Lefebvre as missionary in Africa

[Ora_et_Labora_1]

I read some years ago on the internet an article which described the reasons why Lefebvre, as a missionary in Africa, would not baptize natives above a certain age and would keep them in a sort of state of perpetual catechumenate. I have spent some time looking for it now and cannot find anything. Does anyone have any links to it? I would like to re-read it.

 

[Ultima_Ratio]

Sounds like typical misinformation put out by the SSPX-haters. As the SSPX is proven right over and over again, they get more desperate

 

[Ora_et_Labora_1]

IIRC, it wasn’t written against the SSPX; the aim rather was to show how Lefebvre had done that to safeguard the catechumens.

 

[PadraigPearce]

The only thing I’ve read that comes close to what you’re talking about (and I haven’t read a lot of his his work) was in his Open Letter to Confused Catholics, where Lefebvre used an example from his experiences in Africa to explain the Catholic position on Baptism of Desire. It’s been a long time since I read it, but the gist of it was that people would come to him concerned that they would go to Hell if they died before baptism, for example if they were scheduled to be baptized on a Sunday morning and they died during the night before they could be baptized. He said their desire to be baptized grafted them onto the body of Christ. He did say, though, that there had to be an explicit desire to be baptized into the Catholic Church, as opposed to something like Rahner’s “annonymous christian.”

If anyone is more familiar with the book I’m thinking of, I’d be happy to be corrected.

 

[bpbasilphx]

\I read some years ago on the internet an article which described the reasons why Lefebvre, as a missionary in Africa, would not baptize natives above a certain age and would keep them in a sort of state of perpetual catechumenate.\

**While I’m sure that Msgr. Lefebvre (Kyr Marcel) is not the only missionary who found an extended catechumenate advisable in at least some cases, I cannot imagine this man refusing to ever baptize someone.

My instincts tell me this article is probably either an accidental misrepresentation or deliberate slander.**

 

[palmas85]

I read some years ago on the internet an article which described the reasons why Lefebvre, as a missionary in Africa, would not baptize natives above a certain age and would keep them in a sort of state of perpetual catechumenate. I have spent some time looking for it now and cannot find anything. Does anyone have any links to it? I would like to re-read it.

Today we have the the RCIA to instruct newcomers to the faith and og=ften it becomes little ore than a ticket punch asembly line operation, sign up in August or September, attend the requisite number of sessions or at least the important ones, participate a little and get baptized the following Easter Vigil. Easy neat and simple and it helps swell the number of Catholics

I am in no way saying that is the norm or true in the majority of programs but it does happen. Often.sadly all too often.

In the old days, someone wising to come into the Church would be instructed by a Priest either alone or with a small group. When the priest felt they had enough knowledge about the faith to make an educated and well formed decision they would be baptized. The process could take several days, several weeks, month years and sometimes never happened at all

A good example of this system can be found in Thomas Mertons book The 7 Storey Mountain.

It, like all systems had both good and bad points and if the Archbishop was hesitant to baptize in some situations it could be the reason. I remember full well the case I had as a catechist when a young mother of three wanted to get baptized so she could answer her childrens questions about God. She was a Buddist and had no comprehension at all as to the Christian concept of God and what God is. The RCIA Director wanted to push her through the program in spite of the fact that after more than half of the program, the woman still did not understand the Christian concept of God, let alone Christ, the Holy Spirit. and salvation.

Should she have been baptized anyway? Even though she knew nothing at all of the faith? Some say yes, others say no. Prior to the rush them through mentality that exists today her studies may have taken several years. Interestingly enough in the early Church the method used, upon which RCIA is allegedly based, such a process could have taken several years also.

I think that the Arcbishop, being a very conservative Bishop, probably would have held up any baptisms until he felt that the person was sincere in his or her desire and was ready for the experience. And in truth after being with the RCIA progran for a long long time, I truly think that is the better way to do it.