Sing the Praise of Christ the King!

BBC R4 Sunday Worship – Sing the Praises of Christ the King
23rd November 2025

BBC RADIO 4:  Now on Radio 4 its time for Sunday Worship.

FR MARC: Good morning, and welcome to the Diocese of Leeds! I'm Fr Marc Pitson, Chaplain to the Diocesan Youth Service. We’re at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in central Bradford on the Feast of Christ the King, which Catholic dioceses also celebrate as an annual ‘National Youth Sunday’. And it’s a triple celebration, as during this Holy ‘Year of Hope’ throughout the Catholic Church, this weekend also marks the Jubilee of Choirs. Our music is from the young people of our Bradford Catholic Youth Choir who lead us now in the hymn: ‘Crown him with Many Crowns’.

MUSIC 1: (TUTTI) Crown him with many crowns
FR MARC:
Since it was first instituted just one hundred years ago by Pope Pius the Eleventh, Catholics have celebrated this Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, on the last Sunday of November.

In 1925 the world was still suffering the after-effects of the Great War; it was a time of growing nationalism and secularism which would eventually bring the world to the brink of another terrible war.

In Italy and Germany Fascism was on the rise. In our own country, the excesses of the hedonistic ‘bright young things’ and newly-rich self-made millionaires made front page news – but the gap between rich and poor could not have been wider.

Faced with this unequal society of extremes, the Church’s response was to institute a Feast reminding us that it is God in Jesus Christ who is the supreme authority and ruler of all creation. His kingdom is not one of short-lived worldly wealth and power. He is a Servant King, whose reign is eternal - and he rules with justice, compassion, love and mercy for all.

Let us now call to mind the times when we ourselves have been distracted by worldly things, and have not loved him - and our fellow men and women – as we should, as we ask the Lord to have mercy on us.

MUSIC 2: (CHOIR) Kyrie chant

FR MARC:
Let us pray. Almighty ever-living God, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of the universe, grant, we pray, that the whole creation, set free from slavery, may render your majesty service and ceaselessly proclaim your praise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.

ALL: Amen

FR MARC:

The acknowledgement that Christ is King does not, of course, mean that we should not respect the leadership of a benign earthly monarch or temporal ruler. However, there have been saints and martyrs throughout the ages who have prioritised worshipping Christ the King over some earthly ruler’s or government’s wishes – and have paid for it with their lives. The famous quotation from St Thomas More as King Henry the Eighth sent him to his martyrdom was: ‘I am the King’s good servant – but God’s first!’

Christ’s ‘Kingship’ was misunderstood by many. From King Herod who, fearing that ‘King of the Jews’ had come to topple him from his throne, plotted to kill the infant Jesus … to Judas and his fellow revolutionaries who believed that a King should lead an army against Roman oppression. And in the reading for today from St Luke’s Gospel, whilst most mocked Jesus – crucified like a common criminal – one repentant sinner recognised his majesty, threw himself on the Lord’s mercy, and received his just reward.

GOSPEL READING (Luke 23:35-43)
READER 1 - LEO:

At that time: The rulers scoffed at Jesus, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, This is the King of the Jews.’

One of the criminals who were hanged there railed at Jesus, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’

MUSIC 3: (CHOIR) Psalm 122

CHOIR (UPPER VOICES):Let us go rejoicing to the house of the LORD.

TUTTI:Let us go rejoicing to the house of the LORD.

CHOIR: I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’ And now our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.

TUTTI:Let us go rejoicing to the house of the LORD.

CHOIR: It is there that the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD. As it is decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. There were set the thrones for judgement, the thrones of the house of David.

TUTTI:Let us go rejoicing to the house of the LORD.

FR MARC:

St Paul’s message to members of the early Church was that not only is Christ our King and Creator – through his sacrifice on the cross, he has given us a share in his kingdom, too!

This inheritance isn’t by virtue of race, nationality, intellect or social standing – it’s open to ALL who are Baptised in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are all called to serve humbly, with a responsibility to care for others, and to be custodians of God’s creation. The Church is there for all people who follow and worship Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life, through the Faith which comes to us directly from his Apostles.

READING: (Colossians 1:12-20)

READER 2 – MICHELLE:

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Colossians.

Brothers and Sisters: let us give thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the Church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent.

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

The word of the Lord.

ALL: Thanks be to God.

FR MARC:

Since 2021, this Feast of Christ the King has also been celebrated in the dioceses of the Catholic Church as ‘National Youth Sunday’. Here in the Diocese of Leeds, we recognise the leadership potential of our young people. They are not just the future, but the ‘now’ of the Church! The Bishop has commissioned a leadership group of 13 to 18 year olds to assist him with decisions, events, and all matters concerning our young people. They’re called ‘The Twelve’ and Becca, who is a student at St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic College here in Bradford, is a member.

REFLECTION 1 – BECCA:

It may seem difficult to declare Christ as King in today's world. Young people might worry about being judged or laughed at – but we should constantly remind ourselves that our reward in heaven is far greater than anything in this world and ask God for the courage always to proclaim Christ as King!

There are countless examples of young saints who have done this - and more - for God and for others, so we can use their lives as examples. A century ago, the 14 year old Mexican Saint Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio went to his martyrdom declaring, ‘Viva Christo Rey! - ‘Long live Christ the King!’. Although we hope never to be put to such a test, we can be inspired by his faith and courage. We may need that inspiration if we’re mocked or laughed at for following Christ. And even if our faith is not challenged by other people, there are many bad influences and distractions in social media that can tempt us to stray away from Christ.

My favourite young saint is St Carlo Acutis who was canonised earlier this year. He was just 15 when he died of leukaemia in 2006. In his short life, he displayed a devotion to the Eucharist and used his computer skills to create a website documenting Eucharistic miracles. Following in the footsteps of St Carlo Acutis, we too can use our talents to serve God and our neighbour – and rather than being consumed by technologies and social media, we can use them as tools to spread the Good News of the Gospel.

Inspired by this Jubilee Year of Hope, it’s my hope that more young people find the faith and courage to declare Christ as King, taking leadership roles in the Church, and – in the words of the Jubilee Hymn – carrying the flame of hope to all people!

MUSIC 4: (TUTTI)

Jubilee Hymn –

FR MARC:

There is a patron saint for almost every activity – and music is no exception! Every year on 22 November, we honour St Cecilia, the Patron Saint of Music – and it’s for that reason that in this Holy Year of Jubilee, this weekend has been designated as the ‘Jubilee of Choirs’.

Our music this morning is led by the Bradford Catholic Youth Choir. These young people have come through our Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme. Thousands of children, of all faiths and none, who attend our Catholic schools throughout Yorkshire experience the many social, health, cultural and academic benefits of learning music and the sheer joy of singing together.

Before going to university, Kirsten Zoleta was a member of our Leeds Cathedral Choir.

REFLECTION 2 – KIRSTEN:

Not much is known about St Cecelia – but we do know she existed in 2nd century Rome, that she converted her pagan husband to Christianity and that the couple suffered martyrdom for the love of Christ the King; putting his worship before the wishes of the Roman governor. 

Described as ‘singing to God in her heart’, those of us who love to sing can identify with St Cecelia and understand her need to rejoice beyond mere speech! That’s why I chose her as my confirmation saint! 

Saint Augustine is said to have written that those who sing well ‘pray twice’ - a reminder for us to sing not only with our lips but also with our lives! We profess our faith through speech, but singing adds the elements of love and joy. Worshipping in song involves both the intellectual and the physical; words, melodies and harmonies blending to engage the listener, guiding them beyond deep emotion and into faith. In fact, the word ‘worship’ comes from the idea of acknowledging the ‘worth’ of something or someone – and who could be more ‘worthy’ of honour and reverence than Our Lord Jesus Christ the King?!

In our school, cathedral and parish choirs, we don’t just sing in English and in Latin - but also in some of the more than 40 languages which are spoken in our communities. Singing with other faithful friends creates a sense of belonging; a call of prayerful service to God, using the gifts He has given to us. 

Along with our parents, siblings, friends, choir chaperones and choral directors, we feel we belong to an extended family of a parish, cathedral and diocese: a community of the Universal Catholic Church, bound together by faith, joy and love expressed through music.

MUSIC 5: (CHOIR) Motet - Let all the world in every corner sing, Vaughan Williams

FR MARC:
Let us pray - for the Church, for all God’s faithful, and for people of goodwill throughout the world. May the praises of Christ the King be sung with our lips, in our hearts and in our lives.

Lord, hear us.

ALL: Lord, graciously hear us.

READER 1 - LEO:
We pray for King Charles and Queen Camilla, for His Holiness Pope Leo – and for all who hold positions of leadership – locally, nationally, and internationally - that motivated by love and service they may govern wisely, with humility and with compassion for those whose lives are in their care. We pray that they may always have the courage to hold fast to the truth.

Lord, hear us.
ALL: Lord, graciously hear us.

READER 2 - MICHELLE:
We pray for people who are ill in body, mind or spirit – especially those who are lonely, afraid, living under tyranny or being persecuted for their beliefs, that God’s love may strengthen them. We pray too for all who are mourning loved ones - and for all who have died, especially victims of violence and war, that they may now know eternal peace and rest with Christ, who has conquered sin and death!

Lord, hear us.

ALL: Lord, graciously hear us.

FR MARC:

And let us pray for the coming of God’s Kingdom in the words Jesus taught us.

ALL:

Our Father, who art in heaven
hallowed be thy Name, 
thy kingdom come, 
thy will be done, 
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those 
who trespass against us. 
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. 
Amen.

FR MARC:

From the eighth century until the Reformation, ‘the praises of Christ the King’ - known in Latin as the ‘laudes regiae’ –were sung at a monarch’s coronation as a reminder that his temporal power was secondary to that of the King of kings.

Christus vincit – he conquers; Christus regnat – he reigns; and Christus imperat – Christ rules and commands!

MUSIC 6: (CHOIR) Motet - Christus vincit, arr. Martin Baker

FR MARC:

Thank you for joining us this morning and sharing in our worship of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe! And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit come down on you and remain with you for ever.

ALL: Amen

MUSIC 7: (TUTTI): Hail, Redeemer, King Divine

ORGAN VOLUNTARY: Flourish for an Occasion (William Harris)

BBC RADIO 4: (ORGAN VOLUNTARY: Flourish for an Occasion (William Harris) Sunday Worship came from St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bradford. The service was led by Fr Marc Pitson. Craig Perkinton and Adam Whitmore conducted the Bradford Youth Choir accompanied by organist Benjamin Newlove. The producer was Carmel Lonergan.