On Nov. 26, the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe concluded the last Sunday of the 2023 Liturgical year. Throughout the diocese, parishes held processions and other celebrations to mark this feast day.
One of the parishes, Our Lady of Guadalupe in San Bernardino, held two heavily attended processions; one on Sat. Nov. 25 after the 7 pm Mass and one on Sunday. Nov. 26 after the 11 am Mass. Parishioners prepared for the procession by decorating the large Christ the King statue with a fresh rose floral arrangement at His feet. During the procession, members of the Knights of Columbus and other volunteers carried the statue over their shoulders for all to see. The procession was led through the streets of San Bernardino as participants sang, prayed and chanted, “Viva Cristo Rey,” (Hail, Christ the King).
According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the Feast of the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe was first instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925. In a time of growing secularism and atheism, Pope Pius XI responded with an encyclical in which he recognized that attempting to “thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law” out of public life would result in continuing discord among people and nations. “This solemnity reminds us that while governments come and go, Christ reigns as King forever,” said the USCCB.