Evening star., 1926-02-14

To our venerable brothers-pa
triachs. primateS, archbishops. bishops
and other local ordinaries-in peace
and communion with the Apostolic
See.-Pius XI. Pope.
Health and apostolic blessing. We
recall that III the first encyClical let
ters which we addressed to the entire
sacred hierarchy at the beginning of
our pontificate as we enumerated the
chief causes of the calamities with
which we beheld mankind oppressed
and struggling, We said plainly not
only that this deluge of evils had in
vaded the world because SO many NOR
tails had put Jesus Christ and His
most holy law out of their ordinary
life, their domestic relations and pub
lie affairs, but also that the hope of
lasting peace among the nations
and states would never dawn SO long
as individual men and states denied
and excluded the empire of Our
Saviour.
Accordingly. as we gave warning
that the peace of Christ mus, be
sought in the kingdom of Christ, SO
we would do all in our power for this:
in the kingdom OF Christ. we say,
since for re-esta blishing and confirm
ing peace nothing seemed to us more
efficacious than TO work for the resto-
The popular interest either just de-
veloped or far more earnestly aroused.
in Christ and in His Church as the one
means of salvation have stirred with
In us brighter hope of better times:
and it would also appear that many
who despising the principality OF the
Redeemer, as if they had been ban
ished from His kingdom. are ready to
enter again and to perSevere in their
to ha of
Fruits of Holy Year.
Have not the events and accom-
plishments of the holy year, so
worthy to be recorded and remem-
bered. brought the greatest honor and
glory to the Founder of the Church.
Our Lord and Sovereign King. The
public eXpositions of our holy mis-
sions have deeply impressed on the
minds and senses of mankind the in
cessant labors Of the church for the
Kingdom of her Spouse, broadening out
daily to every land and the most dis
Iant islands of the seas; as also the
great number of localities enrolled un-
der the name Catholic by a profusion
of sweat and blood Of most valiant
and indomitable missionaries, and the
yastnesS of the regions still left to be
brought under the benign domination
Of our King.
How very many, besides, during
this holy time. have come from every
where TO the city. led by their prel-
ates and priests. with the one thought
in every mind to profess with souls
truly contrite, at the tomb of the
apostles and in our presence that they
are and that they will remain under
the empire of Christ This very king
dom of Our Savior appeared resplen-
dent with a certain new light as we
with we'll merited praise of their most
distinguished virtues decreed the non
ors of saints in heaven to six con-
fessors and virgins.
Oh, what pleasure filled our soul and
what consolation when, in the ma jestv
of the Petrine temple, after the read
ing of our decreed decision, there
arose the cry from the vast multitude
of the faithful. an act of thanks
giving Thou Christ, King of glory.
Church Goes On.
Whilst men and nations have stray
ed from God. going headlong to their
end and destruction by the raging
flames of envy and internal disturb
ences, the Church of God goes on i'm
parting the food of spiritual life to
the human race, begetting and nour-
ishing one after another most holy
generations of men and women, never
failing, after she has kept them most
faithful and obedient members in the
terrestrial kingdom to proclaim their
eternal beatitude in the Heavenly
Kingdom.
During this jubilee also we ordained
that the most important event, the
sixteen hundredth anniversary of the
Nicene Council, should be joyfully
celebrated, and we commemorated 1t
In the Vatican Basilica since that
council approved and proposed as an
article of Catholic faith that the only
Begotten Son Is one in substance
with the Father, and also inserted in
Its formula of faith or symbol, OF
whose kingdom there will be no end,
thus affirming the royal-dignlty OF
Christ
given an opportunity for illustrating
the kingdom of Christ, we believe we
shall be doing something entirely in
keeping with our apostolical charge
If. in answer to the prayers OF very
many of the faithful. addressed to us
either by individuals, or by groups,
we should close this holy year by
introducing into the ecclesiastical
liturgy a special feast of our Lord
Jesus Christ as king. This subject
matter so delights US that we desire 10
speak of it more at length. venerable
brothers. for it will be your part to
accommodate whtever we shall say
concerning the worship Of Christ as
King to the popular mind and feeling,
so that they may derive, and in future
avail of. very many advantages by
celebrating annually this solemnity.
Figurative Meaning.
That Christ should be styled King
IN the figurative meaning of the word
has long been of common usage. on
account Of the exalted excellence by
which He surpasseS eminently all
created things. Thus it happens that
He is said to reign in the mind of
man, not 50 much because of mental
power or great extent Of knowledge
as because He is very Truth, and
mortal man must necessarily derive
and obediently accept truth from Him.
He reigns likewise in the wills of
men because in Him there is an al.
together perfect integrity and COM
pliance Of the human will 9th the
holiness of the Divine will, and He
10 subjects our free will by His own
influence and impulses as t. make