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Christ the King

The royalty of Christ rests upon a twofold basis. He is our King by right of birth and by right of conquest. The first refers us to the personality of the Son of God, whereby, in His divine nature as God and by virtue of the hypostatic union, He is the sovereign Lord and Master. The second places before us the God-man coming down on earth to rescue fallen man from the slavery of Satan, and by the labors and sufferings of His life, passion, and death, to win a glorious victory for us over sin and hell.
This feast was instituted by Pope Pius XI at the close of the holy year 1925. The purpose of the Holy Father was to bring home to all mankind the fact that Christ is King not merely over individuals but over families and societies, over states and nations, over rulers and tribunals as well. The duty of Catholics is to hasten the return of the world to His authority by their prayers, their influence, and their actions. They are reminded that they must courageously fight under His royal banner with the weapons of the spirit for the rights of God and of His Church.
Christ is proclaimed King of all mankind both in the Old and the New Testament. David, Isaias, Daniel, and Zacharias in plainest terms predicted the kingship or kingdom of the future Messias. At the coming of Christ the Angel Gabriel announced that "of His Kingdom there shall be no end." The Savior Himself declared His Kingship before Pilate. And so devotion to Christ the King is not new, but the Church has given to it a great liturgical solemnity in this feast.
His kingdom, though in this world, was not to be of this world. As man He is Lord over all kings and over all human possessions. Yet He is "King of kings and Lord of Lords," and on the last day He will present Himself together with His kingdom to His Father, when all His enemies shall have been put under His feet.
The faithful Catholics of Mexico especially took this feast to heart in 1926, just one year after it was promulgated, when our faith came under attack by the socialist government of their country. They took up arms to defend the rights of the Church, and of Christ, their King. Their battle cry was "VIVA CRISTO REY," Long Live Christ the King! For this reason they received the honorable title Cristeros (derived from the "Cristo Rey" of their battle cry). After their merciless betrayal and slaughter, their story was hushed and suppressed from the minds of most Catholics for the next 83 years, until finally a movie was made in 2012 to witness to their lives. If you haven't seen For Greater Glory, I strongly encourage you to get the DVD and watch it.

INTROIT

Apocalypse 5: 12, 1: 6
Dignus est Agnus, qui occisus est, accipere virtutem, et divinitatem, et sapientiam, et fortitudinem, et honorem. Ipsi gloria et imperium in saecula saeculorum. Deus, judicium tuum Regi da: et justitiam tuam Filio Regis. Gloria Patri... Dignus est Agnus, qui occisus est, accipere virtutem, et divinitatem, et sapientiam, et fortitudinem, et honorem. Ipsi gloria et imperium in saecula saeculorum. Worthy is the Lamb, Who has been killed, to receive virtue, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honor. Glory and empire to Himself for ages of ages. God, give Thy judgment to the King: and Thy justice to the Son of the King. Glory be... Worthy is the Lamb, Who has been killed, to receive virtue, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honor.

COLLECT

Omnipotens sempiterne, Deus, qui in dilecto Filio tuo, universorum Rege, omnia instaurare voluisti: concede propitius; ut cunctae familiae Gentium, peccati vulnere disgregatae, ejus suavissimo subdantur imperio: Qui tecum vivit... Almighty everlasting God, Who hast wished to restore all things in Thy beloved Son, the King of mankind: concede, O favorable One; that whole families of Gentiles, having been seperated by the wound of sin, may be subjected to His sweetest empire: Who with Thee liveth...

EPISTLE

To the Colossians 1: 12-20
Fratres, gratias agimus Deo Patri, qui dignos nos fecit in partem sortis sanctorum in lumine: qui eripuit nos de potestate tenebrarum, et transtulit in regnum filii dilectionis suae, in quo habemus redemptionem per sanguinem ejus, remissionem peccatorum: qui est imago Dei invisibilis, primogenitus omnis creaturae: quoniam in ipso condita sunt universa in caelis, et in terra, visibilia, et invisibilia, sive throni, sive dominationes, sive principatus, sive potestates: omnia per ipsum et in ipso creata sunt: et ipse est ante omnes, et omnia in ipso constant. Et ipse est caput corporis Ecclesiae, qui est principium, primogenitus ex mortuis: ut sit in omnibus ipse primatum tenens: quia in ipso complacuit, omnem plenitudinem inhabitare: et per eum reconciliare omnia in ipsum, pacificans per sanguinem crucis ejus, sive quae in terris, sive quae in caelis sunt, in Christo Jesu Domino nostro. Brothers, we give thanks to God the Father, Who made us worthy for a part of the lot of the saints in light: Who rescued us from the power of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His own love, in Whom we have redemption through His Blood, the remission of sins: Who is the Image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature: because in Himself all things together in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, have been made, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers: all things through Him and in Himself have been created: and He is before all men, and all things stand together in Himself. And He is the Head of the body of the Church, Who is the beginning, the first-born out of the dead: so that He may be in all things holding primacy: because in Himself it has pleased God to inhabit every fullness: and through Him to reconcile all things in Him, pacifying through the Blood of His cross things whether they are in the world, or in the heavens, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

GRADUAL

Psalm 71: 8, 11
Dominabitur a mari usque as mare, et a flumine usque ad terminos orbis terrarum. Et adorabunt eum omnes reges terrae: omnes Gentes servient ei. Alleluia, alleluia. Potestas ejus, potestas aeterna, quae non auferetur: et regnum ejus, quod non corumpetur. Alleluia. He will dominate from the sea all the way to the sea, and from the river all the way to the boundaries of the sphere of the world. And all the kings of the earth will adore Him: all Gentiles will be subject to Him. Alleluia, alleluia. His power, eternal power, which will not be carried away: and His kingdom, which will not be corrupted. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

St. John 18: 33-37
In illo tempore: dixit Pilatus ad Jesum: Tu es rex Judaeorum? Respondit Jesus: A temetipso hoc dicis, an alii dixerunt tibi de me? Respondit Pilatus: Numquid ego Judaeus sum? gens tua et pontifices tradiderunt te mihi: quid fecisti? Respondit Jesus: Regnum meum non est de hoc mundo. Si ex hoc mundo esset regnum meum, ministri mei utique decertarent ut non traderer Judaeis: nunc autem regnum meum non est hinc. Dixit itaque ei Pilatus: Ergo rex es tu? Respondit Jesus: Tu dicis quia rex sum ego. Ego in hoc natus sum, et ad hoc veni in mundum, ut testimonium perhibeam veritati: omnis qui est ex veritate, audit vocem meam. In that time: Pilate said to Jesus: Art Thou the King of the Jews? Jesus responded: Do you say this from you yourself, or have others spoken to you about Me? Pilate responded: Is it possible I am Jew? Thy people and the high priests betrayed Thee to me: what hast Thou done? Jesus responded: My Kingdom is not from this world. If My Kingdom might be of this world, My ministers undoubtedly might fight to the finish so that I might not be betrayed by the Jews: now however My Kingdom is not from this place. And so Pilate said to Him: Therefore Thou art a King? Jesus responded: You speak because I am a King. I have been born into this, and towards this I have come into world, so that I may produce testimony to the truth: everyone who is of the truth, hears My Voice.

OFFERTORY

Psalm 2: 8
Postula a me, et dabo tibi Gentes hereditatem tuam, et possessionem tuam terminos terrae. Request from Me, and I will give to Thee the Gentiles Thine inheritance, and Thy possession the boundaries of the earth.

SECRET

Hostiam tibi, Domine, humanae reconciliationis offerimus: praesta, quaesumus; ut quem sacrificiis praesentibus immolamus, Ipse cunctis Gentibus unitatis et pacis dona concedat, Jesus Christus, Filius tuus Dominus noster: Qui tecum... We offer to Thee, Lord, the Host of human reconciliation: provide, we beseech; that He Whom we immolate with the present sacrifices, Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, may concede, to all Gentiles collectively, gifts of unity and of peace: Who with Thee...

PREFACE

Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus: Qui unigenitum Filium tuum Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Sacerdotem aternum et universorem Regem, oleo exsultationis unxisti: ut seipsum in ara crucis, hostiam immaculatam et pacificam offerens, redemptionis humanae sacramenta perageret: et suo suiectis imperio omnibus creaturis, aeternum et universale regnum, immensae tuae traderet Maiestati: regnum veritatis et vitae; regnum sanctitatis et gratiae; regnum iustitiae, amoris, et pacis. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omni militia coelestis exercitus, hymnum gloriae tuae canimus sine fine dicentes: Holy Lord, Almighty Father, Eternal God, it is truly worthy and just, right, and salutary, that we give thanks always and everywhere to Thee: Who hast annointed Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, eternal Priest and King of the universe, with the oil of exaltation. So that, offering an immaculate and peace-making Host, He Himself, on the altar of the cross, might go through with the sacraments of human redemption, and, all creatures having been subjected to His own command, the eternal and universal kingdom might yield to Thine immesurable Majesty: a kingdom of truth and life; a kingdom of sanctity and grace; a kingdom of justice, love, and peace. And therefore we sing with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the heavenly army's troops the hymn of Thy glory without end saying:

COMMUNION

Psalm 28: 10-11
Sedebit Dominus Rex in aeternum: Dominus benedicet populo suo in pace. The Lord will sit, King for endless time: The Lord will give blessings to His own people in peace.

POSTCOMMUNION

Immortalitatis alimoniam consecuti, quaesumus, Domine: ut, qui sub Christi Regis vexillis militare gloriamur, cum Ipso, in coelesti sede, jugiter regnare possimus: Qui tecum... Having arrived at the nourishment of immortality, we beseech, Lord: that, we who glory to serve in the military under the flags of Christ the King, may be able to rule perpetually on the celestial seat with Him: Who with Thee...

In honor of Christ our King, it is cutsomary to recite on this day before the Blessed Sacrament exposed the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

LITANY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, audi nos.
Christe, exaudi nos.
Pater de caelis, Deus, miserere nobis.
Fili, Redemptor mundi, Deus, miserere nobis.
Spiritus Sancte, Deus, miserere nobis.
Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, Filii Patris aeterni, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, in sinu Virginis Matris a Spiritu Sancto formatum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, Verbo Dei substantialiter unitum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, maiestatis infinitae, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, templum Dei sanctum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, tabernaculum Altissimi, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, domus Dei et porta caeli, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, fornax ardens caritatis, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, iustitiae et amoris receptaculum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, bonitate et amore plenum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, virtutum omnium abyssus, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, omni laude dignissimum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, rex et centrum omnium cordium, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, in quo sunt omnes thesauri sapientiae et scientiae, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, in quo habitat omnis plenitudo divinitatis, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, in quo Pater sibi bene complacuit, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, de cuius plenitudine omnes nos accepimus, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, desiderium collium aeternorum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, patiens et multae misericordiae, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, dives in omnes qui invocant te, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, fons vitae et sanctitatis, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, propitiatio pro peccatis nostris, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, saturatum opprobriis, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, attritum propter scelera nostra, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, usque ad mortem oboediens factum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, lancea perforatum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, fons totius consolationis, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, vita et resurrectio nostra, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, pax et reconciliatio nostra, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, victima peccatorum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, salus in te sperantium, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, spes in te morientium, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, deliciae Sanctorum omnium, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, parce nobis, Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, exaudi nos, Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis, Domine.
Christe, audi nos.
Christe, exaudi nos.
Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison.
Iesu, mitis et humilis Corde, Fac cor nostrum secundum Cor tuum.
Oremus -- Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, respice in Cor dilectissimi Filii tui et in laudes et satisfactiones, quas in nomine peccatorum tibi persolvit, iisque misericordiam tuam petentibus, tu veniam concede placatus in nomine eiusdem Filii tui Iesu Christi: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in saecula saeculorum. Amen. 		Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Father from the heavens, God, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, the Son of the eternal Father, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, having been formed in the bosom of the Virgin Mother by the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, having been united substantially with the Word of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, holy Temple of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Tent of the highest, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, House of God and Doorway of heaven, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, ardent Furnace of charity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Receptacle of justice and of love, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, filled with goodness and love, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Abyss of all of virtues, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, worthiest of every praise, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, King and Center of all hearts, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in Which are all the treasures of wisdom and of science, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in Which every fullness of Divinity inhabits, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in Which the Father has pleased well to Himself, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, from Whose fullness we all have accepted, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, desire of the eternal hills, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, patient and of much mercy, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, rich to all who invoke Thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Fountain of life and of sanctity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Atonement for our sins, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, having been satisfied with reproaches, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, having been worn down because of our crimes, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, made obedient all the way to death, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, having been pierced through with a lance, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Fountain of total consolation, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our Life and Resurrection, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our Peace and Reconciliation, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, sacrificial Victim of sins, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, the Salvation of those hoping in Thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, the Hope of those dying in thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, the Sweetheart of all saints, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, be lenient to us, Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, Lord.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison.
Jesus, mild and humble by heart, make our heart according to Thy Heart.
Let us pray -- Almighty everlasting God, have respect for the Heart of Thy most loved Son and for the praises and satisfactions which He releases to Thee in the name of sins, and to them petitioning Thy mercy, concede Thou kindness, having been placated in the Name of Thy same Son Jesus Christ: Who with Thee liveth and reigneth for ages of ages. Amen.

Act of Consecration of the Human Race
To the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us, humbly prostrate before Thy altar. We are Thine and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself to-day to Thy most Sacred Heart. Many, indeed, have never known Thee; many, too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism, and refuse not to draw them all into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy toward the children of that race, once Thy chosen people. Of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Saviour; may It now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of life. Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: "Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor forever. Amen."

Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus, Christus imperat!
Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus, Christus imperat!

¡VIVA CRISTO REY!
¡Y Nuestra Senora de Guadelupe!


Scripture Study

EPISTLE * To the Colossians 1: 12-20 Brothers, we give thanks to God the Father, Who made us worthy for a part of the lot of the saints in light:
We are not only by acceptation or imputation partakers of Christ's benefits, but are by His grace made worthy thereof, and deserve our salvation condignly.

Who rescued us from the power of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His own love, in Whom we have redemption through His Blood, the remission of sins:
It is through the Blood of Christ, and not by the law of Moses, that we are freed from the power of death. If the law could have saved us, the coming of Christ would have been useless. See then, he says, if it be proper to engage under a law which is so inefficacious.

Who is the Image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature:
St. John Chrysostom takes notice against the Arians, that the apostle calls Christ πρωτοτοκος, or first-born, not the first created, because He was not created at all. And the sense is that He was before all creatures, proceeding from all eternity from the Father.

because in Himself all things together in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, have been made, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers: all things through Him and in Himself have been created: and He is before all men, and all things stand together in Himself.
If all things that are were made by Him, He Himself was not made. And His divine power is also signified, when it is said all things consist or stand together in Him.

And He is the Head of the body of the Church, Who is the beginning, the first-born out of the dead:
that is, the first that rose to an immortal life.

so that He may be in all things holding primacy: because in Himself it has pleased God to inhabit every fullness:
The greatest fullness of graces was conferred on Him as Man, and from Him, as He was our Head, derived to all the members of His Church. The Protestant translation renders it has pleased the Father; but there is no reason to restrain it to the Father, seeing the work of the incarnation, and the blessings by it conferred on all mankind, are equally the work of the blessed Trinity, though the Second Person only was joined to our nature.

and through Him to reconcile all things in Him, pacifying through the Blood of His cross things whether they are in the world, or in the heavens, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Not that Christ died for the Angels, but the Angels were in a manner at war with men, with sinners, as they stood for the cause and glory of God; but Christ put an end to this enmity, by restoring men to his favor. He did not pardon the wicked angels when He pacified the things in heaven, but by reconciling good Angels to man, who were enemies to him before the birth of Christ.


GOSPEL * St. John 18: 33-37 In that time: Pilate said to Jesus: Art Thou the King of the Jews?
Wherein Pilate shows that the Jews had charged Him with calling Himself King of the Jews. Or Pilate had heard this by report; and as the Jews had no charge to bring forward, began to examine Him himself with respect to the things commonly reported of Him.

Jesus responded: Do you say this from you yourself, or have others spoken to you about Me?
He intimates here that Pilate was judging blindly and indiscreetly: If you say this thing of yourself, He says, bring forward proofs of My rebellion; if you have heard it from others, make regular inquiry into it. Our Lord knew indeed both what He Himself asked, and what Pilate would answer; but He wished it to be written down for our sakes. He asks not in ignorance, but in order to draw from Pilate himself an accusation against the Jews.

Pilate responded: Is it possible I am Jew? Thy people and the high priests betrayed Thee to me:
He rejects the imputation that He could have said it of Himself. It pleased God that Christ, Who was to die both for the Jews and the Gentiles, should be betrayed of the one, and put to death by the other.

what hast Thou done?
Whereby he shows that this charge had been brought against Him, for it is as much as to say, If Thou deniest that Thou art a King, what hast Thou done to be betrayed to me? As if it were no wonder that He should be betrayed, if He called Himself a King.

Jesus responded: My Kingdom is not from this world.
He then tries to bring round the mind of Pilate, not a very bad man, by proving to him that He is not a mere Man, but God, and the Son of God; and overthrowing all suspicion of His having aimed at a tyranny, which Pilate was afraid of. This is what the good Master wished to teach us. But first it was necessary to show the falsity of the notions of both Jews and Gentiles as to His Kingdom, which Pilate had heard of; as if it meant that He aimed at unlawful power; a crime punishable with death, and this Kingdom were a subject of jealousy to the ruling power, and to be guarded against as likely to be hostile either to the Romans or Jews. Now if our Lord had answered immediately Pilate's question, He would have seemed to have been answering not the Jews, but the Gentiles only. But after Pilate's answer, what He says is an answer to both Gentiles and Jews: as if He said, Men, that is, Jews and Gentiles, I hinder not your dominion in this world. What more would you have? Come by faith to the Kingdom which is not from this world. For what is His Kingdom, but they that believe in Him, of whom He says, you are not of the world: although He wished that they should be in the world. In the same way, here He does not say, My kingdom is not in this world; but, is not from this world. Of the world are all men, who created by God are born of the corrupt race of Adam. All that are born again by Baptism in Christ are made a Kingdom not from this world. Thus hath God taken us out of the power of darkness, and translated us to the Kingdom of His dear Son. He also means that He does not derive His Kingdom from the same source that earthly kings do; but that He has His sovereignty from above; inasmuch as He is not mere Man, but far greater and more glorious than man.

If My Kingdom might be of this world, My ministers undoubtedly might fight to the finish so that I might not be betrayed by the Jews:
Here He shows the weakness of an earthly kingdom, has its strength from its ministers, whereas that higher Kingdom is sufficient to itself, and wanting in nothing. And if His Kingdom was thus the greater of the two, it follows that He was taken of His own will, and betrayed Himself.

now however My Kingdom is not from this place.
He does not say, Not here, for His Kingdom is here to the end of the world, having within it the tares mixed with the wheat until the harvest. But yet it is not from this place, since it is a stranger in the world. He reigns in the world, and carries on the government of it, and disposes all things according to His will; but His Kingdom is not from below, but from above, and before all ages. Heretics infer from these words that our Lord is a different Person from the Creator of the world. But when He says, My Kingdom is not from this place, He does not deprive the world of His government and superintendence, but only shows that His government is not human and corruptible.

And so Pilate said to Him: Therefore Thou art a King? Jesus responded: You speak because I am a King.
He did not fear to confess Himself a King, but so replied as neither to deny that He was, nor yet to confess Himself a King in such sense as that His Kingdom should be supposed to be of this world. He says, you speak, meaning, you being carnal say it carnally.

I have been born into this, and towards this I have come into world, so that I may produce testimony to the truth:
The pronoun here, in hoc, must not be dwelt long on as if it meant, in hâc re, but shortened, as if it stood, ad hoc, natus sum, as the next words are, ad hoc veni in mundum. Wherein it is evident He alludes to His birth in the Flesh not to that divine birth which never had beginning. We must observe how He shows His humility here: when they accused Him as a malefactor, He bore it in silence; but when He is asked of His Kingdom, then He talks with Pilate, instructs him, and raises his mind to higher things. so that I may produce testimony to the truth shows that He had no crafty purpose in what He did.

everyone who is of the truth, hears My Voice.
hears, that is, with the inward ear; obeys My Voice, believes Me. Everyone who is of the truth has reference to the grace by which He calls according to His purpose. For as regards the nature in which we are created, since the truth created all, all are of the truth. But it is not all to whom it is given the truth to obey the truth. For had He even said, Everyone that hears My Voice is of the truth, it still would be thought that such were of the truth, because they obeyed the truth. But He does not say this, but Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice. A man then is not of the truth because he hears His Voice, but hears His Voice because he is of the truth. This grace is conferred upon him by the truth.