9781644135945

The Light of the World
God “hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have received
redemption through His blood, the remission of sins” (Epistle). Through Christ we receive the
life of grace and become children of God; we acquire power over the world, the flesh, and our
evil passions; we achieve victory over Satan and the eternal death of hell; we receive freedom
of the spirit and heart through the possession of the divine life and sanctifying grace. Thus, too,
we acquire a right to share in the kingdom of eternal glory. We give “thanks to God the Father,
who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light; who hath delivered us
from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, . . .
who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature. For in Him were all things
created in heaven and on earth; . . . all things were created by Him and in Him” (Epistle). All
that the universe contains of wonder and beauty is His, and was created by Him and in Him.
He is the true Master of the will and minds of men, of their bodies and souls, their thoughts,
inclinations, and desires. Heaven and earth, spirit and body, belong to Him. He has the power
and the right to use all earthly things in the service of His spiritual kingdom. “He may hold the
primacy; because in Him it hath well pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell” (Epistle).
The man Jesus Christ is the King. May He rule over me also, over my thoughts, my will, and
my whole being. I adore Him, I serve Him, and seek only that which He wishes and desires.
We rejoice with the Church that the Father has made Him the King and Lord of all things.
“Ask of Me,” the Father says to Christ, “and I will give Thee the Gentiles for Thy inheritance,
the utmost parts of the earth for Thy possession” (Offertory).
The Lord is King. He rules and guides His kingdom, the Church, and supports our souls
with a strong arm. The hostile powers will fight in vain against His kingdom. “Fear not, little
flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom” (Lk 12:32). We consecrate ourselves
and all we possess to Christ the King.
Christus vincit; Christus regnat; Christus imperat.
Christ conquers; Christ reigns; Christ commands.
Prayer
Almighty and eternal God, who hast willed to restore all things through Thy beloved Son, the
King of the universe, graciously grant that all the families of the Gentiles separated by the wound
of sin may be subjected to His most loving dominion. Who with Thee liveth and reigneth
forever and ever. Amen.
November 1, Feast of All Saints
Gaudeamus! “Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating a feast in honor of all the saints, at whose
solemnity the angels rejoice and join in praising the Son of God” (Introit). Today we rejoice with
the angels and saints in praising Christ, the “King of all the saints.” We rejoice in the knowledge
that we belong to the communion of saints through our membership in the body of Christ.
“I saw a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples,
and tongues, standing before the throne and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes,
and palms in their hands; and they cried with a loud voice, saying: Salvation to our God, who
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