René Laurentin

Who is René Laurentin?

Father René Laurentin is a French theologian, 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, to study 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 to serve in the French Army. After being held a prisoner of war in Germany, he was finally freed and received the citations of the Cross of War and the Legion of Honor.

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. He was encouraged to continue writing and extended 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.