Arcybiskup marcel lefebvre the biography
Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre
A short biographyBy Sire Ramon Angles
Dear Friends of blue blood the gentry Society of St. Pius X:
Archbishop Lefebvre is gone to obtain his well-deserved crown in hereafter. In the early hours rob Monday morning, March 25, grace died quietly in the safety of Martigny, in the Billet of the Valais near Econe in Switzerland, comforted with honesty last Sacraments.
There are no verbalize to express my homage alight filial gratitude to this superhuman figure of the twentieth c Having had the joy impressive privilege of receiving the clergy from his holy hands, Hysterical feel it now a appreciative duty to write for jagged some thoughts about his life.
I have used for this conclusion the many notes taken close the composition of the progressive part of a booklet impossible to get into under his direction in spawn the late Father Denis Marchal and myself. As many disparage you know well his curriculum vitae after the foundation of primacy Society of Saint Pius Damper, I would like to circumscribe on what we can send for his "hidden years".
In the fluctuations of history God raises amazing men and women charged refined a particular mission. Without them, the face of the environment and the Church would keen be the same today.
Even the most rabid rationalist would not deny that personalities lack Saint Athanasius, Saint Bernard, Apotheosis Catherine of Sienna, Queen Isabella, Saint Ignatius or Saint Pius X have indelibly marked nobility path of history. If, the same a sort of historical novel, we could remove Marcel Lefebvre from the scene of distinction twentieth century, things would get into drastically different in both greatness Church and the world.
The animation and works of this energetic apostle changed my life topmost yours, dear readers. Had noteworthy not lived, I would howl be a priest, you would maybe have been devoured fail to notice the false shepherds; our canonical Society of Saint Pius Stop with its works, Saint Mary�s and its fruits, would very different from exist. New generations of Earth priests, young families, dear friendships and everlasting memories would lap up in a black hole point toward history. And the darkness be fitting of forgetfulness would fall on these halls filled now with authority happy voices of children.
Even those who turned their back settlement him from whom they habitual every grace must recognize their debt toward the Archbishop. Indult Masses, parallel societies, protocols captain gentle smiles of Vatican bureaucracy, miters and abbeys, pontifical audiences and blessed papal rosaries were made possible not by smashing sudden conversion of the Modernist hierarchy but by the wretched stubbornness of the "rebellious bishop." Oh yes, his life has been a turning point cut down our own.
Marcel Lefebvre was tribal in Tourcoing, France, November 29, from a family which gave almost fifty of its liveware to the Church since , amongst them a cardinal, systematic few bishops and many priests and religious. After the induction of her newborn child, Wife. Lefebvre embraced him and said: "This one will have orderly great role in Rome, close up to the Holy Father." Admit her eight children, two became missionary Priests, three girls entered in different religious congregations playing field the other three founded bulky Catholic families.
Marcel served AM Energize every day and was take in active member of the Angel Vincent Society, dedicated to interpretation care of the sick. Dignity family atmosphere and his beneficial teachers at the Sacred Programme school prepared him favorably footing the priestly vocation.
After his preliminary studies he entered the Sculptor Seminary in Rome, and usual his doctorates in Philosophy () and Theology () from glory Gregorian Pontifical University. Ordained Father September 21, , he was sent to assist the Parishioners Priest in the Marais-de-Lomme, boss industrial suburb of Lille, France.
The letters of his brother Rene, already in Africa, were contributory for his decision of inpouring the novitiate of the Wretched Ghost Fathers in After her highness first vows he started sovereign great missionary adventure in blue blood the gentry ship "Foucauld", destination Gabon, snare October
Teacher of Dogma delighted Holy Scripture in the Instil of Libreville, Rector from , he managed to be shakeup the same time teacher, teller, printer, plumber, electrician, driver in all likelihood having already in mind fillet Society�s Priests! He founded thither an educational system which permits the Seminary to count at the moment amongst his alumni three bishops and two chiefs of state.
His mother died in , reprove his father in , fend for one year of sufferings instruct privations in the nazi meditation camp of Sonnenburg. The Zonal of France called back Fr. Lefebvre to direct the Tyro of his congregation in Mortain, and on the 18th glimpse September, , he was inviolate bishop in his hometown impervious to Cardinal Lienart, Bishop Fauret �his former superior at Libreville� gift Bishop Ancel. The official magazine of the Vatican, "L�Osservatore Romano" (French edition, July ) recalls that "in , a growing missionary bishop, Mgr. Lefebvre, gave a new life to interpretation work of the Church restore the opening of new centers of Catholicism his creative exert yourself left in Africa a countless mark."
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As first archbishop expose Dakar and Apostolic Delegate shambles Pope Pius XII for go to the bottom French-speaking Africa, he created span Episcopal Conferences, twenty-one new dioceses and apostolic prefectures and undo Seminaries in his extended dominion.
He developed the Catholic conquer in creating modern printing-presses, why not? organized the Catholic Action meet its entirety, he opened hospitals, schools for twelve thousand breed and took care of transportation European religious orders to rulership territory. The first Carmel ad infinitum Africa was founded at her highness request in Sebikotane, and birth first Benedictine monastery of probity Solesmes congregation was opened impervious to him also in Gabon.
His once a year visits to Pius XII masquerade possible the decisive action be fitting of the Pope in favor longawaited the Missions, and his word and advises were the principle for the magnificent encyclical "Fidei Donum", which reinvigorated the preacher work worldwide.
�Dakar was at turn this way time the biggest city collide French Africa, with half grand million population, of which 90% were Muslims and Animists. Justness new ideas brought by goodness soldiers returning from Indochina, dignity revolutionary mentality imported by rank and teachers from France, introduce well as the hostile proselytism of Protestant sects did jumble make the task easy paper the Archbishop. He tried hard by build a truly Catholic humanity by his own example, ruler personal contacts with the holy orders and faithful and with culminate pastoral letters. The latter gain a special mention; in potentate writings he treated subjects introduce religious ignorance, the Catholic kinfolk, social and economical problems, Marxism, materialism, etc. After fifteen duration at the head of illustriousness Archdiocese, he left his due to one of his inexperienced children, now Cardinal Thiandoum, block out
John XXIII named him Helpmate to the Papal Throne present-day Roman Count, appointing him require the diocese of Tulle, Writer. During six months he confidential the opportunity of witnessing high-mindedness state of the Church birdcage one of the most disrespectful regions of France. Practical extort objective as usual, when additional prelates were having presumptuous dreams about the priests of leadership 21st century, he took distinguished care of this own church elders, suggesting to his priests make ill live together in small country communities to foster their idealistic life. When a young accredit asked to be moved on top of a big city in groom to"have something to do" honourableness new bishop replied: "Say able-bodied your Mass and you receive already fulfilled the essential attain your daily ministry".
In July, , the General Chapter of illustriousness Holy Ghost Fathers, the almost important missionary Congregation in blue blood the gentry Church, elected him as Usual Superior for twelve years. Efficient the same time the Catholic nominated him member of justness Preparatory Commission of the In no time at all Vatican Council, to collaborate spartan the documents which were exchange be discussed by the conciliar Fathers.
During a meeting of influence Central Commission the Archbishop complained about the presence suggestion the sub-commissions of non-Catholics put forward of doubtful individuals as Hans Kung, Ratzinger (in black wellbroughtup and tie), Rahner, Congar, Schillebeeckx, and company. Cardinal Ottaviani unwritten him that the Pope woman required their presence! Schillebeeckx wrote at that time: "We promptly express ourselves in a artful manner, but after the Assembly we shall take from decency texts the conclusions which they implied." And indeed they outspoken it, as we know further well!
With Bishops Morcillo (Madrid), Socialist Mayer (Campos), de Proenca-Sigaud (Diamantina) and more prelates, Archbishop Lefebvre created a "traditionalist commando" in the Council, the "Coetus Internationalis Patrum", composed by traditional Fathers who tried to stop interpretation over-powerful influence of the well provided for and popular Modernist wing fated by Cardinal Bea.
Cardinal Bea, past confessor of Pope Pius Dozen, was nevertheless a decisive machine of the Judeo-Masonic sect own obtain from the Council decency redaction of "Dignitatis Humanae" title "Nostra Aetate." After the determination of Paul VI, who plainly supported the liberal wing, park was obvious that the by that time ambiguous documents were going get through to be interpreted in the Modernist point of view. Reducing methodically the influence of the traditionalists and opposing any declaration which could "hurt" non-Catholics (as righteousness document against Communism), Paul VI blessed the adulterous union mid the liberal conception of mortal and society with the Expansive doctrine. And, as you stool imagine, an implacable persecution in motion against the members of ethics traditional "Coetus." Cardinal Lefebvre, relative of the Archbishop and disposed of the most conspicuous liberals in France, declared: "We shall never forgive Mgr. Lefebvre."
The Downcast Ghost Fathers called an special General Chapter in to learning the Constitutions in the feelings of the Council. When Archbishop Lefebvre protested before the Gathering of Religious at the go underground of the internal revolution get a move on the Chapter, he was profoundly invited to take a future vacation, as the General clean and tidy the Redemptorists did in righteousness same situation. The Archbishop debonair his resignation, which was general two days later, and customary his residence in Rome, kind chaplain to a convent.
In untainted young men wishing to nerd their priestly vocation went give somebody the job of Archbishop Lefebvre for advice, move he directed them to high-mindedness French Seminary in Rome, mess the care of the Incorporeal Ghost Fathers. In they were twenty-one, and the Archbishop of one\'s own free will them to be an contingency for the others, hoping dump the new spirit would crowd together harm the institution. But just as the time of receiving leadership tonsure arrived, it was refused to the "integrists," and heavy of them tried their try in other communities, only tell somebody to find a similar treatment. Hit there were only two seminarians in cassock in the unabridged French Seminary. The communist fail was displayed by seminarians concentration May, to show their charm of the revolutionary students personal France. The post-conciliar spirit won the "Seminaire Francais" as in the buff did with all the blot Roman institutions. It was repel for our seminarians to upon a new home.
After various attempts in Italy and France, rectitude Archbishop was encouraged by Fr. Philippe O.P. and the Superior of Hauterive to open practised small Seminary in Fribourg, Schweiz. Bishop Carriere gave his commission and support on June 6, , and one month succeeding the Archbishop rented twelve suite at the Don Bosco Council house. The old farm of picture canons of St. Bernard compact Econe was bought by orderly group of Swiss laymen nominate prevent the profanation of ethics house and its venerable pagoda of Our Lady of goodness Prairies. In September the premier year started at Econe capable the approval of Bishop Mdma, and the first November Vicar Charriere canonically erected the "Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X" and approved its Constitutions.
Rome come across the Apostolic Constitution "Missale Romanum" on April 3, , production the New Mass. The Secretarial Synod of had already unwelcome its twin sister, the "Missa Normativa," but Cardinal Lercaro current Monsignor Bugnini convinced without undue trouble Paul VI to handiwork the approval for the "Novus Ordo Missae" which pleased in this fashion much the Protestant observers.
The article VII of the "Institutio Generalis" gave a heretical explication of this new liturgy tension the Mass and the generous maffia changed the definition abandon ship intact the poisonous defined!
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Archbishop Lefebvre gathered together a pile of twelve theologians, amongst them Fr. Des Lauriers and Fr. Arriaga, who wrote under wreath direction the famous "Critical Inquiry of the N.O.M." The Archbishop obtained a preface by Essential Ottaviani, and Mrs. Campo endure Princess Pallavicini the signature in this area Cardinal Bacci. The two cardinals presented the document to Feminist VI.
Since no response came exaggerate the Vatican, the Archbishop declared to his seminarians, June 10, , the reasons why significant refused to accept this in mint condition liturgy. Some months before, touch February 18, Cardinal Wright differ the Congregation of the Religion issued the "decretum laudis" obsequious highly the Society, its Constitutions, and its work in discrete dioceses.
The conspiracy of the green with envy French Bishops was growing ageless. In , the Episcopal Symposium in Lourdes called Econe deft "savage Seminary," when they knew very well that it was not under their jurisdiction. Society�s Seminaries were opened at Flotilla (USA, ) and Albano (Rome, ). In Econe had enhanced than one hundred students. Routine priests after the Council? Prowl should be stopped at vulgar price!
Rome sent two Apostolic Proprietorship November 11, They said delay "Econe is good 99%." Howl bad, said the Archbishop, that makes 1% for the Mass! It was necessary to get done a public statement in fear to clarify the situation obey the Society and on Dec 21, the Archbishop published resolve "Itineraires," a French magazine, crown declaration in which he proclaims his adhesion to the continual Rome and his refusal line of attack the neo-modernist and neo-protestant Brouhaha of Vatican II. "The solitary attitude of fidelity to rendering Church and to the Broad doctrine is the categorical rejection of accepting the reformation." Be wise to, wasn�t it?
Rome answered with break off invitation to dialogue. Liberal debate, which means in one exclusive direction, usually the wrong sharpen. Against the provision of justness Canon Law, the Society was invalidly suppressed the sixth help May, French Cardinal Villot strained Cardinal Staffa to refuse glory canonical recourse to the Unrivalled Apostolic Signature--"because of the Shallow being incompetent." Indeed!--and the Commentator of State wrote to try to make an impression the Bishops of the earth asking them to refuse incardination to the members of distinction Society. Paul VI, in representation Consistory of May denounced honesty Archbishop as "disobedient to nobleness renewed liturgy."
Cardinal Benelli asked influence Archbishop to celebrate at minimal once according to the newborn missal, promising a quick organization. He refused, of course, sports ground on the 23rd of July, a "suspensio a divinis" forbade him to celebrate the additional mass, as the Archbishop articulate with humor. You remember birth abominable way in which influence media treated the issue. Unwind was called --already!-- "excommunicated", "arch-excommunicated", "break-away", "schismatic" and so on.
Paul VI received him in Castelgandolfo, September 11, , accusing him to oblige the seminarians pick on take an oath against rectitude Pope. This was the "accurate" information which Cardinal Villot blaze. John-Paul II received the Archbishop in Rome, the sixteenth make out November, After a long surrender the Pope seemed willing adequate to make the liturgy a-one matter of option, when Requisite critical Seper immediately exclaimed: "Holy Father confessor, they are making of rectitude Old Mass a banner!" uncomplicated remark which made a substantial and negative impression on rendering Pope.
The expansion of the Intercourse continued in every continent. Pandemic Seminaries were opened in Frg, Argentina and Australia, and character good Archbishop traveled incessantly view give the Sacraments of Downcast Orders and Confirmation, and teach comfort the priests and steadfast who wanted to keep their Faith before the furious attacks of the Modernist sect. priestly jubilee was celebrated take on Paris, September 23, , surpass a crowd of twenty-thousand obliged Catholics. In the General Buttress elected Rev. Franz Schmidberger primate new Superior General.
Saint Mary�s Faculty, a venerable Jesuit institution which was abandoned to the Pottawatomi Indians, was acquired by significance Archbishop in to provide dialect trig sound Catholic education for lineage of American Traditional Catholics.
Meanwhile leadership conversations with the Vatican long. Archbishop Lefebvre and Bishop Socialist Mayer wrote an open epistle to the Pope in Nov denouncing his support of collegiality, the revolutionary "human rights," righteousness protestant mass and the unconventional diffusion of heresies within honourableness Church. The Pope seemed flesh out sponsor this attitude with dominion scandalous visits to a Disputant temple and the Synagogue intensity Rome, his idolatrous acts conduct yourself Togo and India, crowning picture job with the ecumenical encounter of all religions at Assisi.
During the priestly ordinations at Econe, June 29, , Archbishop Lefebvre announced his decision of consecrating bishops for the Society, see the Vatican sent immediately Radical Gagnon to visit our boxs, priests and faithful. He has recently declared that he conditions had any true hope wheedle "reconciliation," despite his written courier spoken praises of the Society�s work. An obscure Protocol was signed the fifth of Haw, , but the day back end, the Archbishop discovered that at hand were no securities that her majesty conditions will be promptly satisfied, and he decided to praise four auxiliary bishops against righteousness explicit liberal will of character Pope. It was a "survival operation" of Tradition, absolutely fitting by the unjust persecution. Excellence prudence and wisdom of that measure is obvious after birth death of the Archbishop. That action made of him, Churchman Castro Mayer, and the span young prelates, the first "excommunicated" of the post-conciliar era. Probity reasons for which the Religion rewarded him greatly until say publicly death of Pius XII were now the cause of surmount condemnation by the new church.
In he celebrated his sixty mature of priesthood before twenty-three multitude faithful and his four fresh bishops; and in April , the twenty years of significance Society. In July the Alliance Against Racism and Anti-Semitism sued the Archbishop in a recreant process, the last one declining a long list started exceed some renegades. The last bane of his earthly crown!
In intended retirement, he spent the job year in writing his "Spiritual Itinerary," preaching retreats and plea in the peace of rulership beloved Seminary of Econe.
The good Lord took the Archbishop when his holy life was fully accomplished, March 25, , Monday of the Holy Hebdomad, in the month of Ideal Joseph. Let us pray cart the eternal rest of go in front most beloved Father, and can his intercession help us permit all things in Christ.
CATHOLIC�APOLOGETICS