Calendar Class of November 23, 2025
- Andrea Kirk Assaf
- Nov 22
- 5 min read
A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
Gospel Excerpt, Cycle C, Mk 11:9, 10: The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, formerly referred to as "Christ the King," was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as an antidote to secularism, a way of life which leaves God out of man's thinking and living and organizes his life as if God did not exist. The feast is intended to proclaim in a striking and effective manner Christ's royalty over individuals, families, society, governments, and nations.
Today's Mass establishes the titles for Christ's royalty over men: 1) Christ is God, the Creator of the universe and hence wields a supreme power over all things; "All things were created by Him"; 2) Christ is our Redeemer, He purchased us by His precious Blood, and made us His property and possession; 3) Christ is Head of the Church, "holding in all things the primacy"; 4) God bestowed upon Christ the nations of the world as His special possession and dominion.
Today's Mass also describes the qualities of Christ's kingdom. This kingdom is: 1) supreme, extending not only to all people but also to their princes and kings; 2) universal, extending to all nations and to all places; 3) eternal, for "The Lord shall sit a King forever"; 4) spiritual, Christ's "kingdom is not of this world." —Rt. Rev. Msgr. Rudolph G. Gandas
Today is the The Annual Global Celebration of Youth and Young Adults.
Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon: The Marks of Spiritual Leadership
Fr. Plant's Homily-Scripture Lesson: Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise
Sanctoral: Saint Clement of Rome (+100 AD) stands as a noble example of humble faith and divine charity. Believed to have been one of the Apostolic Fathers, his life was marked by a gentle spirit and unwavering devotion to the teachings of Christ. His famous letter to the Corinthians, known as 1 Clement, reflects his deep commitment to unity, obedience, and the moral transformation of the Church. More info here.
Saint Columbanus (Irish: Columbán; 543 – 21 November 615) was an Irish missionary notable for founding a number of monasteries after 590 in the Frankish and Lombard kingdoms, most notably Luxeuil Abbey in present-day France and Bobbio Abbey in present-day Italy.
Columbanus taught an Irish monastic rule and penitential practices for those repenting of sins, which emphasised private confession to a priest, followed by penances imposed by the priest in reparation for the sins. Columbanus is one of the earliest identifiable Hiberno-Latin writers.
Human: 534 BC Thespis of Icaria becomes the first recorded actor to portray a character on stage, marking a significant development in the history of theater.
176 AD Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius triumphed over the Germans and Sarmatians.
1248 Conquest of Seville occurs by Christian troops under King Ferdinand III of Castile after the city surrenders
Also: National Espresso Day
The word espresso (/ɛˈsprɛsoʊ/; Italian pronunciation: [e ˈsprɛsso]) in Italian means 'quick in time.' Before the advent of the espresso machine, espresso was simply a coffee expressly made for the person ordering it. It was also made with recently roasted and freshly ground beans. The cup was brewed shortly before serving. In the late 1800s, this practice was commonplace in cafés and restaurants.
Italian: Perdigiorno (slacker)
Do you know someone who sits around all day doing nothing? Then you could call him or her a perdigiorno in Italian!
Extra: ‘Lived Conservatism’: students premiere documentary about Russell Kirk’s Hillsdale legacy
Quote: "It has long been a common custom to give to Christ the metaphorical title of "King," because of the high degree of perfection whereby he excels all creatures. So he is said to reign "in the hearts of men," both by reason of the keenness of his intellect and the extent of his knowledge, and also because he is very truth, and it is from him that truth must be obediently received by all mankind. He reigns, too, in the wills of men, for in him the human will was perfectly and entirely obedient to the Holy Will of God, and further by his grace and inspiration he so subjects our free-will as to incite us to the most noble endeavors. He is King of hearts, too, by reason of his "charity which exceedeth all knowledge." And his mercy and kindness which draw all men to him, for never has it been known, nor will it ever be, that man be loved so much and so universally as Jesus Christ. But if we ponder this matter more deeply, we cannot but see that the title and the power of King belongs to Christ as man in the strict and proper sense too. For it is only as man that he may be said to have received from the Father "power and glory and a kingdom," since the Word of God, as consubstantial with the Father, has all things in common with him, and therefore has necessarily supreme and absolute dominion over all things created."
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS XI ON THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING
Comments