The Archdiocese of Detroit is recognizing the Solemnity of Christ the King this month and looking ahead to Advent as well as the fifth anniversary of Synod 16. 

They posted on Facebook, saying, “Jesus tells us, ‘My kingdom does not belong to this world.’ Rather, Jesus comes to usher in the fullness of God’s kingdom through an everlasting reign in unity with the Father. We celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King on the final Sunday of the liturgical year, looking toward Advent as the season of preparing ourselves to receive God on earth through Jesus. Recalling that He is our King of Kings, let us allow Jesus to come into our lives each day, reigning over our minds and hearts. This Solemnity of Christ the King, we celebrate the fifth anniversary of Synod 16.”

The Solemnity of Christ the King is celebrated each year on the last Sunday of the liturgical calendar. It was established by Pope Pius XI in the 1920s. After World War I ended, much of Europe was in shambles. The stability of monarchies was crumbling, and as people suffered from economic disaster, unemployment and starvation, they gravitated toward the messages of dictators. Pope Pius XI sought to remind Catholics that although countries’ governments will rise and fall, the reign of Christ is forever.

Also mentioned in their post was Advent. The word “Advent” comes from a Latin word meaning “coming.” Although today Advent is typically thought of as a season of anticipating Christmas, it originated as a time when early Christians would prepare for the baptisms of new Christians on the Epiphany. The Advent season also anticipated the Magi visiting baby Jesus, Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River and Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana. Christians used the Advent season as a 40-day period of fasting and prayer. Advent was not directly linked to Christ’s birth at Christmas until the Middle Ages.