History

The Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi: History of their shared charism and service to the Church

Below, we present a brief chronology of the most important dates in the history of Regnum Christi and the Legion of Christ.

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1941

On January 3rd, Fr Marcial Maciel (1920-2008) founds the Legion 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.

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 an 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. In 2014, 19,153 underprivileged students studied in 34 Mano Amiga schools spread throughout Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Chile, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina and the Philippines.

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 sameact 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.

1970

February 25: The first formation center for consecrated women is founded in Dublin, Ireland. Foundation of ECYD (Education, Culture, and Youth Development): an international organization of children and adolescents who make an alliance with Christ and each other to build a better world.

1971

The first international Regnum Christi convention is held in Ontaneda, Spain.

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.

1974

In July, the first International ECYD Convention is held in Ontaneda, Santander (Spain). 1976 The “Alpha Omega” center for family counseling is founded in Mexico City and the Escuela de la Fe (School of the Faith) Institute is founded to form educators and teachers of the faith.

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.

1984

A team of Regnum Christi youth in Mexico City founds “Gente Nueva” (New People), an organization that aims to promote human values among young people. It was the first apostolate in the Movement which was founded by lay people. It quickly grew, expanding to other cities and countries.

1986

About 100 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.

1990

CEFID (“Centro de formación integral a distancia”) is founded in Mexico. It offered formation tools by correspondence to Regnum Christi members. Today The Regnum Christi Spirituality Center offers these services to English speaking Regnum Christi members.

1991

On the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Legion of Christ, Pope 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.

1994

During Holy Week, “Juventud Misionera” (Mission Youth) organizes the first “Megamission” in Mexico, with 1,500 youth participating. The following year, families also begin to participate in the “Megamission.” Each year since 1994, Regnum Christi has organized “Megamissions” in Mexico during Holy Week. In 2014, 18,000 missionaries participated, evangelizing in 2,000 rural communities.

1997

NET is founded as a Catholic formation program for children. Its purpose is to strengthen the family as the school of evangelization and to make each home a domestic church. The English equivalent is K4J.

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.

2004

The apostolate Pilgrim Queen of the Family is born. On November 26, the Holy See grants definitive approval to the Regnum Christi Movement Statutes.

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

Pope Benedict appoints Archbishop Velasio De Paolis as pontifical delegate, with the task of guiding the congregation of the Legionaries of Christ through a process of revision and renewal. 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

Between January and July, the consecrated women and lay consecrated men produce the drafts of their respective statutes.

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

In November, the first General Assembly of the Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi is held. Jorge López is elected as general director. The Assembly also elects the rest of their general government and submits their statutes for approval. The Pontifical Delegate approves their statutes ad experimentum on December 12th.

In December, the first General Assembly of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi is held. Gloria Rodríguez is elected as general director. The Assembly also elects the rest of their general government and submits their statutes for approval. The Pontifical Delegate approves their statutes ad experimentum on December 12th.

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 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 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 in a letter, a jubilee year in thanksgiving for the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Legion and Regnum Christi.