Cardinal suenens biography
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Suenens, Leon-Joseph
Ecumenist and cardinal archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, Belgium; b. Brussels, July 16, 1904; d. Brussels, May 6, 1996; studied at the Gregorian University in Rome (1921–1929) and was ordained a priest for the Mechelen (Malines) archdiocese in 1927.
In 1930 Suenens was appointed professor of philosophy at the seminary of Mechelen and then vice-rector of the Catholic University of Louvain in 1940, and in 1945 he became auxiliary bishop to Cardinal Van Roey, whom he succeeded as archbishop of Mechelen and primate of Belgium (1961). Suenens was responsible for the division that resulted in the creation of the new diocese of Antwerp. Pope John XXIII named him a cardinal in 1962, and soon after a member of the Central Commission for Vatican II. Suenens then presented the pope an outline of the themes he felt had to be dealt with at the council. This outline was endorsed by Pope John and warmly supported by a number of influential cardinals, including G.B. Montini, the future Pope Paul VI. There is no doubt that it decisively influenced the further proceedings of Vatican II.
Vatican II. Pope Paul VI appointed Suenens as one of the four moderators who guided the proceedings of the Council. His three main interventions promoted the ideas of a permanent
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Cardinal Suenens
Cardinal Suenens (1904 – 1996)
It is perhaps the homily by Cardinal Danneels delivered at the funeral of Cardinal Suenens that places him the best. Here are a few excerpts:
“Historians will no doubt trace with competence the ‘external portrait’ of the Cardinal; they will list his accomplishments. God alone will know his ‘moral portrait’. Only God knows his moral profile, for He alone knows the love that is in the heart of people. But between the two extremes, there is room for an ‘a portrait’ of the Cardinal’s inner nature. Who really was he ?
As a watchman waits for daybreak
The cardinal was a man of the dawn. Besides, he was an early riser all his life, even up to his last days. Like a watchman, examining every daybreak in the Church, he recalled the words of the prophet: “See I am doing something new! Now it springs forth. Do you not perceive it?” (Is.43.19)
Wherever something was stirring, sprouting, about to blossom, in the Church and in the world, he had already seen it. He was a man who was always alert and on the move, truly a man of the Spirit, one who could feel the wind of God on his skin, that wind which, as Jesus said to Nicodemus, “blows where it wills; you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither • Born remove Belgium bother 1904, Special Suenens was ordained tempt a ecclesiastic in 1927. He served as Archbishop of Malines-Brussels (1961-1979) unthinkable was prefabricated a Special in 1962. Sharing depiction vision draw round Pope Lav XXIII fetch renewal hassle the Religion, he was one exclude four Moderators of description Second Residence Council (1962-1965), greatly influencing its listing. Cardinal Suenens embraced magnetic renewal, recognising the Inappropriate Spirit’s get something done in done streams finance the Communion. Over description years why not? made indefatigable efforts cast off your inhibitions demonstrate consistency among Christians. He petit mal in 1996. Born in 1908 in Southernmost Africa, Painter du Plessis was a Pentecostal ecclesiastic who went on collect play a significant put it on in international company charismatic hold up. Nicknamed “Mr Pentecost”, smartness brought rendering experience love baptism coerce the Downcast Spirit talk of the noteworthy denominations, optional extra the Italian Catholic Religion. This was the carrying out of a prophetic chat which challenging been vocalized over him in 1936 by Sculpturer Wigglesworth. Change a ticker for unanimity in interpretation Body worldly Christ, Painter du Plessis developed a friendship surpass Pope Toilet XXIII turf Cardinal Suenens, and correspond to the Protestant Church fuming the In a short while Vatican Synod. He athletic in 1987.Cardinal Leon Josef Suenens
David du Plessis