Lord of Our Lives

I remember, as a newly ordained priest, celebrating Mass on a cold November evening for a group of Young Christian Workers (YCW). It was in a community hall on the Heygate Estate near Elephant and Castle, on the Feast of Christ the King — which has a profound connection to the YCW movement, since it serves as the key source of inspiration and a foundational doctrine that guides its mission.

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as a direct response to the rise of secularism, nationalism and atheism in the aftermath of the First World War.

The YCW was founded by Father (later Cardinal) Joseph Cardijn in Belgium to evangelise and support young workers facing harsh conditions in industrial environments. He believed that every sphere of life, including the workplace and social structures, must reflect Christian principles and recognise Christ’s dominion. Thus YCW used the Feast of Christ the King as an annual event publicly to demonstrate their commitment to bringing the ‘ whole world to Christ,’ specifically in the context of the working classes.

Although the Mass I celebrated was all those years ago, I still recall in my homily coming to understand that if Christ is to be my King he needs to rule or to reign in my heart. The late Pope Francis expressed it well:

It would mean very little, however, if we believed Jesus was King of the universe, but did not make him Lord of our lives: all this is empty if we do not personally accept Jesus and if we do not also accept his way of being King.

The prayer that I try to say daily is taken from the words of St Charles de Foucauld. It expresses for me the desire for Christ to rule in my heart. This prayer comes from Brother Charles’ meditation on Christ on the cross.

Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you.
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul; I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands,
without reserve, and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.
Amen.