The Kingship of Christ: The story behind the devotion

Irish Jesuit Fr. Bernard McGuckian SJ speaks with Pat Coyle about the making of his four-part EWTN documentary, The Kingship of Christ », which examines the biblical origins and meaning of Christ’s kingship.

A central part of the discussion focuses on Martha de Noya, a 19th-century French Catholic woman whom Fr. McGuckian discovered during his research. She believed she had been entrusted by God with the mission of promoting recognition of Jesus Christ’s sovereign reign over all creation. She dedicated much of her life to seeking public acknowledgement of Christ’s universal kingship.

Reflecting on his research, Fr. McGuckian observes that some of the most significant and demanding work in the history of the Church has often been undertaken by “women of profound faith.”

He also recalls discovering a church in Rome whose name was closely connected to the theme of Christ’s kingship, which he took as an encouraging sign that the documentary was on the right track. He further recounts the story of an Irish cathedral that was renovated in the 1930s and dedicated by the Pope of the time to Christ the King, making it the first cathedral in the world to bear that dedication. Remarkably, just two days after its consecration, the Second World War began.

Listen to the full interview at the link above.