The liturgical year of the Church is concluded and crowned with the Solemnity of Christ the King. This year we also conclude and crown the Year of Faith. A lot has happened in the span of the Year of Faith, not to mention a transition in the papacy that had not been seen in centuries. I for one am grateful to both pontiffs; Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis who have called us to a renewal of faith in the Year of Faith. We have learned much about our faith from these two successors of Peter in the Year of Faith.

Our true Catholic faith is important more now than ever as we have seen in Albuquerque this week. We have witnessed thereal force, presence, and wealth of the enemy. The father of lies has influenced the people of Albuquerque to believe that killing a child in the womb is a choice. This is rhetoric that we call lies and sin.

Pope John Paul II spoke of this great force of power that was clearly evident in our city this week. He called this force the culture of death. We saw very clearly this week that the culture of death attempts to infiltrate the Body of Christ in the fallacy that one can be Christian and at the same time be in favor and or indifferent to abortion. The Father of Lies is the father of the Culture of Death.

The victory of the Christ the King on the cross is our hope. On the cross, Jesus defeats sin and death. Our hope is in Christ the King who even when he appears to be defeated, conquers with sacrificial love on the cross. With Christ as our king, we are not defeated.