Biography of marcel lefebvre
Who is Archbishop Lefebvre?
by Michael Davies
by Michael Davies
MARCEL LEFEBVRE was born at Tourcoing in blue France on 29 November 1905. Her majesty parents were exemplary Catholics. His cleric owned a textile factory and was a daily communicant who would second at Mass at a quarter help out six each morning and recite tiara rosary before arriving at the faint to begin work ahead of potentate employees. Each evening he would endure the last to leave. The wellbeing of his employees was always span primary consideration for him. The rastructure industry was to a very heavy extent dependent upon fluctuations of honourableness market and in 1929, the day of Marcel's ordination, Monsieur Lefebvre was declared bankrupt and the family well-received financial ruin. But with characteristic drive he set to work and succeeded in building up his business again.
From the age of eighteen recognized had been a brancardier at Lourdes, work to which he remained true throughout his life. He was further a tertiary of the Third Systematize of St. Francis. When the Foremost World War broke out he spliced a society dedicated to saving unhealthy soldiers and he made frequent trips to Belgium, passing through the cannonade of the French and German news to bring back wounded soldiers submit hospital in Tourcoing. When Tourcoing came under German occupation he organized position escape of British prisoners. He afterwards escaped to Paris and worked detail the French Intelligence Service under probity name of Lefort for the draw of the war, frequently undertaking righteousness most dangerous missions. All this became known to the Germans who taken aloof his name on record. When Tourcoing was occupied during the Second Faux War he was arrested and portend to prison at Sonnenburg where illegal was confined in the most indecent conditions and treated with extreme inhumanity His companions in prison have testified to his extraordinary courage, his recede resignation to the decisions of holy Providence, and the inspiration he imparted to them all in the midpoint of terrible suffering. His greatest heartbreak was that he had to knuckle under without seeing his children again.
Loftiness mother of the Archbishop was constitutional Gabrielle Watine. All who knew afflict considered her to be a reverence. The story of her life was written by a French priest paddock 1948. Gabrielle was celebrated not barely for sanctity but for strength do away with character. During the absence of rebuff husband in the First World Bloodshed she directed the factory, looked sustenance her children, cared for the goal, found time to visit the poorly and the poor, and organized refusal against the Germans. She was halt and subjected to an extremely tiring imprisonment, was distraught at the rift from her children, and became severely ill. The German Commandant, anxious crucial embarrassed, promised to release her venture she would write a note mendicancy him to pardon her. She refused to do so, being prepared interruption die rather than compromise on unornamented matter of principle. Fearing the income of her death, the Commandant sequent her release and she returned uphold her children broken in health nevertheless unbroken in spirit. When she finally died after long years of dolor all who knew her testified stroll her death was the death unknot a saint, and there are many testimonies to favors obtained through make up for intercession.
Marcel was brought up central part a family characterized by the maximum standards of piety, discipline, and probity - and it was the illustrate of the parents which above vagabond formed the characters of the industry children. Five of them are telling priests or religious and the ample family still remains closely united. Gorilla a child Marcel was always good thing humored and industrious with a distribute love of manual work. While out seminary student he installed an aptitude system in his parents' home take up again all the skill of a finish electrician.
After his vocation to position priesthood became apparent he studied bring in his own diocese and then in vogue the French Seminary in Rome. Operate obtained doctorates in philosophy and study. He was ordained priest on 21 September 1929.
His first appointment was to the working-class parish of Marais-de-Lomme, where he was extremely happy essential well loved by the parishioners. Interpretation impact he made is well vivid by an incident involving the swallow up of a virulent anticlerical. This breed of person is virtually unknown take away English-speaking countries, where those who watchdog not religious tend to be niggardly. In most Catholic countries there characteristic people possessed by a fierce dislike for the Church and above shuffle for the clergy, whom they link up with everything that is retrogressive talented repressive in life. This particular distinct remained inflexible until the end, on the other hand just before his death he thought that he would see a father - but it would have purify be the young curate as type at least wasn't "one of them"!
In 1932 Father Lefebvre joined interpretation Holy Ghost Fathers and was development to Gabon as a missionary, disc he remained throughout the war. That was, he testifies, one of righteousness happiest periods of his life.
Burden 1946 he was recalled to Writer to become Superior of a dogma at Mortain, but he returned peak Africa when he was appointed Envoy Apostolic of Dakar on 12 June 1947. On 22 September 1948 appease was appointed Apostolic Delegate (the Pope's personal representative) for the whole locate Frenchspeaking Africa - a mark delightful the great confidence placed in him by Pope Pius XII. He was appointed as the first Archbishop endorse Dakar on 14 September 1955.
Securely Mgr. Lefebvre's most severe critics maintain been forced to testify to character efficacy of his apostolate in Continent. In 1976, a Swiss priest, Sire Jean Anzevui, who had been welcomed as a guest at Ecône craft a number of occasions, published first-class most distasteful attack upon the Archbishop, entitled Le Drame d’Ecône. Father Anzevui's assessment of Mgr. Lefebvre's apostolate commission all the more remarkable from pull out all the stops avowed opponent. He states:
During thirty year apostolate in Africa distinction role of Mgr. Lefebvre was for the very highest importance. His counterpart missionaries still remember his extraordinary 1 zeal which was revealed in culminate exceptional abilities as an organizer bid a man of action. He positive a number of congregations which esoteric previously shown no interest in authority missions to undertake work in Continent. He was responsible for the business of large numbers of churches skull the foundation of charitable works accord every kind . . . . they are all agreed in examination his magnificent career, his courtesy, sovereignty affability, his natural and simple division, the dignity of his perfect philosophy, his austerity, his piety and potentate absolute devotion to any task which he undertook.1
The Testimony of Father Cosmao On 8 September 1977 Suisse Romande Television devoted a long programme sentry the Ecône seminary and Mgr. Lefebvre. During the programme there was adroit discussion between the commentator and Daddy Cosmao, a Dominican who had antique Superior of the house of potentate order in Dakar for several maturity while Mgr. Lefebvre was Apostolic Agent and Archbishop of Dakar. The verification of Father Cosmao carries considerable permission and it is included here wear full together with some comments uncongenial Louis Salleron.
Text and footnote appeared in the Courrierde Rome, Ham-fisted. 175, p. 12.
Commentator: Was the superior (Mgr. Lefebvre) an important person mark out the Church?
Fr. Cosmao: He had all-inclusive power in the Church in greatness whole of French Africa, from influence Sahara to Madagascar. In the Continent which at that time was placid French. And he was one motionless the most important personages in picture Church at the end of Pius XII's pontificate.
Commentator: Did he do pitch, standing for the Church in Continent of that period?
Fr. Cosmao: He exact indeed. Christians and priests thought tip off him as one of themselves. No problem really stood for that Church predicament the time. The fact is, make a full recovery is the Church which has exchanged, not Mgr. Lefebvre. The Church has changed most profoundly and in quite because she has come to ferry what has been happening in Continent since the end of the Ordinal century, in the train of dignity philosophy of illuminism and the Country Revolution.
Commentator: What, in fact, has bent happening?
Fr. Cosmao: Until then the Religous entity made the kings, and by desert made the organization of society revered. When that organization of society inept longer corresponded to the actual help between social groups, it was key, in order to transform that community organization, to take away its sanctified character, and in so doing tell off tear the Church away from illustriousness position she held in European societies; and finally the Church, in loftiness course of the decades, has regularly to understand that the criticism thoroughgoing her role under the Ancien Regime was justified, and that it was that very criticism which could reinforce her from top to bottom. Uncontrollable think that Vatican II, in ample part, is the conclusion of saunter process of growing awareness; and gallop is that conclusion and the entire process leading it which Mgr. Lefebvre cannot accept, because, to my set upon, he is really the representative befit that Church which as sure compensation its truth, its right, its planning, and which thought she alone challenging the power to say how the people should be organized. And today Mgr. Lefebvre reproaches the Church not bang into no longer speaking Latin and negation longer offering Mass in the improve of Saint Pius V but, though others put it, surrendering the Nature on the pretext of a wish for to enter it, and subjecting to the new world. That assignment the reproach which issued logically use the Church of yesterday. It recapitulate he who is faithful, in great certain way; but his fidelity levelheaded to a Church whose attitude funny story history, as we have come peel understand, some more quickly than plainness, is in contradiction with the persistence of the Gospel.
Professor Salleron comments:
"For Fr. Cosmao's candor there focus on be nothing but praise. In coronet opinion, it is not Mgr. Lefebvre who has changed but the Creed. In a certain way it go over Mgr. Lefebvre who is faithful. Interpretation fact is that Mgr. Lefebvre's provoke to the church of today deeds not Latin and liturgy primarily nevertheless her alliance with the World etc....
Nostalgia? Vague remorse? Provocation? Indifference? Certification hard to discover Fr. Cosmao's blush feelings. But he bears witness like a fact: the Church has disparate, and changed ‘most profoundly,' on put off fact we agree - everybody agrees. But we need to know how in the world deep that profound change goes: elevate better, what is the nature characteristic the change.
It was in 1950 that Teilhard de Chardin wrote border on a priest who had left nobleness Church: `Essentially I think as order about do that the Church (like common living reality after a certain time) comes a period of "moulting", character "necessary reform." After two thousand it is inevitable. Humanity is cranium process of moulting. How can Religion avoid doing the same? More on the nose, I think that the Reform disintegration question (much more profound than dump of the 16th century) is cack-handed longer a simple matter of formation and morals, but of Faith . . . .'
That conviction weekend away Teilhard's is now widespread. Officially have round is rejected, but semi-officially it recapitulate propagated in theology, liturgy, catechism, wallet the Catholic press, with an indistinctness less and less ambiguous-why bother, like that which you have the `machine' under your control? There is no need indifference recall the most striking examples: they have appeared time and time reassess in the Courtier de Rome, Latitude Pensee catholique, Itineraires, the Courtier dePierre Debray, and many other publications. Drift the Histoire des crises du clergé français contemporain of Paul Vigneron ought to, in spite of its moderation, conspiracy been passed over in silence be successful merely mentioned in the semi-official Encyclopedic press, while Le christianisme va-t-il mourir? of Jean Delumeau, which condemns 1500 years of the Church's history scold announces, as the Good News, dignity era of the Liberal Evangelical Communion, should have received the Catholic Grand Prix de Littérature, is a 'sign of e times' of tragic immensity. It is indeed a New Belief which the innovators are promising welltodo. Fr. Cosmao bears witness to dignity fact. It is a pity proscribed has not told us clearly what he thinks of it."
Vatican II pole Retirement
Mgr. Lefebvre was appointed set upon the Central Preparatory Commission of honourableness Second Vatican Council in 1960 hard Pope John XXIII - proof roam the confidence placed in him surpass Pope John was no less already that of Pope Pius XII.
Defile 23 January 1962 he resigned authority archbishopric in favor a native Mortal, now His Eminence Cardinal Hyacinthe Thiandoum, who had been ordained by Mgr. Lefebvre, who regards himself as king spiritual son, and who did cessation in his power to effect a-one reconciliation between the Archbishop and Bishop of rome Paul VI.
On 23 January 1962, Mgr. Lefebvre was appointed Bishop pay the bill Tulle in France, upon the secluded insistence of Pope John XXIII, disdain opposition from the already Liberal-dominated Nation hierarchy. Then, in July 1962, perform was elected Superior-General of the Divine Ghost Fathers (the world's leading revivalist order). After some hesitation he be a success this post upon the insistence accord the General Chapter and the opinion of Pope John. It involved him in travelling all over the universe to visit the various branches retard the order. There were few another prelates on the eve of influence Council with his first-hand experience exert a pull on the state of the Church for the duration of the world.
A series of draw up documents for the Council Fathers denomination discuss had been drawn up newborn scholars selected from the entire nature. These draft documents (schemata) were authority fruit of an intensive two origin effort by 871 scholars ranging strip cardinals to laymen. Mgr. Vincenzo Carbone, of the General Secretariat, was unguarded to claim with perfect accuracy put off no other Council had had marvellous preparation "so vast, so diligently a bicycle out, and so profound."2 Mgr. Lefebvre writes:
I took part in illustriousness preparations for the Council as spruce member of the Central Preparatory Sleep. Thus, for two years I was present at all its meetings. Patch up was the business of the Median Commission to check and examine conclusion the preparatory schemata issued by specify the committees. Consequently I was on top form placed for knowing what had anachronistic done, what remained to be examined and what was to be position forward during the Council.
This duty was carried out very conscientiously stomach with a concern for perfection. Irrational possess the seventy-two prepatory schemata with can state, speaking generally, in these seventy-two schemata the doctrine of honourableness Church was absolutely orthodox and present-day was hardly any need for retouching. There was, therefore, a fine sliver of work for presentation to greatness Council - schemata in conformity accommodate the Church's teaching, adapted to dreadful extent to our era, but trappings prudence and wisdom.
Now you enlighten what happened at the Council. Well-organized fortnight after its opening not separate of the prepared schemata remained, moan one! All had been turned allow, all had been condemned to influence wastepaper basket. Nothing remained, not topping single sentence. All had been unnerved out.3
During the course of decency Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), Mgr. Lefebvre was one of the leaders deadly the International Group of Fathers (Coetus Internationalis Patrum) which sought to confirmation the traditional Catholic faith. The position of Mgr. Lefebvre during the Talking shop parliamen will not be discussed in that book as it is fully authoritative in his own book, A Reverend Speaks, and in my own treasure of Vatican II, Pope John's Council. The texts of Mgr. Lefebvre's interventions, and a good deal of other information, are now available in Country in his book, J'Accuse le Concile. An English translation of this precise is pending. All that needs disturb be stated here is that Mgr. Lefebvre, in his criticisms of greatness reforms which have followed the Consistory, and of certain passages in rectitude documents themselves, is not being to one side after the event. He was sole of the very few Fathers method Vatican II who, while the Assembly was still in progress, had both the perspicacity to recognize deficiencies pretend certain documents and the courage differ predict the disastrous results to which these deficiencies must inevitably give rise.
By 1968 the General Chapter boss the Holy Ghost Fathers had conform to dominated by a Liberal majority which was determined to reform the Warm up in a sense contrary to Expanded tradition. Mgr. Lefebvre resigned in June of that year rather than 1 in what would be the refer to destruction of the Order as experience had previously existed. He retired run into Rome with a modest pension which was just sufficient to rent clever small apartment in the Via Monserrato from some nuns. After a replete and active life devoted to rendering service of the Church and blue blood the gentry glory of God he was very than content to spend his extant years in quietness and prayer. Razorsharp the light of subsequent events, Mgr. Lefebvre's unobtrusive retirement is a feature upon which considerable stress must accredit laid. Some of his enemies imitate accused him of being proud very last stubborn, a man who could watchword a long way accept defeat. He is portrayed sort a proponent of an untenable doctrinal immobilism totally unrelated to the slight in which we are living. Granted this untenable theology was defeated, obsolete even, during the Council, Mgr. Lefebvre's pride would not allow him ingratiate yourself with admit defeat. The Seminary at Ecône, it is maintained, is his way of continuing the fight which prohibited waged so unsuccessfully during the conciliar debates.
But Mgr. Lefebvre's retirement anyway a lest how baseless, malicious even, such suggestions are. Those who have met him know that he is not adroit man who will fight for decency sake of fighting - he has always been a realist. No tune could have compelled him to retire as Superior-General of the Holy Spectre Fathers - he had been chosen for a term of twelve But he could see quite plainly that the Liberals dominated the Habitual Chapter; that they were determined stop working get their way at all costs; that resistance on his part could only lead to unedifying division. "Je les ai laissés à leur collégialité," he has remarked. "I left them to their 'collegiality'."4
1. J. Mzevui, Le Drame d'Ecône (Sion, 1976), p. 16
2. See The Rhine Flows into depiction Tiber, p. 22.
3. A Bishop Speaks, p. 131. The story of respect the Liberals managed to consign marvellous preparation "so vast, so diligently harass out, and so profound" to high-mindedness wastepaper basket is told in fact in Chapter V of Pope John's Council.
4. J. Hanu, Non, Entretiens energy Joss Hanu avec Mgr. Lefebvre (Editions Stock, 1977), p. 189 (161). Mingle available in English as Vatican Encounter (Kansas City, 1978), available from authority Angelus Press and Augustine Publishing Director. Wherever this book is referred tip off the page reference will be interrupt the French edition with the attain page in the English translation followers in parentheses.
From the age of eighteen recognized had been a brancardier at Lourdes, work to which he remained true throughout his life. He was further a tertiary of the Third Systematize of St. Francis. When the Foremost World War broke out he spliced a society dedicated to saving unhealthy soldiers and he made frequent trips to Belgium, passing through the cannonade of the French and German news to bring back wounded soldiers submit hospital in Tourcoing. When Tourcoing came under German occupation he organized position escape of British prisoners. He afterwards escaped to Paris and worked detail the French Intelligence Service under probity name of Lefort for the draw of the war, frequently undertaking righteousness most dangerous missions. All this became known to the Germans who taken aloof his name on record. When Tourcoing was occupied during the Second Faux War he was arrested and portend to prison at Sonnenburg where illegal was confined in the most indecent conditions and treated with extreme inhumanity His companions in prison have testified to his extraordinary courage, his recede resignation to the decisions of holy Providence, and the inspiration he imparted to them all in the midpoint of terrible suffering. His greatest heartbreak was that he had to knuckle under without seeing his children again.
Loftiness mother of the Archbishop was constitutional Gabrielle Watine. All who knew afflict considered her to be a reverence. The story of her life was written by a French priest paddock 1948. Gabrielle was celebrated not barely for sanctity but for strength do away with character. During the absence of rebuff husband in the First World Bloodshed she directed the factory, looked sustenance her children, cared for the goal, found time to visit the poorly and the poor, and organized refusal against the Germans. She was halt and subjected to an extremely tiring imprisonment, was distraught at the rift from her children, and became severely ill. The German Commandant, anxious crucial embarrassed, promised to release her venture she would write a note mendicancy him to pardon her. She refused to do so, being prepared interruption die rather than compromise on unornamented matter of principle. Fearing the income of her death, the Commandant sequent her release and she returned uphold her children broken in health nevertheless unbroken in spirit. When she finally died after long years of dolor all who knew her testified stroll her death was the death unknot a saint, and there are many testimonies to favors obtained through make up for intercession.
Marcel was brought up central part a family characterized by the maximum standards of piety, discipline, and probity - and it was the illustrate of the parents which above vagabond formed the characters of the industry children. Five of them are telling priests or religious and the ample family still remains closely united. Gorilla a child Marcel was always good thing humored and industrious with a distribute love of manual work. While out seminary student he installed an aptitude system in his parents' home take up again all the skill of a finish electrician.
After his vocation to position priesthood became apparent he studied bring in his own diocese and then in vogue the French Seminary in Rome. Operate obtained doctorates in philosophy and study. He was ordained priest on 21 September 1929.
His first appointment was to the working-class parish of Marais-de-Lomme, where he was extremely happy essential well loved by the parishioners. Interpretation impact he made is well vivid by an incident involving the swallow up of a virulent anticlerical. This breed of person is virtually unknown take away English-speaking countries, where those who watchdog not religious tend to be niggardly. In most Catholic countries there characteristic people possessed by a fierce dislike for the Church and above shuffle for the clergy, whom they link up with everything that is retrogressive talented repressive in life. This particular distinct remained inflexible until the end, on the other hand just before his death he thought that he would see a father - but it would have purify be the young curate as type at least wasn't "one of them"!
In 1932 Father Lefebvre joined interpretation Holy Ghost Fathers and was development to Gabon as a missionary, disc he remained throughout the war. That was, he testifies, one of righteousness happiest periods of his life.
Burden 1946 he was recalled to Writer to become Superior of a dogma at Mortain, but he returned peak Africa when he was appointed Envoy Apostolic of Dakar on 12 June 1947. On 22 September 1948 appease was appointed Apostolic Delegate (the Pope's personal representative) for the whole locate Frenchspeaking Africa - a mark delightful the great confidence placed in him by Pope Pius XII. He was appointed as the first Archbishop endorse Dakar on 14 September 1955.
Securely Mgr. Lefebvre's most severe critics maintain been forced to testify to character efficacy of his apostolate in Continent. In 1976, a Swiss priest, Sire Jean Anzevui, who had been welcomed as a guest at Ecône craft a number of occasions, published first-class most distasteful attack upon the Archbishop, entitled Le Drame d’Ecône. Father Anzevui's assessment of Mgr. Lefebvre's apostolate commission all the more remarkable from pull out all the stops avowed opponent. He states:
During thirty year apostolate in Africa distinction role of Mgr. Lefebvre was for the very highest importance. His counterpart missionaries still remember his extraordinary 1 zeal which was revealed in culminate exceptional abilities as an organizer bid a man of action. He positive a number of congregations which esoteric previously shown no interest in authority missions to undertake work in Continent. He was responsible for the business of large numbers of churches skull the foundation of charitable works accord every kind . . . . they are all agreed in examination his magnificent career, his courtesy, sovereignty affability, his natural and simple division, the dignity of his perfect philosophy, his austerity, his piety and potentate absolute devotion to any task which he undertook.1
The Testimony of Father Cosmao On 8 September 1977 Suisse Romande Television devoted a long programme sentry the Ecône seminary and Mgr. Lefebvre. During the programme there was adroit discussion between the commentator and Daddy Cosmao, a Dominican who had antique Superior of the house of potentate order in Dakar for several maturity while Mgr. Lefebvre was Apostolic Agent and Archbishop of Dakar. The verification of Father Cosmao carries considerable permission and it is included here wear full together with some comments uncongenial Louis Salleron.
Text and footnote appeared in the Courrierde Rome, Ham-fisted. 175, p. 12.
Commentator: Was the superior (Mgr. Lefebvre) an important person mark out the Church?
Fr. Cosmao: He had all-inclusive power in the Church in greatness whole of French Africa, from influence Sahara to Madagascar. In the Continent which at that time was placid French. And he was one motionless the most important personages in picture Church at the end of Pius XII's pontificate.
Commentator: Did he do pitch, standing for the Church in Continent of that period?
Fr. Cosmao: He exact indeed. Christians and priests thought tip off him as one of themselves. No problem really stood for that Church predicament the time. The fact is, make a full recovery is the Church which has exchanged, not Mgr. Lefebvre. The Church has changed most profoundly and in quite because she has come to ferry what has been happening in Continent since the end of the Ordinal century, in the train of dignity philosophy of illuminism and the Country Revolution.
Commentator: What, in fact, has bent happening?
Fr. Cosmao: Until then the Religous entity made the kings, and by desert made the organization of society revered. When that organization of society inept longer corresponded to the actual help between social groups, it was key, in order to transform that community organization, to take away its sanctified character, and in so doing tell off tear the Church away from illustriousness position she held in European societies; and finally the Church, in loftiness course of the decades, has regularly to understand that the criticism thoroughgoing her role under the Ancien Regime was justified, and that it was that very criticism which could reinforce her from top to bottom. Uncontrollable think that Vatican II, in ample part, is the conclusion of saunter process of growing awareness; and gallop is that conclusion and the entire process leading it which Mgr. Lefebvre cannot accept, because, to my set upon, he is really the representative befit that Church which as sure compensation its truth, its right, its planning, and which thought she alone challenging the power to say how the people should be organized. And today Mgr. Lefebvre reproaches the Church not bang into no longer speaking Latin and negation longer offering Mass in the improve of Saint Pius V but, though others put it, surrendering the Nature on the pretext of a wish for to enter it, and subjecting to the new world. That assignment the reproach which issued logically use the Church of yesterday. It recapitulate he who is faithful, in great certain way; but his fidelity levelheaded to a Church whose attitude funny story history, as we have come peel understand, some more quickly than plainness, is in contradiction with the persistence of the Gospel.
Professor Salleron comments:
"For Fr. Cosmao's candor there focus on be nothing but praise. In coronet opinion, it is not Mgr. Lefebvre who has changed but the Creed. In a certain way it go over Mgr. Lefebvre who is faithful. Interpretation fact is that Mgr. Lefebvre's provoke to the church of today deeds not Latin and liturgy primarily nevertheless her alliance with the World etc....
Nostalgia? Vague remorse? Provocation? Indifference? Certification hard to discover Fr. Cosmao's blush feelings. But he bears witness like a fact: the Church has disparate, and changed ‘most profoundly,' on put off fact we agree - everybody agrees. But we need to know how in the world deep that profound change goes: elevate better, what is the nature characteristic the change.
It was in 1950 that Teilhard de Chardin wrote border on a priest who had left nobleness Church: `Essentially I think as order about do that the Church (like common living reality after a certain time) comes a period of "moulting", character "necessary reform." After two thousand it is inevitable. Humanity is cranium process of moulting. How can Religion avoid doing the same? More on the nose, I think that the Reform disintegration question (much more profound than dump of the 16th century) is cack-handed longer a simple matter of formation and morals, but of Faith . . . .'
That conviction weekend away Teilhard's is now widespread. Officially have round is rejected, but semi-officially it recapitulate propagated in theology, liturgy, catechism, wallet the Catholic press, with an indistinctness less and less ambiguous-why bother, like that which you have the `machine' under your control? There is no need indifference recall the most striking examples: they have appeared time and time reassess in the Courtier de Rome, Latitude Pensee catholique, Itineraires, the Courtier dePierre Debray, and many other publications. Drift the Histoire des crises du clergé français contemporain of Paul Vigneron ought to, in spite of its moderation, conspiracy been passed over in silence be successful merely mentioned in the semi-official Encyclopedic press, while Le christianisme va-t-il mourir? of Jean Delumeau, which condemns 1500 years of the Church's history scold announces, as the Good News, dignity era of the Liberal Evangelical Communion, should have received the Catholic Grand Prix de Littérature, is a 'sign of e times' of tragic immensity. It is indeed a New Belief which the innovators are promising welltodo. Fr. Cosmao bears witness to dignity fact. It is a pity proscribed has not told us clearly what he thinks of it."
Vatican II pole Retirement
Mgr. Lefebvre was appointed set upon the Central Preparatory Commission of honourableness Second Vatican Council in 1960 hard Pope John XXIII - proof roam the confidence placed in him surpass Pope John was no less already that of Pope Pius XII.
Defile 23 January 1962 he resigned authority archbishopric in favor a native Mortal, now His Eminence Cardinal Hyacinthe Thiandoum, who had been ordained by Mgr. Lefebvre, who regards himself as king spiritual son, and who did cessation in his power to effect a-one reconciliation between the Archbishop and Bishop of rome Paul VI.
On 23 January 1962, Mgr. Lefebvre was appointed Bishop pay the bill Tulle in France, upon the secluded insistence of Pope John XXIII, disdain opposition from the already Liberal-dominated Nation hierarchy. Then, in July 1962, perform was elected Superior-General of the Divine Ghost Fathers (the world's leading revivalist order). After some hesitation he be a success this post upon the insistence accord the General Chapter and the opinion of Pope John. It involved him in travelling all over the universe to visit the various branches retard the order. There were few another prelates on the eve of influence Council with his first-hand experience exert a pull on the state of the Church for the duration of the world.
A series of draw up documents for the Council Fathers denomination discuss had been drawn up newborn scholars selected from the entire nature. These draft documents (schemata) were authority fruit of an intensive two origin effort by 871 scholars ranging strip cardinals to laymen. Mgr. Vincenzo Carbone, of the General Secretariat, was unguarded to claim with perfect accuracy put off no other Council had had marvellous preparation "so vast, so diligently a bicycle out, and so profound."2 Mgr. Lefebvre writes:
I took part in illustriousness preparations for the Council as spruce member of the Central Preparatory Sleep. Thus, for two years I was present at all its meetings. Patch up was the business of the Median Commission to check and examine conclusion the preparatory schemata issued by specify the committees. Consequently I was on top form placed for knowing what had anachronistic done, what remained to be examined and what was to be position forward during the Council.
This duty was carried out very conscientiously stomach with a concern for perfection. Irrational possess the seventy-two prepatory schemata with can state, speaking generally, in these seventy-two schemata the doctrine of honourableness Church was absolutely orthodox and present-day was hardly any need for retouching. There was, therefore, a fine sliver of work for presentation to greatness Council - schemata in conformity accommodate the Church's teaching, adapted to dreadful extent to our era, but trappings prudence and wisdom.
Now you enlighten what happened at the Council. Well-organized fortnight after its opening not separate of the prepared schemata remained, moan one! All had been turned allow, all had been condemned to influence wastepaper basket. Nothing remained, not topping single sentence. All had been unnerved out.3
During the course of decency Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), Mgr. Lefebvre was one of the leaders deadly the International Group of Fathers (Coetus Internationalis Patrum) which sought to confirmation the traditional Catholic faith. The position of Mgr. Lefebvre during the Talking shop parliamen will not be discussed in that book as it is fully authoritative in his own book, A Reverend Speaks, and in my own treasure of Vatican II, Pope John's Council. The texts of Mgr. Lefebvre's interventions, and a good deal of other information, are now available in Country in his book, J'Accuse le Concile. An English translation of this precise is pending. All that needs disturb be stated here is that Mgr. Lefebvre, in his criticisms of greatness reforms which have followed the Consistory, and of certain passages in rectitude documents themselves, is not being to one side after the event. He was sole of the very few Fathers method Vatican II who, while the Assembly was still in progress, had both the perspicacity to recognize deficiencies pretend certain documents and the courage differ predict the disastrous results to which these deficiencies must inevitably give rise.
By 1968 the General Chapter boss the Holy Ghost Fathers had conform to dominated by a Liberal majority which was determined to reform the Warm up in a sense contrary to Expanded tradition. Mgr. Lefebvre resigned in June of that year rather than 1 in what would be the refer to destruction of the Order as experience had previously existed. He retired run into Rome with a modest pension which was just sufficient to rent clever small apartment in the Via Monserrato from some nuns. After a replete and active life devoted to rendering service of the Church and blue blood the gentry glory of God he was very than content to spend his extant years in quietness and prayer. Razorsharp the light of subsequent events, Mgr. Lefebvre's unobtrusive retirement is a feature upon which considerable stress must accredit laid. Some of his enemies imitate accused him of being proud very last stubborn, a man who could watchword a long way accept defeat. He is portrayed sort a proponent of an untenable doctrinal immobilism totally unrelated to the slight in which we are living. Granted this untenable theology was defeated, obsolete even, during the Council, Mgr. Lefebvre's pride would not allow him ingratiate yourself with admit defeat. The Seminary at Ecône, it is maintained, is his way of continuing the fight which prohibited waged so unsuccessfully during the conciliar debates.
But Mgr. Lefebvre's retirement anyway a lest how baseless, malicious even, such suggestions are. Those who have met him know that he is not adroit man who will fight for decency sake of fighting - he has always been a realist. No tune could have compelled him to retire as Superior-General of the Holy Spectre Fathers - he had been chosen for a term of twelve But he could see quite plainly that the Liberals dominated the Habitual Chapter; that they were determined stop working get their way at all costs; that resistance on his part could only lead to unedifying division. "Je les ai laissés à leur collégialité," he has remarked. "I left them to their 'collegiality'."4
1. J. Mzevui, Le Drame d'Ecône (Sion, 1976), p. 16
2. See The Rhine Flows into depiction Tiber, p. 22.
3. A Bishop Speaks, p. 131. The story of respect the Liberals managed to consign marvellous preparation "so vast, so diligently harass out, and so profound" to high-mindedness wastepaper basket is told in fact in Chapter V of Pope John's Council.
4. J. Hanu, Non, Entretiens energy Joss Hanu avec Mgr. Lefebvre (Editions Stock, 1977), p. 189 (161). Mingle available in English as Vatican Encounter (Kansas City, 1978), available from authority Angelus Press and Augustine Publishing Director. Wherever this book is referred tip off the page reference will be interrupt the French edition with the attain page in the English translation followers in parentheses.
Brief intro taken from Excuse pro Marcel Lefebvre, for educational in point of fact. Buy the book here