Music Notes, The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
November 23, 2025
Dr. John Michniewicz
This Sunday, November 23rd, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, often referred to as “Christ the King Sunday.” The Feast was instituted by Pope Pius XI, who wanted to crown the Jubilee Year of 1925 with the introduction of a feast to honor the Kingship of Christ. That era, following the tremendous upheaval of World War I, was a time of rapid changes, modernization and secularization. So it was felt that it would be important to reaffirm, champion and strengthen the belief and truth of Christ’s sovereignty, and that Christ’s reign and kingship extends universally over everything, including human society, governments, and institutions.
Originally, the feast was celebrated on the last Sunday of October, just before the Feast of All Saints. Following the Second Vatican Council, various adjustments were made to the Liturgical Calendar, and in 1969, Pope Paul VI moved the feast to the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year giving it the more explicit title: The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This placement serves as an ending point and summit of the entire Liturgical Year, emphasizing Christ’s triumph at the end of time. It also then provides a fitting transition into the new Liturgical Year, which we will begin this year on Sunday, November 30th, 2025 and the season of Advent.
The Liturgical readings this Sunday reflect various dimensions of the Kingship of Christ. The First Reading, 2 Samuel 5:1-3, recounts the anointing of David as King over Israel. It establishes the concept of a divinely appointed king who is “shepherd of my people, Israel.” This historical kingship foreshadows Christ’s role as both Shepherd and King. Psalm 122, with its responsorial refrain: “Let Us Go Rejoicing to the House of the Lord,” celebrates the ascent to Jerusalem, the city where the ”thrones of the house of David” were established. It highlights the spiritual and governing center of God’s people, reflecting the eternal, heavenly city, Jerusalem, over which Christ reigns. The Second Reading, Colossians 1:12-20, affirms Christ’s divinity and dominion. Christ is the “image of the invisible God,” “firstborn of all creation,” and the one through whom God reconciles everything to himself, making peace “by the blood of his cross.” Finally, the Gospel Reading, Luke 23:35-43, presents the ultimate paradox. While mocked as “King of the Jews,” Christ grants salvation to the repentant thief: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” Christ’s throne is shown as the cross, and his crown is also shown as suffering. Christ’s kingship is seen not just as earthly power but about bringing salvation, and opening the way to the eternal kingdom.
Sunday’s entrance Hymn “Jesus Shall Reign.” W-569 was written by English minister Isaac Watts. It was first published in 1719 in his work Psalms of David, in which he paraphrased the Psalms in the contemporary language of the day. The hymn is based on Psalm 72 which describes the righteous reign of King Solomon. The hymn is known for its missionary emphasis and outreach, anticipating a future where “every knee will bow” and people of “every tongue” will proclaim Christ’s name. It envisions the universal and everlasting reign of Christ, where Christ’s kingdom brings both blessings and justice to all people. The hymn emphasizes the global and universal scope of Christ’s kingdom, extending from “shore to shore” to “where’er the sun, Does its successive journeys run.” It also reflects the Gospel’s depiction of Christ on the cross being mocked as a “King of the Jews,” yet exercising his kingly power in pardoning the repentant thief. Finally, the hymn connects Christ’s reign to justice, peace, and blessing, describing how “prisoners are freed, the weary find rest, and the needy are blessed,” under Christ’s reign. The composer of the hymn tune “DUKE STREET” was John Warrington Hatton. An uplifting, straightforward and memorable melody, it is also usually paired with the hymn “I Know that My Redeemer Lives.” The melody is highly singable, featuring predominantly note by note, or stepwise movements, with only the use of wider interval leaps in the third and fourth phrases, often at a climatic moment. It is interesting to note that many hymn tunes are named for a place known to the composer, or illustrate some aspect of the text, or contain some other reason for their naming. DUKE STREET is no exception, John Warrington Hatton (1710-1793) is thought to have lived on Duke Street in St. Helens, Lancashire, England.
Here is a performance by the First-Plymouth Church Choir and Brass in Lincoln, Nebraska: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U4IMtvp6bg
At the 11:30 Mass, the Choir will sing at the Presentation, the anthem, “I Will Exalt My God and King” arranged for choir, organ, brass and percussion by Michael Burkhardt. The text is a paraphrase of Psalm 145, which begins by stating: “I will exalt You, my God and King; I will bless Your name forever and ever.” The melody uses what is really a quite famous and well-known English hymn tune: JERUSALEM, by Sir C. Hubert H. Parry (1848–1918). Parry’s triumphant melody, often associated with the poem by William Blake, “And Did Those Feet in Ancient Time” sets the text with a soaring, strong and uplifting melody. However, here, when paired with the text based on Psalm 145, it becomes a strong declaration of the King’s goodness, power, and glory and is the embodiment of “exalting my God and King.” The text’s focus on the King’s works, majesty, and enduring kingdom directly echo the theme of the Solemnity of Christ the King. It also strongly reflects the First Reading from the Old Testament: 2 Samuel 5:1–3, where David is anointed King, which is seen as a foreshadowing of Christ’s ultimate Kingship. The arranger, Dr. Michael Burkhardt is Artist-Professor of Organ at Eastern Michigan University, and has written many compositions for organ, brass, choir and children’s choir.
Here is a performance of “I Will Exalt My God and King” https://www.jwpepper.com/s?q=i+will+exalt+my+god+and+king+burk&sort=score_desc&page=0&preview=true
I Will Exalt My God and King,
And I Will Ever Praise Your Name. I Will Extol You Every Day
And Evermore Your Praise Proclaim. You, Lord, Are Greatly To Be Praised; Your Greatness Is Beyond All Thought. From Age To Age Your People Tell
The Mighty Wonders You Have Wrought.
On Your Most Glorious Majesty
And On Your Deeds My Mind Will Dwell. Your Deeds Will Fill The World With Awe, And All Your Greatness I Will Tell.
Your Matchless Goodness And Your Grace Your People Will Commemorate;
And All Your Truth And Righteousness Our Joyful Song Will Celebrate.
The Lord Our God Is Rich In Grace, Tender To Us, Compassionate.
His Anger Is Most Slow To Rise;
His Love And Kindness Are Most Great. The Lord Is Good In All His Ways;
His Creatures Know His Constant Care. To All His Works His Love Extends;
All Creatures In His Mercies Share.
All You Have Made Will Praise You, Lord; Your Mighty Acts Your Saints Will Show, Till All The Peoples On The Earth
The Splendor Of Your Kingdom Know. Eternal Is Your Kingdom, Lord, Forever Strong And Ever Sure;
While Generations Rise And Die, Your Glorious Reign Will Still Endure.
The hymn during Communion hymn is “A Song to the Lamb.” composed by John Abdenour. The text is a Canticle from the book of Revelation, often titled Dignus es, literally: Worthy is,” which refers to the phrase “Worthy is the Lamb.” This composition sets the text “Splendor and honor and kingly power are yours by right, O Lord our God” as an antiphon, or responsorial refrain, sung first by the cantor and repeated throughout by the choir and congregation. While the Book of Revelation is known for its apocalyptic imagery it also contains many hymns and songs known as Canticles. (A “Canticle” is a hymn, song of praise, or chant taken from biblical or sacred texts other than the Psalms). “A Song to the Lamb” comes from the description of the heavenly throne room of God from the Book of Revelation. Revelation repeatedly pictures Christ the King as the victorious “Lamb on the throne” (Revelation 5:13, 7:17). In the throne room of God, the saints, angels and all creation itself are united in thanksgiving, a ceaseless song of praise. The composer, John Abdenour, has been the director of music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fairfield, CT since January of 2000. He sang as a boy in the choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral in Detroit and began organ study there. He subsequently received degrees in Organ Performance and American History from Oberlin College. After studying law at the University of Michigan and pursuing a brief career as an attorney, he returned to his first love, sacred music.
Antiphon: Splendor and honor and kingly power are yours by right, O Lord our God.
For you created everything that is,
and by your will they were created
and have their being;
And yours by right, O Lamb that was slain,
for with your blood you have redeemed for God,
From every family, language, people, and nation,
a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
And so, to him who sits upon the throne,
and to Christ the Lamb,
Be worship and praise, dominion and splendor,
for ever and for evermore.
During the Communion Meditation, the choir will continue this theme with the anthem “To the Lamb on the Throne,” by the celebrated American composer Dan Forest. He has written numerous choral, orchestral, and instrumental works, and is known for his extended concert works like: Requiem for the Living and Jubilate Deo. A highly prolific and awarded artist, whose music is performed worldwide, he is Composer-in-Residence at Furman University, in Greenville, South Carolina. His work is popular with many musical ensembles due to his accessible yet sophisticated writing style. This piece is also inspired by the profound imagery in Revelation 5:13, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” “To The Lamb on the Throne” is an anthem that is highly typical of Forest’s engaging style. This selection is a majestic, triumphant setting of John Wesley’s hymn text “Ye Servants of God”, interwoven with choral acclamations of “Worthy the Lamb!” accompanied by brass quartet, percussion and organ.
Here is a performance of Worthy the Lamb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIb1fhX-qbQ&list=RDTIb1fhX-qbQ&start_radio=1
Worthy the Lamb.
Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim,
And publish abroad His wonderful name;
the name all victorious of Jesus extol;
His Kingdom is glorious and rules overall.
Worthy the Lamb,
“Salvation to God, who sits on the throne!”
Let all cry aloud, and honor the Son;
the praises of Jesus the angels proclaim,
Fall down on their faces and worship the Lamb.
Worthy the Lamb,
worthy the Lamb, the Lamb.
God rules in the height, almighty to save:
Though hid from our sight, His presence we have.
The great congregation His triumph shall sing,
Ascribing salvation to Jesus our King.
“Worthy, worthy the Lamb.”
Then let us adore and give Him His right,
All glory and power, all wisdom and might;
All honor and blessing with angels above,
And thanks never ceasing and infinite love.
“Worthy, worthy the Lamb!”
The Final Hymn on Sunday features a well-known classic hymn celebrating Sunday’s Solemnity: “To Jesus Christ Our Sovereign King” (W-570) The hymn was written by Msgr. Martin Hellriegel, a pioneering German-American Catholic Priest who immigrated to the Archdiocese of St. Louis, MO from Heppenheim, Germany. He was one of the catalysts for the Catholic Liturgical Movement in the United States and the world, which significantly impacted the Second Vatican Council Written in 1941. Msgr. Hellriegel intended the hymn to serve as a reminder that Christ should reign in our lives. Its composition during World War II reinforced the concept that Jesus Christ is the ultimate ruler and savior amidst worldly conflict. The hymn praises Jesus Christ as the world’s salvation and ruler, and includes the refrain: “Christ Jesus Victor, Christ Jesus Ruler! Christ Jesus, Lord and Redeemer!” Arranged for Choir, congregation, brass, percussion and organ, by Fr. James Chepponis, it features interludes for the choir and brass on the Latin text: “Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat” which translates to “Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ commands.” The phrase also affirms Christ’s eternal reign and authority over all creation. Msgr. Hellriegel appropriately set his text to the German hymn tune ICH GLAUB AN GOTT (I Believe in God). Here is a performance at the outdoor Papal Mass in Philadelphia in 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlMzSktcefU
- To Jesus Christ, our Sov’reign King,
Who is the world’s salvation,
All praise and homage do we bring,
And thanks and adoration.
Refrain: Christ Jesus Victor,
Christ Jesus Ruler!
Christ Jesus, Lord and Redeemer!
- Thy reign extend, O King benign,
To ev’ry land and nation,
For in Thy kingdom, Lord divine,
Alone we find salvation. - To Thee and to Thy Church, great King,
We pledge our hearts’ oblation,
Until before Thy throne we sing,
In endless jubilation.
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