October 25, 2015

Feast of Christ the King

Excerpts from Pope Pius XI, Quas Primas (December 11, 1925)

“If We ordain that the whole Catholic world shall revere Christ as King, We shall minister to the need of the present day, and at the same time provide an excellent remedy for the plague which now infects society. We refer to the plague of anti-clericalism, its errors and impious activities. This evil spirit, as you are well aware, Venerable Brethren, has not come into being in one day; it has long lurked beneath the surface. The empire of Christ over all nations was rejected. The right which the Church has from Christ himself, to teach mankind, to make laws, to govern peoples in all that pertains to their eternal salvation, that right was denied. Then gradually the religion of Christ came to be likened to false religions and to be placed ignominiously on the same level with them. It was then put under the power of the state and tolerated more or less at the whim of princes and rulers. Some men went even further, and wished to set up in the place of God's religion, a natural religion, consisting in some instinctive affection of the heart. There were even some nations who thought they
could dispense with God, and that their religion should consist in impiety and the neglect of God. The rebellion of individuals and states against the authority of Christ has produced deplorable consequences. We lamented these in the Encyclical Ubi arcano; we lament them today: the seeds of
discord sown far and wide; those bitter enmities and rivalries between nations, which still hinder so much the cause of peace; that insatiable greed which is so often hidden under a pretense of public spirit and patriotism, and gives rise to so many private quarrels; a blind and immoderate selfishness, making men seek nothing but their own comfort and advantage, and measure everything by these; no peace in the home, because men have forgotten or neglect their duty; the unity and stability of the family undermined; society in a word, shaken to its foundations and on the way to ruin. We firmly hope, however, that the feast of the Kingship of Christ, which in future will be yearly observed, may hasten the return of society to our loving Savior. It would be the duty of Catholics to do all they can to bring about this happy result. Many of these, however, have neither the station in society nor the authority which should belong to those who bear the torch of truth. This state of things may perhaps be attributed to a certain slowness and timidity in good people, who are reluctant to engage in conflict or oppose but a weak resistance; thus the enemies of the Church become bolder in their attacks. But if the faithful were generally to understand that it behooves them ever to fight courageously under the banner of Christ their King, then, fired with apostolic zeal, they would strive to win over to their Lord those hearts that are bitter and estranged from him, and would valiantly defend his rights.

“Moreover, the annual and universal celebration of the feast of the Kingship of Christ will draw attention to the evils which anti-clericalism has brought upon society in drawing men away from Christ, and will also do much to remedy them. While nations insult the beloved name of our Redeemer by suppressing all mention of it in their conferences and parliaments, we must all the more loudly proclaim his kingly dignity and power, all the more universally affirm his rights.

“Nations will be reminded by the annual celebration of this feast, that not only private individuals, but also rulers and princes, are bound to give public honor and obedience to Christ. It will call to their minds the thought of the Last Judgment, wherein Christ, who has been cast out of public life, despised, neglected, and ignored, will most severely avenge these insults; for His Kingly dignity demands that the State should take account of the Commandments of God and of Christian principles, both in making laws and in administering justice, and also in providing for the young a sound moral education.”



More October Pictures


I've updated some pictures on the "about" page HERE

 Eleanor
 Kili
 Kili
 Kili exhausted after so much pictures of me-me-me!
 We went on a great field trip to our local corn maze, the largest in the area. Always a ton of fun.

 We bought someone's cow named "Joy". I knew we needed more joy around here.  Funny it came in the shape of a cow....
 Nice little Jersey


 Ducks & Turks

 Frodo had done a paper not too long ago for his on-line driver's ed on risk factors while driving. Not a couple weeks later the town trucks were driving along with men hanging off the side.  Sheesh.
 Baling cornsalk season

 It is just so hard being 2.  Life can really be tedious. A good cry in a corner does wonders to uplift the spirit...
 Combining soybeans

 We went to a really fun All Saints party.  I ran into our cousin's wife and baby.  He looks just like his dad did when I first met him.  SOO cute.
 Lots and lots of well-organized games and all kinds of fun for the kiddos.



 Here's my St. Paul
 My St Gregory the Great


 My St. Lucy
 Eleanor seems to just full of faces.

 Bonfire
 Prizes
 Saints trail

 Teens in great costumes
 Candy toss


 Litany of the Saints
 Best buddies!

 Kili & Rosie
 Marigold of Green Gables
Yes, she's changed quitea  bit, suddenly her hair was thick and reddish brown. Ok... it's a wig
 Soybeans are cut, ladybugs (or Japenese beetles?) have nothing better to do than invade our porch.
 A friend and our God Baby PIE
 Everyone needs a Kili around to help with various projects...

 Everyone needs a Kili to defend his palace. We might need to put a sign up, beware of 2 year old with sword

 Meat's back on the menu, Boys!
 It was such a beautiful day so we opted to try for some Christmas Photos.  Here is a picture of just the girls.
 Here is a bunch of pictures of trying to get a photo of just the boys....





Out for a pony-horse-cross ride.