An age-old devotion to Divine Love
From the center of the main altarpiece in the parish church of Our Lord of the Blisters in Kinchil, the Christ of Love protects the local faithful.
The back wall of the niche is decorated with geometrical forms, and gilded plant motifs, while the front is enclosed by a glass door bearing the same ornamentation. Together they frame this black crucifix, enhancing its beauty within the Baroque reredos.
Although the date and artist of the Black Christ are unknown, its stylistic features appear to place it in the 17th century.
The Christ of Love is of great religious significance to the people of Kinchil and in other places where the image is sometimes taken, including Muna, Celestún, Tetiz and Chocholá.
The cult is so important that on the 14th of May 2023 the statue was brought to Merida to preside over the ordination of Mario Medina Balam as Auxiliary Bishop of Yucatán.
An interesting anecdote is that, on the evening of Good Friday, when religious services have finished, the image is lowered from the Cross and placed in a glass casket, to be carried in a Holy Funeral procession to the village cemetery, where it is worshipped by the populace. When the last of the faithful has passed in front of the sacred statue to say a brief prayer, it is returned to the parish church.
The image of Christ of Love is displayed in the main reredos in the church at Kinchil and can be viewed – if it is not absent visiting another community – during the times of religious services.
The festival of Christ of Love is one of the most important in the west of Yucatan, and takes place during all the month of May, with religious and popular activities.
The seventh auxiliary bishop of Yucatan, Mario Medina Balam, is an individual with particular links to this sacred image.
Kinchil is located 44 kilometers (27 miles) west of Merida. The etymology of the name is somewhat uncertain: the Cordemex Maya Dictionary translates it as “one million”; while the Popular Spanish-Maya Dictionary and the State Government state that it means “place of the god K’inich”.
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