The Horn of the Unicorn: A Mosaic of the Life of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre

(Crossposted from LibraryThing) A fascinating book about the rise, fall, and rise again of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre of the SSPX. A traditionalist through-and-through, Msgr. Lefebvre was a man of his convinctions, even enough to stand up to the Pope. A remarkable book that darts in and out of time to weave together a compelling story of this great man's life.

The author admits up front he is very biased in favor of the archbishop, so there are no hidden agendas. Vatican II, Pope John XXIII, Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, and even Pope Benedict XVI are not favorably portrayed. This book is not for anyone who wants to believe the aforementioned were perfect in every way. This book is a danger to anyone whose faith is not strong, and could cause confusion as to what to believe and the validity of sacraments received. Use caution and primarily prayer when reading this book. If you are wondering why the mass does not seem as wondrous as you think it should; If you are wondering why the Catholic faith seems to embrace ecumenism at all costs; If you are wondering why the defensive bulwark of the Catholic Church is not as impregnable as it should be -- this books offers a few theories, centered in the person of ArchBishop Marcel Lefebre. It is a good book to begin investigating how our Catholic Church has changed in the last fifty / sixty years.

"The Horn of the Unicorn" is the story of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, hence it is the story of Vatican II. Archbishop Lefebvre's voice emerged as the strongest, indeed almost the only, voice in the hierarchy of the church to speak out against the modernist and arguably heretical Second Vatican council, as called by Pope John XXIII. "The Horn of the Unicorn" is a sympathetic treatment of the Archbishop since the author, David Allen White, is a traditional Catholic himself. The arc of White's faith journey resembles that of C.S. Lewis. Raised as a liberal Protestant, White almost inevitably adopts atheism, which is reinforced by his indoctrination in the academy. Challenged by a knowledgeable and intelligent student who knew much more than he did, (just as Lewis was challenged by Tolkien) White's intellectual curiosity and honesty lead him to adopt Catholicism, pre-Vatican II Catholicism, to be precise. It is a true tribute to White and Lefebvre to say they are "more Catholic than the Popes" who succeeded Pope Pius the XII. The author begins with an incredibly apt but true parable concerning the "retrofitting" of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in the 1960s. Because of the modernization, the formerly sturdy building could not withstand a moderate earthquake, which resulted in the collapse of its protective ceiling and its beautiful frescoes as well as several deaths. The allegory is not lost on Catholics who have seen the church de-populated, deformed, and crushed under the weight of perversion since the 1960s. White tells of Lefebvre's early years, of his devout parents and the extraordinary suffering they endure and offer up as prayer. Coming from a family completely devoted to The Church, it is natural that five of the Lefebvre children join religious orders. White does a fine job of describing the parental sources of the Archbishop's courage, virile faith, and vigilance in defense of The Church. "The Horn of the Unicorn" follows the course of Lefebvre's life, including his important tutelage under Fr. Le Floch at the French Seminary, his time as a parish priest, his missionary service in destitute and backward Africa, his appointment as Vicar Apostolic of Dakar, his appointment as an Apostolic Delegate, and his being made Archbishop of Dakar in 1955. The book becomes truly exciting in the second half, when Archbishop Lefebvre is appointed to a Preparatory Commission for the Second Vatican Council. From then on the tale is one of power, intrigue, emotion, ego, politics, and how liberal philosophy triumphed over twenty centuries of Catholic tradition and theology. The "reforms" of Vatican II are based not on doctrine or theology, but on the desire for ecumenicalism, modernization, and a man-centered (as opposed to Christ-centered) religion. Lefebvre's is the lone voice calling for an examination of the words of Vatican II and how they contradict and distort established teachings of the Church. He challenges the prin