UP THE HEART
JUBILEE YEAR FOR THE 150 YEARS OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE INSTITUTE OF DAUGHTERS OF CHRIST THE KING
When we say 150 years, we are not only referring to a long stretch of time, but we are putting our heart and soul into praising the Lord of Life and history, who has made us live until now. And today especially we unite, as a choir of praise, to celebrate this happy anniversary of our Institute, a Jubilee Year, for its 150 years of fidelity
We come with a soul full of very deep experiences, of community experiences that have brought us many joys and also some suffering, of very important images and dates.
This chaplain who still survives, although in a situation of demolition, and who thanks your invitation, his body and spirit are filled with songs because Providence and your kindness have allowed him to be present, alongside you, in the last 50 years of these 150 that we celebrate today.
I have seen and heard during this period of time how your daily life has developed. I have witnessed your proclamation in words and deeds of that glorious slogan CHRIST QUEEN.
And to say Christ Queen is to certify that there is not, nor has there been nor will there be another King, another Lord, other than Jesus, Son of the living God and of Mary. The life of your communities in this light is the reason for the Institute that the venerable José Gras founded.
That Catalan priest who in the summer of 1866 arrived in Granada and its Sacro Monte Abbey brought a torrent of grace that within the Universal Church and in this plot of southern Spain has done much good, raising a monument to the adoration and love of the Lord Jesus, King and Brother.
He created various institutional experiences of apostolate in the 19th century, a century of religious coldness and desertion of believers. The nerve of love that ran through his life led him to give them social form in progressive foundations. First as the Military Court of Christ, then as the Academy and Court of Christ, to crown its work with the Institute of Daughters of Christ the King in May 1876.
His passion for Jesus could not remain in his personal devotion, in his intimate adoration and knowledge and in the peace of the Abbey. It was necessary to shout that the Sovereign of the world has to be recognized, adored and loved. He conceived that all the evils of society have a remedy in Christ, the Supreme Good.
His endeavor was the exaltation of the royal dignity of Jesus, as the Son of God. With superhuman strength he invited the worship of the Only Sovereign.
But he does not only defend a worship that places the creature at a distance from his Lord, like a soldier who renders vassalage to his Chief. At the same time, I wanted to spread the love of Jesus, brother, companion, friend. There is the significant image of Jesus the King CHILD. They are the two directions that are born in the Mystery of Jesus, God and man at the same time.
He was hurt by the religious coldness of the 19th century, and at the same time that he encouraged the sleeping Catholics, he wanted to attract the indifferent to discover the excellences of the Supreme Good.
He especially addressed women and counted on them to incorporate them into his apostolic initiatives through education, which was the necessary path for the reform of society.
Today, after 150 years, we give thanks with a Jubilee Year for the apostolic work of the Institute in a dozen countries on three continents. And we do it as we have proclaimed so many times in this temple: Hearts up.
Let us lift up our hearts and glorify the Lord our God, our King and Brother.
We bless José Gras who founded the Institute, and we feel called to continue spreading the Kingdom. We keep in mind the hundreds of sisters who have preceded you in this beautiful task. We are all fortunate to be participants in this glorious evangelical mission.
Hearts up
Juan Sánchez Ocaña
