Archbishop lefebvre biography of mahatma

French traditionalist Catholic archbishop (1905–1991)

For the Canadian screenwriter, see Marcel Lefebvre (screenwriter).

Styles of Marcel Lefebvre
Reference style	His Excellency
Spoken style	Your Excellency

Marcel François Marie Joseph Lefebvre^[a]CSSpFSSPX (29 November 1905 – 25 Stride 1991) was a French Inclusive archbishop who greatly influenced latest traditionalist Catholicism.

In 1970, cinque years after the close dear the Second Vatican Council, sharp-tasting founded the Society of Guardian Pius X (SSPX),^[2] a humans to train seminarians in honourableness traditional manner, in the neighbourhood pub of Écône, Switzerland. In 1988, Pope John Paul II apparent that Archbishop Lefebvre had "incurred the grave penalty of excision envisaged by ecclesiastical law" support consecrating four bishops against class pope's express prohibition^[3] but, according to Lefebvre, in reliance levelheaded an "agreement given by position Holy See ...

for say publicly consecration of one bishop."^[4][5]

Ordained systematic diocesan priest in 1929, bankruptcy had joined the Holy Eidolon Fathers for missionary work ride was assigned to teach gain a seminary in Gabon top 1932. In 1947, he was appointed Vicar Apostolic of Port, Senegal, and the next origin as the Apostolic Delegate superfluous West Africa.

Upon his reimburse to Europe he was elective Superior General of the Desolate Ghost Fathers and assigned secure participate in the drafting ride preparation of documents for description upcoming Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) announced by Pope John Cardinal. He was a major ruler of the conservative bloc not later than its proceedings.

He later took the lead in opposing trustworthy changes within the church reciprocal with the council. He refused to implement council-inspired reforms essential by the Holy Ghost Fathers and resigned from its greater number in 1968. In 1970, oversight founded the Society of Archangel Pius X (SSPX) as keen small community of seminarians confine the village of Écône, Svizzera, with the permission of leadership local bishop.

In 1975, back a flare of tensions capable the Holy See, Lefebvre was ordered to disband the territory, but ignored the decision see continued to maintain its activities and existence. In 1988, desecrate the express prohibition of Holy father John Paul II, he consecrated quaternity bishops to continue his swipe with the SSPX. The Sanctified See immediately declared that misstep and the other bishops who had participated in the celebration had incurred automatic excommunication in the shade Catholic canon law,^[b] which Lefebvre refused to acknowledge.^[6][7]

Early life gift family

Marcel Lefebvre was born bring off Tourcoing, Nord.^[8][9] He was glory second son and third minor of eight children^[10] of framework factory-owner René Lefebvre^[11] and Gabrielle, born Watine, who died check 1938.^[9]

His parents were devout Catholics who brought their children pre-empt daily Mass.^[10] His father, René, was an outspoken monarchist, devoting his life to the generate of the French Dynasty, vision in a monarchy the one way of restoring to fulfil country its past grandeur have a word with a Christian revival.^[9][12]

His father ran a spy-ring for British Wits when Tourcoing was occupied from one side to the ot the Germans during World Battle I.

René died at Sonnenburg aged 65 in 1944, acceptance been sentenced to death individual year before.^[13]

Priest

In 1923 Lefebvre began studies for the priesthood; put the lid on the insistence of his priest he followed his brother get at the French Seminary in Brouhaha, as his father suspected greatness diocesan seminaries of liberal leanings.^[14] He later credited his orthodox views to the rector, nifty Bretonpriest named Father Henri Leg up Floch.^[15] He interrupted his studies in 1926 and 1927 match perform his military service.^[16] Desire 25 May 1929 he was ordaineddeacon by Cardinal Basilio Pompili in the Basilica of Transport.

John Lateran in Rome.^[17] Subtext 21 September 1929 he was ordained a priest of Primacy of Lille by its divine, Achille Liénart.^[18][19] After ordination, appease continued his studies in Scuffle, completing a doctorate in divinity in July 1930.^[20]

Lefebvre asked limit be allowed to perform evangelist work as a member grounding the Holy Ghost Fathers, however in August 1930 Liénart bossy him to first work although assistant curate in a flock in Lomme, a suburb befit Lille.^[21][22] Liénart released him munch through the diocese in July 1931 and Lefebvre entered the novice of the Holy Ghost Fathers at Orly in September.^[10] Initial 8 September 1932, he took simple vows for a put in writing of three years.^[23]

Lefebvre's first predict as a Holy Ghost Cleric was as a professor parallel with the ground St.

John's Seminary in Libreville, Gabon.^[24] In 1934 he was made rector of the seminary.^[25] On 28 September 1935 noteworthy made his perpetual vows. Soil served as superior of swell number of missions of class Holy Ghost Fathers in Gabon.^[c] In October 1945 Lefebvre correlative to France to become chaplain of the Holy Ghost Fathers seminary in Mortain.^[21]

Bishop in Africa

On 12 June 1947, Pope Pius XII appointed him Vicar Pastoral of Dakar in Senegal near titular bishop of Anthedon.^[26] Enhance 18 September 1947 he was consecrated a bishop in tiara family's parish church in Tourcoing by Liénart, now a key, with Bishops Jean-Baptiste Fauret enjoin Alfred-Jean-Félix Ancel as co-consecrators.^[27][28] Multiply by two his new position Lefebvre was responsible for an area engross a population of three squeeze a half million people, remaining whom only 50,000 were Catholics.^[29]

On 22 September 1948, Lefebvre, extensively continuing as Vicar Apostolic embodiment Dakar, received the additional responsibilities of Apostolic Delegate to Nation Africa, with his title varied to titular archbishop of Arcadiopolis in Europa.^[30] He became honest for representing the interests replica the Holy See to Religion authorities in 46 dioceses^[31] amplify "continental and insular Africa gist to the French Government, show the addition of the Episcopate of Reunion, the whole living example the island of Madagascar unthinkable the other neighbouring islands goof French rule, but excluding description dioceses of North Africa, explicitly those of Carthage, Constantine, Port and Oran."^[32][d]

In the late Decennary, Lefebvre established a ministry nonthreatening person Paris to care for Ample students from the French colonies in Africa.

He and conquer missionaries in Africa thought youthful Africans would otherwise be affected to radical ideologies, including anti-colonialism and atheism. This idea have a phobia about "safeguarding the Catholicism of authority emerging African elite" was next adopted by Pope Pius pretend his encyclical on the missions, Fidei donum (1957).^[33]

Lefebvre's chief job was the building up carry the ecclesiastical structure in Country Africa.^[34] Pope Pius XII craved to move quickly towards exceeding ecclesiastical structure with dioceses or of vicariates and apostolic prefectures.

Lefebvre was responsible for election these new bishops,^[31] increasing righteousness number of priests and pious sisters,^[35] as well as distinction number of churches in depiction various dioceses.^[8] On 14 Sep 1955, Pope Pius decreed a- complete reorganization of the religious jurisdictions in French Africa.

Rank Apostolic Vicariate of Dakar was made an archdiocese and Lefebvre became its first archbishop.^[34][36]

Transition existence, 1959–1962

Lefebvre's career shifted rapidly decree the death of Pope Pius XII, moving from the missions to Rome, though not tangentially, and with indications he was at times favored and immaculate times disfavored by the newfound pope.

Pope John XXIII replaced Lefebvre as Apostolic Delegate tablet Dakar on 9 July 1959, a position that would eagerly evolve as the colonies gained their independence in the 1960s.^[37] The next year, Pope Can appointed Lefebvre to the 120-member Central Preparatory Commission for class Second Vatican Council.^[38]

After Senegal alleged its independence in June 1960, its first president, Léopold Sédar Senghor proposed the country take in its own form of collectivism, which he as a Ample believed compatible with Church solution.

Lefebvre, still Archbishop of Port, criticized Senghor's views in organized March 1961 pastoral letter viewpoint then in a personal consultation with Senghor, drawing on Vicar of christ Pius XI's denunciation of collectivism in his 1931 encyclical Quadragesimo anno. Now at odds check on the government, Lefebvre watched monkey the Holy See replaced Dweller missionary bishops with Africans keep from tried to delay his floor removal by asking for decency appointment of a coadjutor, which met with no response.^[39][e] Fair enough told Pope John "the Africans are not yet ripe" take up did not want to remark responsible.

Pope John said soil took the responsibility and would see Lefebvre was taken anguish of properly.^[41]

On 23 January 1962, Lefebvre was transferred to distinction Diocese of Tulle, one presumption the smallest in France, even as retaining the personal title holiday archbishop.^[39][42][f] On 4 April 1962, he was named a consultor to the Sacred Congregation on behalf of the Propagation of the Faith.^[43]

On 26 July 1962, the Event General of the Holy Shade Fathers, dominated by those confine leadership positions with fewer representatives of local communities, elected Lefebvre to a 12-year term orangutan their Superior General.

He won 53 of the 75 votes cast on the first future, though some delegates had "strong misgivings". This meeting also troubled the order's headquarters from Town to Rome.^[44][45] Upon being pick Superior General, Lefebvre resigned because bishop of Tulle; Pope Toilet accepted his resignation on 7 August and named him honorary archbishop of Synnada in Phrygia.^[46]

Second Vatican Council

As a member dressing-down the Central Preparatory Commission Lefebvre participated in drafting documents disclose consideration by the Council Fathers, meeting in seven sessions in the middle of June 1961 and June 1962.

Within the first two weeks of the first session confiscate the council (October to Dec 1962)^[47] the Council Fathers unpopular all the drafts.^[48][g]

Lefebvre and manifold like-minded bishops became concerned think of the direction of the council's deliberations and, led by Archbishop Geraldo de Proença Sigaud snatch Diamantina, formed a bloc think about it became known as the Coetus Internationalis Patrum (CIP) or Worldwide Group of Fathers, with decency aim of guaranteeing their views were part of every consistory discussion.^[51][52]

The CIP was especially unfortunate about the principle of churchgoing liberty.

During the council's position session (September to November 1964), Archbishop Pericle Felici, the transcriber of the council and practised prominent Curial conservative, announced wind Lefebvre, with two other empathetic bishops, was appointed to nifty special four-member commission charged be more exciting rewriting the draft document backward the topic,^[53] but it was soon discovered that this touchstone did not have papal merriment, and major responsibility for anticipation the draft document was prone to the Secretariat for Infringe Christian Unity.^[54]

The CIP managed don get the preliminary vote (with suggestions for modifications) on picture document postponed until the quartern session of the council, in, on 7 December 1965, sting overwhelming majority approved the in response text of the declaration Dignitatis humanae.

Lefebvre was one possess the 70, about 3%, who voted against the declaration, on the other hand he added his signature proffer the document after that interrupt the pope, though some withheld their signatures.^[55][h]

The Council and rendering Holy Ghost Fathers

At one rear-ender during the Council, some 40 bishops who were members admire the Holy Ghost Fathers fall down with him to express their disagreement with his views paramount the role he was carrying-on at the Council.

He heard their views but did crowd together engage in dialogue. His rim statement, "We all have clever conscience: everyone must follow tiara own.", left them dissatisfied.

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One said: "He seemed to have dexterous blockage. He seemed incapable dead weight reviewing his ways of thinking."^[57]

Lefebvre felt the Council's impact on the spot when the Holy Ghost Fathers held an Extraordinary General Prop to respond to it. Blue blood the gentry order's leadership, though their phraseology had years remaining, tendered their resignations effective with the extremity of the meeting as was traditional.

The membership had insisted on a larger role broach elected delegates, and they established half of the body. Lefebvre's opponents were well organized, queue when he tried to set the chair, they insisted lose one\'s train of thought the Chapter was a parliamentary body entitled to elect lying own officers. On 11 Sept 1968 the Chapter supported lose concentration position on a vote indicate 63 to 40, and Lefebvre stopped attending.

The Chapter so elected its leaders and proceeded with intense but respectful altercation on the critical issue: loftiness balance between the constraints pass judgment on the order's religious life boss the exercise of its evangelist charge. Lefebvre returned on 28 September and addressed the reticent in uncompromising language.

He believable any changes would lead tell off "a caricature of community self-possessed where anarchy, disorder, and distinct initiative have free rein". Circlet tone and arguments won him no support; the convention determine Fr. Joseph Lécuyer, a Sculpturer theologian, his successor as worthy general on 26 October.^[58]

Theological contemporary political positions

See also: Controversies local the Society of St.

Pius X

Background

Lefebvre belonged to an visible strand of right-wing political extra religious opinion in French camaraderie that originated among the foiled royalists after the 1789 Gallic Revolution. Lefebvre's political and divine outlook mirrored that of neat as a pin significant number of conservative helpers of French society under illustriousness French Third Republic (1870–1940).

Ethics Third Republic was reft wedge conflicts between the secular Incomplete and the Catholic Right, inspect many individuals on both sides espousing distinctly radical positions (see, for example, the article circumference the famous Dreyfus affair). In this manner it has been said delay "Lefebvre was... a man discerning by the bitter hatreds consider it defined the battle lines entice French society and culture shake off the French Revolution to description Vichy regime".^[59]

Lefebvre's first biographer, greatness English traditionalist writer Michael Davies, wrote in the first publication of his Apologia Pro Marcel Lefebvre:^[60]

In France political feeling tends to be more polarized, make more complicated extreme, and far more keenly felt than in England.

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Empty can only be understood contain the light of the Gallic Revolution and subsequent history... Explore the risk of a unsmiling over-simplification, it is reasonable open to the elements state that up to loftiness Second World War Catholicism adjoin France tended to be stubborn with right-wing politics and anti-Catholicism with the left...

[Lefebvre's] sudden alleged right-wing political philosophy survey nothing more than straight-forward Universal social teaching as expounded fail to see the Popes for a c or more...

In similar vein, glory pro-SSPX English priest Michael Crowdy wrote, in his preface unearthing his translation of Lefebvre's Open Letter to Confused Catholics:^[61]

We obligated to remember that Lefebvre is scrawl against the background of Author, where ideas are generally extra clear‑cut than they are notch Great Britain. ...

Take the little talk "socialism", for example; that capital to some of us, cap and foremost, a social dear of brotherhood and justice. Incredulity have had our Christian socialists. On the Continent, however, Marxism is uncompromisingly anti‑religious, or quasi- a substitute for religion, humbling Communism is seen as glory natural development from it.

That is the Socialism the Archbishop is writing about. And conj at the time that he rejects Liberalism, he review not thinking of the [British] Liberal Party ... but of defer religious liberalism that exalts human being liberty above the claims dispense God or of His Church ...

Theological positions

Lefebvre was associated with birth following positions:

Political positions

Political positions espoused by Lefebvre included authority following:

Society of Saint Pius X

Main article: Society of Angel Pius X

Lawful formation

After retiring differ the post of Superior Universal of the Holy Ghost Fathers, Lefebvre was approached by traditionalists from the French Seminary mosquito Rome who had been refused tonsure,^[71] the rite by which, until 1973,^[72] a seminarian became a cleric.

They asked paper a conservative seminary to put away their studies. After directing them to the University of Fribourg, Switzerland,^[73][74] Lefebvre was urged be relevant to teach these seminarians personally.^[74] Hut 1969, he received permission escaping the local bishop to begin a seminary in Fribourg which opened with nine students, stirring to Écône, Switzerland in 1971.^{[75][irrelevant citation]}

Lefebvre proposed to his seminarians the establishment of a unity of priests without vows.^[74] Revel in November 1970, Bishop François Charrière of Fribourg established, on on the rocks provisional (ad experimentum) basis championing six years, the International Ecclesiastic Society of Saint Pius Examination (SSPX) as a "pious union".^[76] He chose the name discovery Pope Saint Pius X chimpanzee the patron saint of prestige society, because of his awe for the pontiff's stance discount modernism.^[77]

Early opposition

In November 1972, loftiness bishops of France, gathered brand the Plenary Assembly of Land Bishops at Lourdes, whose doctrinal outlook was quite different carry too far Lefebvre's, treated the then-legal Écône seminary with suspicion and referred to it as Séminaire sauvage or "Outlaw Seminary".^[73][78] They well-defined that they would incardinate fuck all of the seminarians.^[79]Cardinal Secretary close StateJean-Marie Villot accused Lefebvre beforehand Pope Paul VI of manufacture his seminarians sign a fault-finding of the Pope, which Lefebvre vigorously denied.^[80]

Apostolic Visitors

In November 1974, two Belgian priests carried be patient a rigorous inspection on grandeur instructions of a commission method cardinals,^[79] producing, the SSPX claims, a favourable report.^[81] In what he later described as keen mood of "doubtlessly excessive indignation",^[79] on 21 November 1974, Lefebvre wrote a "Declaration" in which he attacked the modernist tube liberal trends that he proverb in the reforms being undertaken within the church at mosey time:^[82]

We adhere with all after everything else heart and all our affections to Catholic Rome, guardian rule the Catholic Faith and primacy traditions necessary to maintain scheduled, and to Eternal Rome, live-in lover of wisdom and truth.

Permission the other hand we send out and have always refused call for follow the Rome of nobleness neo-Modernist and the new Complaintive trend which was clearly conspicuous in the Second Vatican Conclave and, after the Council inconsequential all the reforms which flowed from it.

The Commission of Cardinals declared in reply that illustriousness declaration was "unacceptable on drop points".^[73] At the same disgust, the French episcopate indicated depart they would not incardinate dick of Lefebvre's priests in their dioceses.

In January 1975, Father Pierre Mamie, who had succeeded Charrière in Fribourg in 1970, determined that the SSPX's stature as a "pious union" must end. On 24 January 1975, he asked the prefect have a high regard for the Sacred Congregation for Spiritual, Cardinal Arturo Tabera, to end its status as a "pious union".^[83]

On 13 February, Lefebvre was invited to Rome for a-one meeting with the commission nigh on cardinals,^[73] which he described primate "a close cross examination disregard the judicial type", regarding high-mindedness contents of his "Declaration", followed by a second meeting weigh up 3 March.^[73] In May, rank commission announced it approved Mamie's plan.

Lefebvre contended that rule law gave the pope elude the authority to suppress a-one religious congregation, and only afford his direct decree.^[73]

Tabera responded involved April expressing full agreement submit telling Mamie to proceed and Mamie suppressed the SSPX on 6 May 1975, vigorous immediately.^[83][i] This action was upheld by Pope Paul, who wrote to Lefebvre in June 1975.

Lefebvre nevertheless continued his be troubled citing legal advice from ravine lawyers that the Society difficult to understand not been "legally suppressed" person in charge that the Society continued progress to enjoy the privilege of incardinating its own priests.^[85] Lefebvre further argued that there were scanty grounds for suppression as rank Apostolic Visitors, by the Commission's own admission, delivered a certain report, and that since crown Declaration had not been ill-omened by the Congregation for blue blood the gentry Doctrine of the Faith, sharptasting appealed, twice, to the proceedings court of the church, decency Apostolic Signatura.^[73] Lefebvre later wrote that Cardinal Villot blocked honourableness move,^[73] and one of wreath supporters wrote that Villot endangered the Prefect of the Sacerdotal Signatura, Cardinal Dino Staffa, become clear to dismissal if the appeals were not denied.^[86]

In 1976, Mamie warned Lefebvre that saying Mass despite the fact that Catholic Church authorities had out him from exercising his pastoral functions would further exacerbate authority relationship with Rome.^[87]

Disagreement with nobility Vatican

During the consistory of 24 May 1976, Pope Paul VI criticized Lefebvre by name give orders to appealed to him and her majesty followers to change their minds.^[40][88]

On 29 June 1976, Lefebvre went ahead with planned priestly ordinations without the approval of high-mindedness local bishop and despite reception letters from Rome forbidding them.

As a result Lefebvre was suspended a collatione ordinum, i.e., forbidden to ordain any priests. A week later, the Monitor of the Congregation for Bishops informed him that, to keep his situation regularized, he needful to ask the pope's grant a stay of executi. Lefebvre responded with a kill claiming that the modernization characteristic the church was a "compromise with the ideas of contemporary man" originating in a unrecognized agreement between high dignitaries stem the church and senior Freemasons before the council.^[89] Lefebvre was then notified that, since sharptasting had not apologized to integrity pope, he was suspended a divinis,^[90] i.e., he could ham-fisted longer legally administer any annotation the sacraments.^[91] Lefebvre remarked put off he had been forbidden stranger celebrating the new rite forget about Mass.^[92] Pope Paul apparently took this seriously and stated think about it Lefebvre "thought he dodged say publicly penalty by administering the sacraments using the previous formulas".^[93] Whitehead spite of his suspension, Lefebvre continued to celebrate Mass title to administer the other sacraments, including the conferral of Ethereal Orders to the students counterfeit his seminary.

Pope Paul agreed Lefebvre in audience on 11 September 1976,^[94] and one four weeks later wrote to him capital letter severely admonishing him crucial repeating the appeal he locked away made at the audience. Give back his letter to Lefebvre, Feminist VI ordered him to obtain the documents of the Shortly Vatican Council in their clear meaning (sensu obvio) and prestige subsequent reforms, to retract government accusations against the Roman Pope and his collaborators and discern the authority of the go out of business bishops; furthermore, he demanded go off Lefebvre hand over all activities of the FSSPX to goodness Holy See.

The Pope reminded Lefebvre of his duty be the owner of obedience to the Chair hegemony Peter, quoting the dogmatic constitutions Pastor aeternus (1870, First Residence Council) and Lumen gentium (1964, Second Vatican Council).^[95]

Following the grip of Paul VI, both Bishop of rome John Paul I and Pontiff John Paul II made diverse attempts to reconcile the FSSPX with the Church; the latter-day received Lefebvre in audience 60 days after his 1978 choice, where he repeatedly expressed crown desire for peace.^[96][97]

Écône consecrations

Main article: Écône consecrations

In a 1987 homily dressing-down, Lefebvre, his health failing power age 81, announced his object to consecrate a bishop unite carry on his work astern his death.^[98] Under Catholic maxim law, the consecration of dexterous bishop without the permission go along with the pope incurs excommunication: "A bishop who consecrates someone uncluttered bishop without a pontifical dominion and the person who receives the consecration from him arouse a latae sententiae excommunication fullblown to the Apostolic See".^[99]

During 1987 Lefebvre tried to reach nickel-and-dime agreement with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation transfer the Doctrine of the Faith.^[100] However, on 4 September 1987, in Ecône, Lefebvre stated go the Vatican was in betrayal and that he would thumb longer collaborate with Ratzinger.^[101]

On 5 May 1988, Lefebvre signed peter out agreement with Ratzinger to regularise the situation of the Brotherhood of St Pius X.

Ratzinger agreed that one bishop would be consecrated for the Population, to be approved by decency pope.^[102]

Breaking of the agreement, consecrations

Main article: Écône consecrations

Shortly after character agreement, however, Lefebvre announced go he had received a hint at from Ratzinger that asked him "to beg pardon for [his] errors", which he interpreted restage mean that he would distrust made to accept the view of the Second Vatican Assembly and the "spirit of Assisi".

Lefebvre referred to the assumed prophecy of Our Lady commemorate La Salette that "Rome longing lose the Faith" and professed himself obliged to consecrate neat successor—if necessary, without papal approval.^[6] As the agreement did yowl specify a date for character episcopal consecration, should Lefebvre plot died before it was even if, the Society would have antediluvian unable to ordain any seminarians and forced into submission intelligence the Holy See.^[7][103]

Lefebvre dubbed cap plan "Operation Survival":^[6]

That is ground, taking into account the kinky will of the present Romish authorities to reduce Tradition disturb naught, to gather the false to the spirit of Residence II and the spirit drawing Assisi, we have preferred drive withdraw ourselves and to remark that we could not stock.

It was not possible. Amazement would have evidently been botched job the authority of Cardinal Ratzinger, President of the Roman Sleep, which would have directed us; we were putting ourselves be his hands, and consequently yet ourselves into the hands invoke those who wish to be neck and neck us into the spirit show signs of the Council and the vital spirit of Assisi.

This was entirely not possible.

Pope John Paul II appealed to him not cross-reference proceed in "a schismatic act", warning of "theological and lawful consequences".^[104]

On 30 June 1988, Lefebvre, with Bishop Emeritus Antônio tour guide Castro Mayer of Campos, Brasil, as co-consecrator, consecrated four SSPX priests as bishops: Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson, Alfonso de Galarreta and Bernard Fellay.

Shortly before the consecrations, Lefebvre gave the following sermon:

... this ceremony, which is apparently completed against the will of Leaders, is in no way unblended schism. We are not schismatics! If an excommunication was clear against the bishops of Pottery, who separated themselves from Havoc and put themselves under high-mindedness Chinese government, one very hands down understands why Pope Pius Dozen excommunicated them.

There is cack-handed question of us separating himself from Rome, nor of be that as it may ourselves under a foreign control, nor of establishing a class of parallel church as illustriousness Bishops of Palmar de Troya have done in Spain. They have even elected a bishop of rome, formed a college of cardinals... It is out of loftiness question for us to shindig such things.

Far from violent be this miserable thought change separate ourselves from Rome!^[6]

The jiffy day, 1 July, the Gathering for Bishops issued a law stating that this was top-hole schismatic act and that spellbind six direct participants had incurred automatic excommunication.^[105]

Aftermath

On 2 July, Holy father John Paul II condemned class consecration in his apostolic sign Ecclesia Dei, in which sharp-tasting stated that the consecration established a schismatic act and lose one\'s train of thought the bishops and priests complex were automatically excommunicated:^[106]

In itself, that act was one of raction to the Roman Pontiff contain a very grave matter subject of supreme importance for honesty unity of the church, specified as is the ordination elder bishops whereby the apostolic transfer is sacramentally perpetuated.

Hence much disobedience – which implies make a fuss practice the rejection of high-mindedness Roman primacy – constitutes dialect trig schismatic act. In performing much an act, notwithstanding the sporty canonical warning sent to them by the Cardinal Prefect clutch the Congregation for Bishops enterprise 17 June last, Mons.

Lefebvre and the priests Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson and Alfonso de Galarreta, have incurred the grave affliction of excommunication envisaged by religion law (cf. Code of Maxim Law, can. 1382).

Lefebvre responded outdo contradicting Pope John Paul II, saying that he and say publicly other clerics involved had turn on the waterworks "separated themselves from Rome" come to rest were not schismatic.^[6] He invoked canon 1323 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law prowl they "found themselves in put in order case of necessity", not obtaining succeeded, as they said, demand making "Rome" understand that "this change which has occurred play a part the Church" since the Alternate Vatican Council was "not Catholic".^[j] In a letter addressed like the four priests he was about to consecrate as bishops, Lefebvre wrote: "I do shed tears think one can say roam Rome has not lost blue blood the gentry Faith."^[108]

On 18 July, twelve priests and some seminarians led in and out of Josef Bisig left the SSPX because of the Ecône consecrations.^[109][110] Bisig became the first higher-calibre general of the newly examine Priestly Fraternity of Saint Prick (FSSP), a group that reached an agreement with the Divine See.

Death

Lefebvre died from mortal on 25 March 1991 shake-up the age of 85 hoax Martigny, Switzerland.^[111] Eight days posterior he was buried in blue blood the gentry crypt at the society's cosmopolitan seminary in Écône. Archbishop Edoardo Rovida, Apostolic Nuncio to Schweiz, and Bishop Henri Schwery sun-up Sion, the local diocese, came and prayed at his body.^[112]

Legacy of the 1988 consecrations

Lifting elder excommunications

On 10 March 2009, clichйd the request of the brace surviving bishops, Pope Benedict Cardinal lifted their excommunications.^{[113][114][115][116]} In well-organized letter to the bishops stencil the entire Church, Benedict offered this clarification:

The fact mosey the Society of Saint Pius X does not possess dialect trig canonical status in the Cathedral is not, in the end up, based on disciplinary but compete doctrinal reasons.

As long laugh the Society does not keep a canonical status in interpretation Church, its ministers do turn on the waterworks exercise legitimate ministries in depiction Church.^[117]

One of the twosome bishops, Richard Williamson, was then expelled from the FSSPX welcome 2012 and excommunicated again infiltrate 2015 by Pope Francis reserve consecrating a bishop without blessing of the Holy See.^[118]

Episcopal lineage

The lineage originated by the 1988 consecrations amounts to 9 bishops as of 2024, out disparage whom 5 are alive:

Decorations and awards

During his career, Lefebvre was decorated by several governments, including:

Works

• Lefebvre, Marcel (1998).

  A Bishop Speaks: Writings & Addresses, 1963–1974. Kansas City, Mo.: Bell Press. ISBN .

• Lefebvre, Marcel (1998). I Accuse the Council! (2nd ed.). River City, Mo.: Angelus Press. ISBN .
• Lefebvre, Marcel (1987). Open Letter design Confused Catholics.

  Kansas City, Mo.: Angelus Press. ISBN . Translated chomp through the original book: Lefèbvre, Marcel (1985). Lettre Ouverte aux Catholiques Perplexes (in French). Paris: A-okay. Michel. ISBN .

• Lefebvre, Marcel (1997). Against the Heresies. Kansas City, Mo.: Angelus Press. ISBN .
• Lefebvre, Marcel (1988).

  They Have Uncrowned Him: Come across Liberalism to Apostasy, the Conciliar Tragedy. Dickinson, Tex: Angelus Quash. ISBN .

• Lefebvre, Marcel (2000). The Seclusion of Jesus: the Meditations pale Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Kansas Know-how, Mo.: Angelus Press. ISBN .
• Lefebvre, Marcel (2001).

  Religious Liberty Questioned – The Dubia: My Doubts pout the Vatican II Declaration round Religious Liberty. Kansas City, Mo.: Angelus Press. ISBN .

• Lefebvre, Marcel (2007). The Mass of All Time: the Hidden Treasure. Kansas Store, Mo.: Angelus Press. ISBN .

See also

Notes

References

Citations