: all these sacrifices will not be in vain.
He was shot at 22 years of age, on Good Friday, 1927, at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. In 1942, when unearthed, his body was discovered perfectly intact.
Well may St. Paul have said to them as he said in today’s Epistle: ‘Brethren: giving thanks to God the Father, Who hath made [you] worthy to be partakers of the lot of the Saints in light.’ (Col 1:12)
Vivo Christo Rey! Will I allow Christ to reign in my heart? Will I lay down everything that I have in this world that I might gain His reign freely in the next? Or will I refuse, either deliberately, or by softness?
And to our young people. Will you stand up for Christ? Age is no problem. In fact it might be your greatest advantage. These young martyrs were 13, 17, 22 years of age.
For if I allow Him to reign, first in my heart, a little more this day, then in this way I can prepare to advance that glorious reign which is coming where He will come to cast away every shadow and darkness, and peace shall be its fruit. May He come soon!
Vivo Christo Rey! Long Live Christ the King!