APPENDIX II: Biographies

Cardinal Léon-Joseph Suenens

Léon-Joseph Suenens was born in Brussels on July 16, 1904. He was ordained in 1927. In 1961, he became Archibishop of Maline-Brussels. Pope John XXIII appointed him cardinal and entrusted him with preparatory work for the Vatican Council II. He was appointed a moderator for the Vatican Council by Pope Paul VI. The Primate of Belgium, Cardinal Danneels, said that 'the Holy Father told me explicitely that Cardinal Suenens had played a decisive part in the Council and that the Universal Church owes him". During the Council, he called for a triple dialogue "with the faithful; with our separate brethren; with the non-Christian world." He advocated the restoration of the permanent diaconate, drew attention to the Church's charismatic dimension and suggested the introduction of a specific age for the retirement of bishops and cardinals. His emphasis on co-responsibility in the Church attracted controversy.

Ecumenically, Cardinal Suenens broke new ground. He reciprocated visits with Archbishop Ramsey of Canterbury and co-authored two books with him. He addressed the assembled bishops of the American Episcopal Church, and through his involvement with the Charismatic Renewal, which Pope Paul VI entrusted to him in a special way, he built bridges with the Pentecostal churches.

The cardinal has received many honorary degrees and, in 1976, received the Templeton Prize for Progress of Religion. In 1991, he was awarded the Grand Prix de la Francophonie by the Académie Française for his theological and pastoral publications.

Veronica O'Brien

Louise-Mary O'Brien was born in Southern Ireland on August 16, 1905. From a very young age, she was marked by the desire to serve God, to be a "fisher of men". She received the name Veronica when, in 1924, she joined the Congregation of St. Clotilde. After her perpetual vows, she taught and studied until 1935 when she was asked to leave the Congregation after having expressed truthfully, but with tact, her own ideas for a better Christian formation of the students. The time was not yet ripe for the changes she advocated.

Veronica's ideals were still "to devote her life totally to God in some active service of evangelization, while supporting herself without working for pay." (2a, p.36). Continuing her studies in London, she searched for a way to live her ideal. She contacted Frank Duff, the founder of the Legion of Mary, "an organization which, thanks to Mary, has the power to communicate life, gentleness and hope to all nations, through faithfulness to its statutes and unfailing energy". Despite many obstacles, gales and storms, Veronica became instrumental in establishing the Legion of Mary in France during World War II, and later in Belgium and other countries.

In 1947, she met Bishop Suenens, first at Paray-le-Monial and then in Lourdes. The love of the Holy Spirit and Mary united them and supported their work for almost 50 years. The complementarity of Cardinal Suenens' relationship with Veronica O'Bien sheds light on the current debate of women in the Church, and provides a prophetic message for today.

She was very close to Pope Paul VI and to Cardinal Bellini; their trust in her allowed her to play a discreet but decisive role in the events which were to lead to Rome's acceptance of the Charismatic renewal.