Pius XI was pope from 1922. He had inherited the vestiges of the problems that had led to World War I and he could already see new problems that would eventually plunge the world into World War II. Against the background of this looming tragedy, he wrote his 1925 encyclical “Quas Primas,” setting up the feast of Christ the King, which we celebrated Sunday.
The story is told about a tourist guide who was busy giving a talk to his group, when suddenly his cell phone rang. His two hands were full, and he could not respond to the call. What he did next was most unexpected: He licked the phone with his tongue to swipe it open, and proceeded to answer the call!
The story is told about a husband who was boasting to his friends: “You know, in my house I am the king, and whenever my wife and I have a quarrel, my wife does the kneeling!” Upon overhearing this, the wife said: “You know why I kneel down? I kneel down to look for him under our bed where he is hiding!”
