Christ the King - more

"The new Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus"

Thus the title of an article in the periodical "Il Regno del Sacro Cuore di Gesù" (The Sacred Heart of Jesus) in June 1920. In fact the name of the church - a big desire of Fr. Dehon for many years - changes frequently throughout the years, until with the erection as a parish the title Parish Temple of the Sacred Heart of Christ, King of Peace becomes definitive.

On February 27, 1920 the periodical announces the start of construction in the Piazza d’Armi, "one of the best quarters in Rome, which day by day is more populated and in continuous development. It needed a church, where the Catholics of the new quarter could easily gather to accomplish their religious obligations."

The first stone was laid down on May 18, 1920. On this occasion the "famous sociologist Fr. Leo Dehon" gave the official address which is published in "Il Regno…." of June 1920 (inspired by an article in the Osservatore Romano)

"On the day of the promulgation of Saint Margaret Mary’s canonization the Holy Father said, this day should indicate the beginning of a new effusion of graces from the Sacred Heart and His reign which the Catholic faith hopes and expects to come as an era of peace, charity and reconciliation between the nations and the classes in society. This church shall fix the memory of this day and testify our confidence towards this blessed reign."

The horrible experiences of World War I (1914-1918) and the very difficult situation after the war is quite present in the title of the church as in the address of Fr. Dehon, when he continues:
"The Divine Heart of Jesus is nothing but peace and love: Let us all, faith filled people, draw from this mystical source which Our Lord wants to offer to our souls in an unrest and troubled era. ‘Come to me’, the Lord tells us, ‘workers, suffering souls, heavily proved nations’."

In the last years of Dehon’s life, one of his principal activities is to collect money for the construction of the church in Rome: a difficult work with often disappointing results: "I will send or have sent 4000 letters to collect funds. They come slowly and moderately." (NQ XLIII, 122. 7/1920). Even on the day of his death, several of these letters, which he prepared every morning, are found on his table.

(Quotations from ‘Il Regno del Sacro Cuore di Gesù, Anno IX/1920 and History of the Congregation 1878-1978, pp. 199-204)