S3 E8: Christ the King: A Crown of Thorns, A Way of Life (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)

In this powerful reflection for the Feast of Christ the King, Stacey Trapani reads one of Bishop Ken Untener's homilies where he explores how Jesus redefined kingship—not through thrones and triumph, but through humility, suffering, and love. Though instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI, this feast invites us to look beyond worldly images of royalty and embrace Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the New Adam, and the one who leads us not by force, but by example.

Through vivid contrasts—crowns of thorns, a cross as a throne, and oil instead of swords—we’re reminded that following Christ means walking in his way of life. Every “Amen” we say is a commitment to live with love, even in the face of suffering. On this final Sunday of the Church year, we’re invited to look at the sweep of history and recommit ourselves to Christ at the center of it all.

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Stacey has been a Blessed Sacrament parishioner for more than 35 years. She grew up in Lansing and attended Central Michigan University where she earned a degree in journalism. She has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from CMU and a master’s in Communications from MSU. For most of her career, Stacey owned Trapani Communications, Inc., in Midland. She recently “retired” to become executive director of Little Books, creators of the Little Black Book and other daily reflections. Stacey is also a commissioned Lay Minister and is in her final year of a three-year Spiritual Director training program. She has been married to Chuck for 39 years and has two daughters both with awesome spouses. She is overjoyed to soon welcome their first grandbaby.

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Kenneth Edward Untener was born in Detroit on Aug. 3, 1937 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1963 for the Archdiocese of Detroit. He served as rector of St. John Provincial Seminary in Plymouth from 1977 until he was ordained as the fourth bishop of Saginaw in November 1980.

Described as a “Hungarian Gypsy” by his predecessor, Bishop Untener made headlines when he sold the bishop’s residence shortly after coming to the diocese and moved 69 times from parish rectory to parish rectory, living as a roommate with his diocesan priests and somewhat from the trunk of his car.

He took the Diocese of Saginaw global with his legacy of seasonal "Little Books" of prayer for Lent, Easter and Advent/Christmas. First released in 2000, more than 3 million copies are sold annually worldwide, with books making their way into the hands of Catholics as far away as Australia.

In addition to the ministry of his vocation – and despite his need for a prosthetic leg after losing part of his leg to a birth deformity – Bishop Untener also had a love for hockey. He was known to sometimes show up at the Nouvel Catholic Central High School team’s early morning practices and challenge goalies. 

Saginaw’s spiritual leader for more than 23 years, Bishop Untener died March 27, 2004 from leukemia.