The solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, commonly called Christ the King, closes the Church's liturgical year. It falls on the last Sunday before Advent; in 2026 it is Sunday, November 22. On this day we proclaim that Jesus is Lord of our lives and of history, a king who reigns not with weapons or privilege but with love and service. Here you will find a prayer to Christ the King, the traditional act of consecration, prayers for your family and your country, and the story of this feast, so dear to Catholics in Mexico and across Latin America.
Prayer to Christ the King
Lord Jesus Christ, King of the universe, I acknowledge you as the Lord of my life.
Reign in my mind, so that my thoughts may be true. Reign in my heart, so that I may love what you love. Reign in my hands, so that I may work justly and serve others. Reign in my home, so that there may be peace, respect, and forgiveness in it.
You came not to be served but to serve and to give your life. Teach me to live that way. May your Kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love, and peace, come to my family, my country, and the whole world.
Long live Christ the King! Amen.
Act of consecration of the human race to the Sacred Heart
This prayer was composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1899. In 1925, Pius XI ordered it renewed each year on the feast of Christ the King. It is traditionally prayed that day, especially before the Blessed Sacrament. Older prayer books include two further petitions that do not appear in the shorter form printed here:
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thine altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united with Thee, behold, each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy Most Sacred Heart.
Many indeed have never known Thee; many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart.
Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.
Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be glory and honor forever. Amen.
You will find more prayers on our page of prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Short prayers to Christ the King
Long live Christ the King! Lord Jesus, reign in my heart and in my home. Your will be done, and your Kingdom come. Amen.
Christ the King, you reign from the cross. Teach me to serve with humility. Amen.
Prayer to Christ the King for the family
Lord Jesus, King of love, today we enthrone you in our home.
Be the center of our family. Reign in our conversations, so that they may be kind; in our decisions, so that they may be just; in our difficulties, so that they do not divide us.
Bless parents, children, grandparents, and those who are far away. May your Gospel be lived in this house, may we pray here every day, and may our doors be open to anyone in need.
Christ the King, we consecrate our family to you. Amen.
To bless your home, you can also pray the prayer to bless the home and family.
Prayer to Christ the King for our country
Lord Jesus Christ, King of the nations, we entrust our country to you.
Give wisdom and honesty to those who govern. Free our people from violence, corruption, and poverty. Comfort the victims, protect migrants and those seeking a dignified life, and convert the hearts of those who do evil.
May your Kingdom of justice and peace come to our cities and our countryside. Amen.
The Gospel of Christ the King in 2026
In 2026, which is Year A, the Church reads the passage on the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46). The Son of Man sits on his throne, gathers all the nations, and judges them by what they did for the hungry and the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, and the prisoner: whatever we did for the least of his brothers and sisters, we did for him (Mt 25:40).
The Kingdom of Christ is not like the kingdoms of the earth. His throne is the cross, his crown is made of thorns, and his law is love. In the other years, the Gospel is the dialogue between Jesus and Pilate (Jn 18:33-37, Year B) or Jesus crucified with the good thief (Lk 23:35-43, Year C).
History of the feast of Christ the King
Pope Pius XI instituted the feast in 1925 with the encyclical Quas Primas, at a time when many governments wanted to remove God from public life. At first it was celebrated on the last Sunday of October. In 1969, Saint Paul VI moved it to the last Sunday of the liturgical year, with the name Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, to emphasize that Christ is the goal toward which all history moves.
¡Viva Cristo Rey! The feast in Mexico
The feast has a special meaning in Mexico. During the Cristero War (1926-1929), thousands of Catholics defended religious freedom, and many died as martyrs crying out "¡Viva Cristo Rey!", "Long live Christ the King!"
They include Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, a Jesuit priest shot in 1927 with his arms outstretched in the form of a cross, and Saint José Sánchez del Río, a 14-year-old boy martyred in 1928 and canonized by Pope Francis in 2016.
On the Cerro del Cubilete in Guanajuato stands the shrine of Christ the King, with a great statue of Christ with open arms, at what is considered the geographic center of Mexico. Thousands of pilgrims climb it every year, especially for the feast.
How to celebrate Christ the King
- Take part in Sunday Mass, the last of the liturgical year.
- Enthrone an image of Christ in your home and pray the consecration as a family.
- Do a work of mercy: visit someone who is sick, feed the hungry, or keep a lonely person company. In this way you recognize Christ the King in the least.
- Prepare for Advent, which begins the following week: put together your wreath and read the Advent wreath prayers.
Frequently asked questions
When is the feast of Christ the King in 2026? Sunday, November 22, 2026, the last Sunday of Ordinary Time and of the liturgical year. Advent begins the following Sunday, November 29.
What does it mean that Christ is King? It means that Jesus is Lord of all creation and of history, and that his Kingdom has already begun among us. It is not a political power, but the reign of love, truth, and justice, which grows whenever someone lives the Gospel.
What does "¡Viva Cristo Rey!" mean? It means "Long live Christ the King!" It is the acclamation of the Cristero martyrs of Mexico, who spoke it before they died. Today it expresses the joy of recognizing Jesus as Lord of our lives.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, King of the universe, may your Kingdom come. When you return at the end of time, may you find us serving our brothers and sisters, so that we may hear your voice saying, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father." Amen.
You can finish with the Our Father, in which we ask each day, "Thy kingdom come."