Divine Mercy Image in Christ the King Church
The Shrine of Divine Mercy has its origin in the image of the Divine Mercy, which was enthroned in a chapel within the Church of Christ the King on September 13, 2003. Since its installation, the image has attracted parishioners and members of the wider community who not only come to seek divine assistance but who also are reminded that they themselves are called to be instruments of mercy to others. The veneration of this specific sacred image is one of the elements of the authentic forms of devotion to Our Lord, the Divine Mercy Incarnate, revealed to Saint Faustina Kowalska on February 22, 1931
In 2003, three years after the canonization of SisterFaustina, the Image of the Merciful Jesus came from Poland to the local parish of Christ the King and is venerated in a particular section of the church, which also includes the paintings of Saint Faustina and Blessed Father Michael Sopocko. The Image was blessed in Rome by Holy Father John Paul II. The Pope,himself a great devotee to Merciful Jesus, upon therequest of Father Zenon Jarzabek and Father George J.Bobowski, blessed and signed the Image on Ariel 30, 2003 during an audience in the Vatican. This Image at the Church of Christ the King, one of the contemporary copies of the countenance known through Saint Faustina’s revelations, deserves special attention. Looking carefully at this Image, you will see Saint John Paul II signature. Today, the Image of Merciful Jesus isthe only one Icon in the United States signed by Saint JohnPaul II. This makes this Icon a relic.
The Image of Merciful Jesus, Saint Faustina and Blessed Michael Sopocko were painted by Dymitr Grozdew. He is a well-known Artist who paints religious images. He is also a graphic artist, and sculpture. His Divine Mercy Paintings had traveled as far as the Philippines and Brazil. He is the author of many other religious paintings.
The modest nun has heard the words repeated today in uncountable languages: “Tell to the world about my mercy” (Diary 699). Thanks to devotees to God’s Mercy, and especially Father Antonio Cacciapuoti and Father George J. Bobowski, the echo of these words of Jesus became much louder even in the world’s movie capital – Hollywood.
For many years, the devotion to Divine Mercy has encountered serious difficulties in the Church and only the commitment of the contemporary Bishop of Krakow Cardinal Karol Wojtyła made possible for these obstacles to disappear. From the beginning the mysticism had been very close to Saint John Paul II, whom as early as in his youth has been interested in the work of Saint John of the Cross. He has dedicated to the Spanish Mystic both his greatest literary work, the poem The Song of the hidden God, and his doctor’s thesis - “Doctrina de fide apud S. Joannem de Cruce”, written in Latin Language.
No wonder that he was interested in a contemporary mystic, humble, uneducated nun, who has been chosen by Christ as the Apostle of His mercy. Once again, the word of God’s Son has been accomplished: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” (Mt 11, 25-27).
The teachings about God’s Mercy are one of the foundations of John Paul II’s Petrine Ministry. In his book “Memory and Identity” there is a separate chapter titled “The Mystery of Mercy”; He wrote: “I recall here Sister Faustina and the devotion to the Merciful Christ initiated by her, I do it also because she belongs to our age [...]Words written in Saint Faustina’s Diary appear to be a special Gospel of God’s Mercy written from the 20th Century’s perspective. The people of this century understood this message. They have comprehended it though this dramatic compiling of the evil, which has been brought by the Second World War and later, by cruelties of totalitarian systems. It is just like Christ wanted to show that the measure of evil, in which the casualty was the man, is finally the Mercy of God”. Thus, in such light we should see the initiative of the devotees of the Divine Mercy, whom — with the Image of Jesus painted for the parish of Christ the King in Los Angeles - first made a trip to the Vatican.
The faithful from the Parish of Christ the King led spiritually by their pastor Father Antonio Cacciapuoti and Father George J. Bobowski prepared themselves for the enthronement of the Image in a separate chapel with prayers and deep reflection during special days of retreat conducted by Bishops from Bialystok — City of Mercy. First, on September 6 and 7, 2003, they have met Bishop Edward Ozorowski, who delivered the lecture titled “Is There a Need to Talk About God’s Mercy These Days?” Also, he blessed a smaller image of the Merciful Christ, which soon after begun its peregrination through the households of the families of the parish which continues until now. As of today, approximately one thousand families were blessed to have the Icon in their homes for one week. The main celebration took place one week later, on September 13 and 14; presided by Archbishop Stanislaw Szymecki from Bialystok, Poland. On the first day’s conference he taught about the “Divine Mercy according to the teachings of John Paul II” and celebrated Holy Mass. The following day, during the solemnly concelebrated Holy Mass, Archbishop Szymecki blessed the Chapel of Divine Mercy in Christ the King Church. This is where the Image of the Merciful Christ found its place. Jesus is really present; miracles had happened and continue to happen touching people’s lives.
On September 14, the day the Chapel was blessed coincides with the Solemnity of the Elevation of the Cross, the worshippers of God’s Mercy remember this day as the day when Christ dictated to Saint Faustina the Chaplet to the Divine Mercy.
On April 11, 2010, during the Divine Mercy Sunday, after 7 years, since the Chapel’s initial blessing, and thanks to the generosity of the Chen Family, the altar in the Chapel of Merciful Christ, built by Mr. William Gonzalez, has been completed and solemnly blessed by Father Antonio Cacciapuoti, Father Charles Chaffman, Father George J. Bobowski and Father John-Paul Gonzalez with the assistance of Deacon Ricardo Villacorta.
Christ the King Parish has been blessed to have had all the priests who were dedicated to the Devotion to Divine Mercy. In 2019 Father Juan Ochoa become Administrator of Christ the King Parish. From the beginning of his ministry, Father Juan embraced the Devotion to Divine Mercy and committed himself to have declared Christ the King Church as the Archdiocese Sanctuary of Divine Mercy.
Lelis Cruzata
I sincerely thank Mrs. Lelis for the wonderful description of the Image of Divine Mercy in the Church of Christ the King. I cordially invite you to our Sanctuary. Here, miracles do happen.
Our Address: Christ the King Roman Catholic Church, 617 N. Arden Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90004 (Corner of Melrose and Vine)
Until Tomorrow
fr. george