Father René Laurentin (born 19 October 1917) is a French theologian who is considered an expert in Mariology.[1]
Laurentin was born in Tours, France), 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.
He enrolled in the University de Son Oflag to pursue his studies, taking Hebrew and Mariology. In July 1946 he attained his degree in Theology and was ordained a priest on December 8, 1946 in Paris. 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 peritus 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.
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. 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).