Marcel Lefebvre - Superior General of The Holy Ghost Fathers

Superior General of The Holy Ghost Fathers

On 26 July 1962 the Chapter General of the Holy Ghost Fathers elected Lefebvre as the Superior General. Lefebvre was widely respected for his experience in the mission field. On the other hand, certain progressive members of his congregation, particularly in France, considered his administrative style authoritarian and desired radical reforms. On 7 August 1962 Lefebvre was given the titular archiepiscopal see of Synnada in Phrygia.

Lefebvre was increasingly criticized by influential members of his large religious congregation who considered him to be out-of-step with modern Church leaders and the demand of the bishops' conferences, particularly in France, for modernization and reforms. A general chapter of the Holy Ghost Fathers was convened in Rome in September 1968 to debate the direction of the congregation after the changes of the Second Vatican Council. The first action of the chapter was to name several moderators to lead the chapter's sessions instead of Lefebvre. Lefebvre then handed in his resignation as Superior General to Pope Paul VI. He would later say that it had become impossible for him to remain superior of an institute that no longer wanted or listened to him.

Read more about this topic:  Marcel Lefebvre

Famous quotes containing the words superior, general, holy, ghost and/or fathers:

    There are few things more disturbing than to find, in somebody we detest, a moral quality which seems to us demonstrably superior to anything we ourselves possess. It augurs not merely an unfairness on the part of creation, but a lack of artistic judgement.... Sainthood is acceptable only in saints.
    Pamela Hansford Johnson (1912–1981)

    Mr. Chadband is a large yellow man, with a fat smile, and a general appearance of having a good deal of train oil in his system.
    Charles Dickens (1812–1870)

    Those holy fields,
    Over whose acres walked those blessed feet
    Which fourteen hundred years ago were nailed
    For our advantage on the bitter cross.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong,
    ‘You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me!’
    Andrew Barton Peterson (1864–1941)

    One encounters very capable fathers abashed by their piano-playing daughters. Three measures of Schumann make them red with embarrassment.
    Alfred Döblin (1878–1957)