"To Spread the Reign of Christ in All Spheres of Human Life": on the Twentieth Anniversary of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest

Today marks the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. Laudetur Iesus Christus! On September 1, 1990, the Feast of St. Giles, the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest was canonically erected in Mouila, Gabon. A brief history of the antecedents, founding, and early growth of the Institute can be found here. The growth of the Institute from small beginnings to a worldwide apostolate is testimony to God's Grace and love for souls. Though still a relatively young society, the rate of growth in the number of priests, oblates, sisters, and lay faithful is remarkable. Consecrated to Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception, and following the example and spirituality of its three secondary patrons-- St. Francis de Sales, St. Benedict, and St. Thomas Aquinas-- the Institute is ever at the service of souls, in furtherance of the mission of the Church. Defenders of Tradition in liturgy and doctrine and apostles of the Love of God. Those who are blessed enough to have an Institute apostolate nearby know the beauty of the liturgy, the apostolate of hospitality, and the Salesian spirituality that ever draws souls for, and to, Christ. They are islands of faith and culture in the secular wasteland. The Institute has been a profound blessing to my family and me. My wife and I are members of the Institute's lay society, the Society of the Sacred Heart.  In this way we are able to participate in the charism of the Institute, and through the Church's liturgy pray for the Institute, and receive spiritual blessings from the prayers of our fellow Institute family members. In 2008 the Institute was elevated by the Holy See to the status of a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right, confirming its mission and the charism of the Canons and Sisters of the Institute.Since 2008, the number of priests, seminarians, sisters, and lay members has increased even more rapidly.  God is good. This anniversary also coincides with the feast day of St. Giles, the patron saint of our beloved founder and Prior General, Monsignor Gilles Wach. May God continue to bless the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest!Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!St. Benedict, pray for us!St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us! Finally, on this anniversary, I post below the daily consecration of the Institute to the Immaculate Conception: In the presence of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and with heaven and earth as our witness, we prostrate ourselves at thy feet, O Mary, Our Lady. We acknowledge Thee as our Mother, as the Immaculate Conception, living tabernacle of the Divinity, as Queen of angels and of men, as Mother of the Church and of the Catholic priesthood, and as refuge of the afflicted. That is why, small and weak that we are, we wish to consecrate to Thee our Institute, our families, our persons, our works, our future, all that pertains to us and is in us, and which God, in His immeasurable goodness, has entrusted to us for our good use. We also consecrate to Thee the value of our good actions, past, present, and future, leaving to Thee the entire and full right of disposing of us and all that belongs to us. Mary, be our Mother; sanctify us, purify us, correct us, guide us, pray for us and protect us. Help us to perfectly fulfill the duties of our state of life. Extinguish in us all self-love, which prevents Thy Divine Son, King and Sovereign Priest, from reigning in and around us. Cover abundantly with thy maternal protection all the parishes, chapels, schools, works and missions entrusted to the Institute, and mayest Thou forever impede the devil from reigning, in any manner, in this Institute which desires to be entirely Thine for the greater glory of God, the exaltation of our Mother the Holy Catholic Church, and for the conversion of sinners. Amen.

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