The History of the Legionaries of Christ

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1941

On January 3rd, Fr. Marcial Maciel (1920-2008) founds the Legionaries of Christ in Mexico City.

1946

In an audience on June 12th, Pope Pius XII says that the new religious congregation must contribute to the formation of Catholic leaders, especially in Latin America.

1948

On May 25, 1948, Cardinal Luigi Lavitrano, who at that time was the prefect of the Congregation for Religious, sent to Monsignor Alfonso Espino y Silva, the new bishop of Cuernavaca, the Nihil obstat to proceed with the attempt to found the Legionaries of Christ. On June 12, 1948, Bishop Espino y Silva issued the decree for the canonical erection of a new congregation of diocesan right called: “Institutum clericale Missionariorum a Sacratissimo Corde Iesu et Beatissima Virginis Perdolente” (The Missionary Clerical Institute of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Most Blessed and Forgiving Virgin).

1954

The Cumbres Institute (a school) opens in Mexico City. Through formative and spiritual activities, the students and families can share in the spirituality and apostolic ideals of the Legionaries of Christ. In 2014, 66,653 students benefitted from the formation in the faith that the Legion of Christ offers, in 121 schools, in 12 countries.

1956

The Holy See undertakes the first apostolic visitation of the Legion of Christ. Fr. Maciel is removed from functions as general director during this period. Three years later, in 1959, the investigation ends and Fr. Maciel is reinstated as general director.

1958

Cardinal Clemente Micara consecrates the minor basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Phillip, Martyr, in Rome. The basilica is entrusted to the pastoral care of the Legionaries of Christ.

1959

The first draft of what will be the statutes of a movement for lay people is drafted. Shortly after, the name Regnum Christi (Kingdom of Christ) is chosen.

1963

The Interamerican Cultural Center is inaugurated in Mexico City for the formation of lay people.

1964

Opening of the Anahuac University in Mexico City. In 2014, 34,060 college students pursued degrees in 5 countries in 16 universities and institutes of higher learning. The first “Mano Amiga” (Helping Hands) school is opened, in order to offer underprivileged children a top quality education.

1965

In February, Pope Paul VI grants the Decretum Laudis (Decree of Praise) to the Legion of Christ. With this act, the Legion, which until the moment had been under the authority of the diocese of Rome, ceased to be of “diocesan rite” and began to depend directly on the authority of the Holy See. The same act approved the Legion’s constitutions “ad experimentum.” In March, the first Regnum Christi center is opened in Madrid, Spain.

1968

On January 3, the first group of lay people officially join the Regnum Christi Movement in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, Spain.

1969

In the summer, the first groups of Mexican lay people are incorporated into Regnum Christi. On December 8, the consecrated life in Regnum Christi is begun with the consecration of a group of six young women.

1972

On January 25 in Cubas de la Sagra (Toledo, Spain), men’s consecrated life in Regnum Christi begins with the consecration of two young men. In December, they will be joined by seven more.

In 1972, various ECYD clubs are founded: Club San Pablo in Salamanca (February 1972), Club Faro in Monterrey, and Club Kilimanjaro in Mexico City (September 1972), and the Crystal Lake Youth Center in the United States (November 1972). Shortly afterward, Club Vetta was founded in Rome (January 1973) and Club Everest in Madrid (May 1973). In June, 2014, there were 10,034 members in ECYD throughout the world.

1983

On June 29, the Holy See gives its definitive approval to the Constitutions of the Legion of Christ. In July, the first coworkers’ course is held in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Coworkers (now called Mission Corps volunteers) are young people give one, two, or more years working in Regnum Christi.

1986

About 100 Regnum Christi youth carry out evangelization missions in rural Mexico. This marks the beginning of the apostolate “Juventud Misionera,” which in English-speaking countries is called Mission Youth.

1991

On the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Legion of Christ, Pope St. John Paul II ordains 60 new priests in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. At the same time, the first world Regnum Christi event is held in Rome, gathering thousands of members.

2001

On the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Legion of Christ, the first International Youth and Family Encounter is held in Rome, culminating in an audience granted by Pope John Paul II to the participants in St Peter’s Square.

2005

The Third General Chapter of the Legion of Christ elects Fr. Marcial Maciel as general director. After Fr. Maciel declines re-election, Fr Álvaro Corcuera, LC, is elected as the general director of the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi.

2006

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, after investigating the accusations against Fr. Maciel, publishes its decision to invite Fr. Maciel “to a reserved life of prayer and penance, renouncing all public ministry.”

2008

On January 30, Fr. Marcial Maciel passes away in Jacksonville, Florida.

2009

In February, the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ publicly confirms that Fr. Maciel had a daughter in the context of a prolonged relationship with a woman, and other grave misconduct. In March, Pope Benedict XVI decides to initiate an apostolic visitation to the institutions of the Legion of Christ. The apostolic visitation, carried out by five bishops, begins on July 15th and ends on May 1st, 2010. The bishops published their conclusions after submitting them to the Holy Father.

2010

The apostolic visitation of the Legionaries of Christ is concluded. In its final communiqué the Holy See states “The Apostolic Visitation was able to verify that the conduct of Fr. Marcial Maciel Degollado had caused serious consequences in the life and structure of the Legion, to the point of making it necessary to undertake a profound revision. The extremely serious and objectively immoral behavior of Fr. Maciel, confirmed by incontestable testimonies, sometimes represented authentic crimes and revealed a life lacking in scruples and true religious sentiment. This life was unknown to a large part of the Legionaries.” In a statement dated March 25, 2010, the general government and all territorial directors publicly acknowledged the immoral acts attributed to Father Maciel and condemned them, asking forgiveness from the victims. They stated that “In the face of the gravity of his faults, we cannot regard him as a model of Christian or priestly life.” At this time the Legionaries undertake a rigorous multi-year path of discernment and renewal led by the Holy See under Cardinal Velasio de Paolis, who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as Pontifical Delegate. In October, an apostolic visitation to the consecrated members of Regnum Christi is also announced, to be carried out by Archbishop Ricardo Blázquez.

2011

The Legion of Christ begins the process of revising its Constitutions. Archbishop Blázquez carries out the apostolic visit to the consecrated members of Regnum Christi and submits his report to the Pontifical Delegate.

2012

Cardinal De Paolis disconnects the government of the Consecrated Women and of the Lay Consecrated Men from the government of the Legionaries of Christ, creating a distinct government for each branch. Jorge López is named director for the lay consecrated men. Gloria Rodríguez is named director for the consecrated women.

2013

During the summer, the process of revising the Constitutions of the Legion of Christ comes to an end.

2014

In January and February, the Extraordinary General Chapter of the Legionaries of Christ is held. The Chapter submits the Legion’s Constitutions to the Holy See for approval and elects Fr. Eduardo Robles-Gil, LC, as general director, along with his council. On February 25th, the Chapter ends and, with it, the mandate of the Pontifical Delegate. The Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi once again depend on the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. On July 3rd, the Holy See names Fr. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, SJ, as pontifical assistant to the Legion’s government, with the principal task of helping arrive at a definitive canonical configuration for Regnum Christi. The process to revise the part of the Statutes of Regnum Christi that affects the lay members of the Movement begins in October.

On October 16th, the Holy See approves the revised Constitutions of the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ.

2015

Fr. Eduardo Robles-Gil, general director of Regnum Christi and of the Legionaries of Christ, announced a jubilee year in thanksgiving for the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Legion and Regnum Christi.

2018

First Extra Ordinary General Assembly of Regnum Christi is held, creating the draft of the Statutes of the Regnum Christi federation to be sent to the Holy See for approval.

2019

May 31, 2019, the Holy See canonically approves the Regnum Christi Federation and the Statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation, ad experimentum, for five years.

2020

At the General Chapter of the Legionries of Christ, Fr. John Connor, LC, is elected as General Director. The Chapter focuses on coming to terms with the Congregation’s past, and devoting its efforts to offering an apology, support, and a commitment to justice to past victims of abuse by Fr. Marcial Maciel and other Legionaries. The Chapter produces the guiding documents Conversion & Reparation and Protect & Heal.

2024

On December 16th, 2024, The Statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation receive definitive approval.