Reading yesterday varying comments about the death anniversary of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, some things came to mind.
Before a Saint is canonized, there is first typically a movement that calls for their canonization, and which invokes the person's intercession as a Saint, before official approval. This has always been a part of the tradition of the Church, and it is legitimate. It is part of the process towards canonization.
Such is the case with the international movement, led of course by the Society of St. Pius X founded by Archbishop Lefebvre, to invoke him as a Saint and have, one day, the Vatican declare him as such.
I once asked Fr. Ghela, SSPX about this in the Philippines, and this was the explanation he gave about invoking yet-to-be-canonized deceased Catholics as saints, based on pious belief, and that the Society has been promoting the canonization of the Archbishop, sending continuing evidence to Rome of miracles that result after the faithful pray to the Archbishop. Terminally ill cancer patients, fully cured, for example.
And when you read the life of Archbishop Lefebvre (LINK), you can't help but wonder if his cause for canonization is in fact a worthy one.
I personally believe it is, and pray to Saint Archbishop Lefebvre every night along with my go-to list of saints--as I believe he is a saint.
++Lefebvre (two crosses for an Archbishop) heroically defended the Catholic Faith, the Catholic Mass, and Catholic Tradition, to the point of persecution by and large by the hierarchy. This alone makes him a modern day St. Athanasius figure. He above all other Prelates preserved the traditional life of the Catholic Church during these times. Without him, arguably there would be little if any TLMs in the world, or a Fraternity of St. Peter (which according to its statutes, is based on the design and charism of the SSPX from which it came into existence, except being canonically regular).
If there is any doubt in your mind, I encourage you to read his biography I posted above. Pope Francis after all, it is said, read it twice. I read it once myself, and was nearly moved to tears how edifying was the life of this great bishop saint, who trads should consider, imo, the patron saint of not only the TLM movement, but the Catholic Church during these times.
He was a man of extraordinary faith, courage, virtue, and holiness in his life, especially in defending the Faith. His love of Christ and the Church was so great that he willingly allowed himself to be persecuted until his death. He was also very kind, gentle, and humble, despite how certain detractors have portrayed him. A simple man of extraordinary action.
St. Archbishop Lefebvre, pray for us!
