Enthronment of Christ as King of Poland at the Chruch of Divine Mercy in Krakow, Poland, Nov. 19. (Rorate caeli.)

In a ceremony at the Church of Divine Mercy in Krakow, Poland on Saturday, the Catholic Bishops of Poland in the presence of President Andrzei Duda and many Catholic pilgrims, officially recognized Jesus Christ as the King of Poland and called upon Him to rule over their nation, its people and their political leaders.

"Immortal King of Ages Lord Jesus Christ, our God and Savior," they declared at the ceremony, "bowing our heads before You, King of the Universe, we acknowledge Thy dominion over Poland, those living in our homeland and throughout the world. Wishing to worship the majesty of Thy power and glory, with great faith and love, we cry out: Rule us, Christ!"

As reported by Fr. Paul McDonald in Rorate Caeli and at Radio Maryja, the enthronement or recognition of Christ as King of Poland "was done in the official presence of the president of Poland [Andrzei Duda]" on Nov. 19 and was repeated at many Polish cathedrals and parishes on Sunday, Nov. 20.

Poland's President Andrzei Duda, other officials, and Catholic pilgrims and clergy participate in the enthronement of Christ the King of Poland on Nov. 19, 2016 in Krakow, Poland. (Rorate caeli.)

Although Nov. 20 was the feast of Christ the King in the Catholic liturgical calendar, the origin of the ceremony in Poland stemmed from "revelations received, or said to be received, by the Servant of God Rosalia Zelkova," reported Fr. McDonald. "The Lord, she said, demanded that He be enthroned as King by the Polish nation as such and not just in the hearts of the Poles, in a particular manner, and this would save Poland in a [future] war that was coming."

After Vatican II in the early 1960s, however, this idea "did not find much support among the bishops," said Fr. McDonald. Forty-plus years later, Catholic Poles and clergy are more enthusiastic about the act.

"The social kingship of our Divine Lord is absolutely founded in necessary and dogmatic truths about Christ," said Fr. McDonald. "It is not merely an element of private revelation. St. Gregory the Great said that there were heretics who denied that Christ is the King of and over everything."

Parts of the enthronement ceremony read by the clergy and the congregation at the Nov. 19 ceremony included the following:

"In our hearts, Rule us, Christ! In our families, Rule us, Christ! ... In our schools and universities, Rule us, Christ! ... Through the Polish nation, rule us, Christ! ... We pledge to defend Your holy worship and preach Thy royal glory, Christ our King, we promise! We pledge to do Your will and protect the integrity of our consciences, Christ our King, we promise! We pledge to care for the sanctity of our families and the Christian education of children, Christ our King, we promise!

"[T]he King of kings and Lord of Rulers! We entrust the Polish people and Polish leaders to you. Make them exercise their power fairly and in accordance with Your laws. ... Rule us, Christ! Reign in our homeland and reign in every nation -- for the greater glory of the Most Holy Trinity and the salvation of mankind."