René Laurentin

Father René Laurentin was born in Tours, France, on October 19, 1917, to Marie and Maurice Laurentin, an architect. After finishing his secondary studies at the Institution of Sainte Marie de Chole, he entered the Seminary in Paris at the Catholic Institute in October 1934 at the age of 17 where he excelled in his studies, specifically Philosophy, specializing in Saint Thomas Aquinas. In 1938 he earned a degree in Philosophy from the Sorbonne. He was studying Theology when he was called by his country to serve in the military. World War II was looming and he realized his duty, becoming a military officer in the French Army. After being held a prisoner of war in Germany, he was finally freed and received the dual citations of the Cross of War and the Legion of Honor, two of the highest a French soldier can receive.

Despite the hardships of war, his resolve to be a priest had not waned. He enrolled in the University de Son Oflag to pursue his studies, taking Hebrew and Mariology under the tutorship of the renowned Dominican Father Genevois. In July 1946 he attained his degree in Theology and was ordained a priest on December 8, 1946 in Paris by Bishop Blanchet, then the rector of the Catholic Institute. Because of his learned thesis, he was encouraged to continue writing and extended on the thesis he had written on the Blessed Virgin Mary and the role she had played throughout Europe. In 1952 he received his Doctorate in Mariology from the Sorbonne on June 7, 1952, followed by another Doctorate in Theology where he graduated cum singulari prosus laude on February 9, 1953 from the Catholic Institute of Paris.

In October 1955 he was named Professor of Theology at the Catholic University of Angers and taught Mariology to the Franciscans that same year. He became Vice President of the Society of French Studies of Mary in 1962. That same year he was accorded the honor of being a periti or expert at the Second Vatican Council after being named a consultant for the preparatory commissions two years before in 1960. He wrote much of the Marian Doctrine in the Dogmatic Constitution of Vatican II. Also during this time he studied meticulously on various "apparitions" and served as a correspondent for Le Figaro, writing numerous stories and editorials on the Council and then the election of Pope Paul VI. He wrote several articles and thesis from 1963 to 1972 on Vatican II and the various Synods.

The more he became known, the more others sought him out, recognizing how knowledegable he was in Theology and Mariology. Those experts on Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Fatima had gone to him rather than the opposite, for his reputation preceded him. Always Father Rene was willing to listen and absorb all he could. He has produced in-depth treatises on Lourdes, Fatima, Our Lady of Pontmain and countless other apparitions throughout Europe and the world.

In 1981 the Vatican authorized him to study the writings of Yvonne-Aime de Malestroit who was under consideration by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. He published eight volumes on the candidate. Throughout Father Rene's illustrious life he has been a guest lecturer at numerous universities in both United States and Europe including summer tenure at the University of Dayton in Ohio as a visiting lecturer for well over twenty years and Marymount University in Washington D.C. He is also a member of the Theology Faculty at the University of Florence and the University of Milan. He has been singled out and honored by four Popes including Pope John Paul II who has conducted numerous personal audiences and consultations with the respected Mariologist. In addition he has appeared internationally on radio and television in France, America, Germany, Argentina, Canada, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, the Soviet Union and Venezuela. He has written over 2,000 articles, mostly for the daily "Le Figaro", and "Chrétiens "magazine.

He is said to have long understood the meaning of the messages from the Mother of God, beginning at Rue du Bac, Paris, and has followed with extreme interest almost every reported apparition, locutionist, messenger, etc. over the past 40 years, writing extensive works on so many, specifically Medjugorje with his first work in 1984. This was only three years after the apparitions had begun which purportedly continue today as well. He has written many subsequent works on Medjugorje, many translated for his English books by Juan Gonzalez of Houston. Some of these are "Latest News of Medjugorje" (1987), "Scientific and Medical Studies on the Apparitions" (1988), "Seven Years of Apparitions: Time for Harvest?" (1988), "Is the Virgin Mary appearing at Medjugorje?" (1990), "Learning from Medjugorje: What is Truth?" (1992), "Apparitions at Medjugorje Prolonged: A Merciful Delay for a World in Danger" (1992), "Medjugorje - Thirteen Years Later" (1994), "Ten Years of Apparitions" (1991), and "War - Love Your Enemies - Medjugorje" (1994).

Father Rene is known to investigate many mystical phenomena, such as apparition sites and private revelations. After his investigation many people trust his opinion, and not of the opposition that rises since usually the opposition has not gone through any sort of investigation such as Fr. Laurentin's. Many have tried to discredit his works on Medjugorje, San Nicholas, Scottsdale, and Vassula Ryden but were unable to do so. Father Rene realizes that often the style of each visionary is different and most probably this somehow affects their credibility in the eyes of the world. In the Church's history this kind of phenomena had support and opposition. Father Rene reasons that a messenger's humanity often reveals that their experience comes from God and how God usually works with that person in just as an oxen cart where both rider and ox need to pull the cart. Fr. Rene claims that God and man need to work together to accomplish His Divine Will.

In 1990 he wrote on the Apparitions of San Nicolas in Argentina - "An Appeal from Mary in Argentina: The Apparition of San Nicolas." His findings helped the local bishop approve the apparitions at the local level. In 1993 Father Rene wrote a piece on "Read the Bible with Mary". That same year he wrote on the Apparitions at Saint Maria Goretti parish in Scottsdale, Arizona where Father Jack Spaulding was pastor. The book was "Our Lord and Our Lady in Scottsdale: Fruitful Charisms in a Traditional American Parish." Father Laurentin also released in 1993 his book "When God gives a Sign: A Response to Objections made against Vassula's Testimony on True Life in God." This was about Vassula Ryden, one of the more controversial messengers of our time. Two years later he followed that with a book entitled "Who is Vassula?" In 1996, fifteen years after writing 8 volumes about the nun Yvonne Aimee, he wrote the book "La Sainte enfance" on the childhood of the saint-to-be.

He has also written on "Pilgrims, Sanctuaries, Icons, Apparitions" and "The Way of the Cross in Santa Maria, California" as well as his masterpiece "The Cause of Liberation in the USSR." In addition he has authored "A Short Treatise on the Virgin Mary" and "The Truth of Christmas Beyond the Myths: The Gospels of the Infancy of Christ" (from the Preface by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission [now Pope Benedict XVI] "...With this book, the Infancy Gospels are restored to us with a new life." From Pope John Paul II"The Holy Father encourages your works which are very aptly oriented to defend the treasures of the Church.") as well as countless other works and articles. All in all he has written over 100 books on various subjects of Mary, Apparitions and Church Doctrine.

According to theologians and experts the world over there is no one more of an authority on discernment than Father René Laurentin who today is an Abbot as well. He has written extensively on Saint Bernadette Soubirous, Saint Louis Marie de Grignion de Montfort, Saint Catherine Laboure and the newest Doctor of the Church Saint Therese of Lisieux which were published well before she was proclaimed a Doctor. In fact, many say Father Rene's works helped in the Little Flower's promotion to that august title.

Overall many also consider this 90-year-old priest the champion of Marian Apparitions the world over. L'Abbe Laurentin is said to recognize the urgency our the times and God's purpose in sending Our Lady to His children in such multitudes of appearances and messages during the later hours of this second millennium. Father Rene realizes the urgency of Our Lady's words and is doing all he can, as his fiat to God and His Heavenly Mother to separate the wheat from the chaff so all can benefit from God's Love and Mercy. L'Abbe Laurentin is said to understand this clearly and his goal is to clear the cobwebs of doubters when he believes something is truly from God.