Day 8 of 40: Beholding Our Lord, Jesus Christ the King of the Universe - A Continued Journey Within a Journey
Part of the 40 Days & 40 Nights Christmas Journey and Novena of Reparation - Reflecting on Kingship, Service, and Spiritual Leadership
CHRISTMAS JOURNEY 2025: Day Three of a Journey Within a Journey
Welcome back to our 10-day Novena, designed to deepen your Advent experience — A Journey Within a Journey ~ Dr. Bailey
Are you ready to continue to embark on this journey within a journey? If you are new, here are the Practical Steps to Participate on Day 3:
Continue to commit 10-15 Minutes Daily: Find a quiet space and time each day to reflect, journal, deepen your prayers.
Read the Daily Prompt: Each day offers a thought-provoking question or reflection.
Journal Your Thoughts: Write down your insights, prayers, and feelings.
Share with Someone: Discuss your reflections with a friend, family member, or spiritual advisor.
Pray the Jubilee Prayer every day for the rest of the Jubilee Ordinary.
Find creative ways to integrate the Jubilee Prayer into your daily routine, allowing the 10-day journey to deepen your understanding of its words.
“Kingship isn’t about power or dominion;
it’s about selfless service,
profound love,
and unwavering justice.
To behold Christ the King
is to recognize His humility,
His sacrifice,
and His boundless mercy.
It’s to see the Divine Glory of God
shining through a vulnerable human form.”
On November 23, 2025, the Feast of Christ the King of the Universe, we are grateful you can be with us on this journey within a journey: 40-days and 40-nights, inspired by the spirit of the Jubilee. This simple yet powerful long-form Novena is designed to help you slow down, reflect, and deepen your understanding of the Christmas story.
SCRIPTURE: ON HIS ETERNAL PRESENCE
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” — Philippians 4:4 (1)
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” — 1 Peter 1:8 (2)
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION FOCUS OF TODAY’S JOURNEY
Let us pray to discern the Will of God in our lives:
In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
LIVE RECORD BY ZOSIA: “JUBILEE PRAYER”
Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen
QUESTION 1 - ON JUBILEE YEARNING & DISCERNING GOD’S WILL:
“How do I discern God’s will amidst the many Christmas traditions, preparations, expectations to ensure my heart remains focused on the King?
MULTIMEDIA: “THE MARKS OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP & THE KINGLY ROLE WE PLAY”
1. Christ as King and the Baptismal Identity
Bishop Barron emphasizes that in baptism, we are anointed with chrism oil on the head, symbolizing our conformity to Christ, who is priest, prophet, and king. This aligns with our focus on Christ the King of the Universe, where we are invited to recognize His kingship and align our lives with His will. Today’s call to “behold the King” and live in alignment with His will mirrors Bishop Barron’s idea that we are conformed to Christ’s kingly identity through baptism.
2. Ordering the Soul: The Role of Christ the King
Bishop Barron argues that the soul needs a king to direct its energies in the right way. In today’s reflection, our journal prompt asks: “Be it resolved that kingship isn’t about power or dominion; it’s about selfless service, profound love, and unwavering justice.” This resonates with Bishop Barron’s note that Christ’s kingship is not about power, but about love and service, and that we must order our lives accordingly.
3. Reflecting on Biblical Kingship
Day 8 invites reflection on the kingship of Christ and the spiritual lessons we can draw from biblical kings. Bishop Barron also explores various kings in the Bible, helping us understand what kingship means spiritually. This can be a natural extension of the post’s journal prompts, especially when considering the marks of spiritual leadership and how we are called to embody Christ’s kingly role in our lives.
4. The Jubilee Prayer and Spiritual Direction
We’ve been encouraging the daily recitation of the Jubilee Prayer and emphasizes the need for spiritual direction. Bishop Barron’s sermon on the need for a king to guide the soul can be a powerful complement to this, helping us understand that Christ is the true King who guides us in prayer, reflection, and spiritual growth.
Sample Journal Entry: Becoming a Good King of My Life (As above in the slide)In today’s reflection, I was struck by the idea that “the soul needs a king to direct its energies in the right way” — a king who is not about power or dominion, but about love, service, and justice. In the Sunday Sermon video, Bishop Barron reminds us that in baptism, we are anointed with chrism oil, symbolizing our conformity to Christ, who is Priest, Prophet, and King. He argues that this calls us to live in alignment with His kingly identity — not as rulers of ourselves, but as servants of love and justice.
But what happens when we neglect to tend the flourishing garden of our souls? When we allow petty, pathetic temptations to take root, we become disordered — not only in ourselves, but in our relationships and communities. This, he says, is the fate of Adam, the failed king, who allowed temptation to lead him away from God. It reminds Barron of the words of Benjamin Franklin: “He that cannot obey, cannot command.” He reminds us that “Without obedience to God’s will, we cannot truly lead — or even govern — ourselves.”
This 40-day and 40-night journey, for me, is a call to order my life spiritually, to listen to the higher voice of God, and to become “good kings of our own lives” and the lives of those around us. I am reminded that “Just as Abraham listened to God’s voice” and became a man of faith and obedience, we too are invited to listen, to obey, and to lead by example — not with power, but with humility and love.
I want to take this reflection to heart. To ask myself what this video asks me to consider:
Am I allowing the temptations of the world to disorder my soul?
Am I listening to God’s voice in the quiet moments, or am I distracted by the noise of my own desires?
How can the Rosary help me transform my prayer life?FOR THOSE WITH MORE TIME … here are more options for reflection on this day.
As we continue this journey, we are reminded that the call to be a good king — to listen, obey, and lead with love — is not just for the soul, but for the community, the family, the world.
- Bishop Barron notes that it takes courage to face down the temptations that seek to disorder our hearts and lead us astray.
- It takes humility to recognize that we are not gods — we are servants of a King who leads by love, not by power.
- But what happens when we begin to act like gods — when we think we can command without obeying, lead without listening, or serve without sacrifice?
We become the very thing we were called to reject: “disordered”, “self-serving”, and “blind to the needs of others”.
“The King Who Serves: A Journey from Fátima to the Eucharist”
As we continue this journey, we are reminded that the call to be a good king — to listen, obey, and lead with love — is not just for the soul, but for the community, the family, the world. It takes courage to face down the temptations that seek to disorder our hearts and lead us astray. It takes humility to recognize that we are not gods — we are servants of a King who leads by love, not by power.
And yet, there is a place in history where this truth was made visible — not in the halls of power, but in the quiet fields of Fátima, where the Angel of Portugal showed the children a vision of the King of Kings, not in majesty and power, but in humility and love. He appeared not as a ruler seated on a throne, but in the humble accidents of bread and wine — simple, ordinary, yet filled with Divine Presence.
A STORY OF EUCHARISTIC ADORATION IN PORTUGAL
INVITE OTHERS TO JOIN THIS JOURNEY: Zosia’s video is available on YouTube, and if you’d like to invite someone in your life to join you on this journey—celebrating Christ the King of the Universe in the spirit of the encyclical’s call—here it is:
ABOUT THIS VIDEO: This Christmas, amidst the flurry of preparations and the allure of the material world, we invite you to pause, to breathe, and to turn your gaze upward. This 10-Day Christmas Journey to Joy: Embracing the Jubilee Year isn’t about acquiring more things; it’s about cultivating a deeper connection with the source of all joy — God Himself. Let’s entrust ourselves to St. Joseph as we journey to Bethlehem, guided by his protection and love for Mary and Jesus. The video concludes with a unique prayer, which Fr. Nuno offers to close this spiritual journey video invitation.
Here are the words to this prayer in English:
A Prayer to St. Joseph, by Fr. Nuno Rocha1
Glorious St. Joseph, in this moment,
To you we have recourse in your honor;
To you we recommend all of our intentions:
Bring us to your son and our brother, Jesus Christ;
Tell Him all of our worries and desires;
Let your silence speak in us of the love we owe to the voice of the Father in Heaven; Place us at the side of your wife and our Mother – Mary;
Protect our families; sustain all who falter in faith;
And, in the warmth of your lap, make us look with a meek and humble heart at those around us, so that we can be and live as your true children.
Amen.
As we enter this Jubilee year, let us remember the words of the Jubilee Prayer: “May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us…a yearning for the treasures of heaven.”
This journey is an invitation to rediscover timeless treasures — the peace that surpasses understanding, the love that heals, and the hope that sustains us through every challenge. It’s a chance to quiet the noise, still the restless heart, and open ourselves to the transformative power of God’s grace. Join us on this 10-day pilgrimage, seeking not fleeting pleasures, but the enduring joy that comes from knowing and loving Christ.
Visit — HTTPS://ROSARY365.SUBSTACK.COM to join the journey and begin your 10-day pilgrimage today.
QUAS PRIMAS
We invite you to review the key themes and passages we’ve listed below.
And here are the top three passages from Quas Primas most relevant to the feast of Christ the King: https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_11121925_quas-primas.html
Section 16 – “Christ is the King of all kings.” This passage affirms Christ’s universal kingship and His role as the perfect expression of God’s love for humanity.
Section 22 – “The Church has always taught that Christ is the true King of the universe.” This reinforces the Church’s teaching on Christ’s kingship and its importance in the life of the faithful.
Section 28 – “The Church has the right to demand that the Christian people be taught the true doctrine of Christ’s kingship.” This emphasizes the importance of understanding and living out Christ’s kingship in our lives.
May these passages deepen your reflection and prayer as you celebrate Christ the King.
TO BE CONTINUED… tomorrow… 2…
APPENDIX
MUSIC TO PONDER for TODAY’S SOLEMNITY
“Crown of Thorns” — a hymn that reflects on the suffering and kingship of Christ.
“Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel” — a traditional Advent hymn that speaks to the coming of the King.
“Christ the King, Our Lord and God” — a solemn hymn used in some liturgical settings.
For Mondays and Saturdays — in anticipation of Advent, when we pray the Joyful Mysteries every day.”
PRAY A DECADE OF THE REPARATIVE ROSARY USING OUR TOOLKIT FOR SATURDAYS WITH THE PRAYERS OF THE ANGEL OF PORTUGAL
As we close this reflection on the Kingship of Christ, let us take a moment to pray at least one decade of the Reparative Rosary using the prayers of the Angel of Portugal — a practice created by Terço com Crianças with prayers curated by Padre Nuno Rocha.
Even if we cannot pray the entire Rosary, we can make the effort to pray one decade now, allowing our hearts to meditate on the mystery of the King of the Universe.
PRAYER OF THE ANGEL of PORTUGAL #1:
PRAYER OF THE ANGEL of PORTUGAL #2:
VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS / COME HOLY SPIRIT
REMINDER:
We can also pray for the Pope’s intentions for November. Here is his prayer —
POPE LEO XIV:
“Lord Jesus,
You who invite the weary and burdened
to come to You and rest in Your Heart,
we ask You this month for all the people
who live in darkness and despair,
especially for those struggling
with suicidal thoughts.
May they always find a community
that welcomes them, listens to them, and accompanies them.
Give all of us an attentive and compassionate heart,
capable of offering comfort and support,
also with the necessary professional help.
May we know how to be close with respect and tenderness,
helping to heal wounds, build bonds, and open horizons.
Together may we rediscover that life is a gift,
that there is still beauty and meaning,
even in the midst of pain and suffering.
We are well aware that those who follow You
are also vulnerable to sadness without hope.
We ask You to always make us feel Your love
so that, through Your closeness to us,
we can recognize and proclaim to all the infinite love of the Father
who leads us by the hand to renew our trust in the life You give us.
Amen.”
Finally, we can ask God to help us as we journey to visualize the King of the Universe — a King who reigns not through power, but through love and sacrifice. For children, this can be a time to draw a picture or sing a song for the King.
For those who enjoy sacred music, there are beautiful hymns and chants dedicated to Christ the King — such as “Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel” or “Crown of Thorns” — that can help deepen this reflection.
UPDATED: ROSARY CLUB
“Check the latest updates to the Rosary Club page, which includes **three new announcement scripts and other materials to help children invite others to prayer in their schools, parishes, and youth groups.”
POSTERS BY ZOSIA:
FOOTNOTES
Prayer is translated by: The Rosary Hour Podcast ℅ Travessa da Senra House Press
Bonus reflection” or “additional resource” that encourages deeper engagement with the content.
For example:
Bonus Reflection: The first eight minutes of the above video explores how to read both by consuming and digesting.
This is a helpful guide to consider as we journey and think about why it is important to digest our knowledge about scripture, knowledge from dogma, etc.
In an age where information is abundant, this reminder to slow down and truly engage with what we read is both timely and meaningful.
Journaling, as we do in this Christmas Journey, is a powerful way to reflect and “exercise” our spiritual muscles — especially when meditating on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary on First Saturdays.
Also, writing helps us internalize and grow from what we read, making it a vital part of our spiritual practice.
ESCOLA DA MARIA SANTÍSSIMA