Visitation Material 3: Fish Tank Education

As we contemplate the Legionaries as liberal arts educators, let’s none of us forget Father Maciel’s infamous statements in the Second General Chapter of the Legion of Christ December 1992. After referring pro forma to the primary importance of the “human and Christian formation of children and adolescents,” he admitted that the primary goal of Legionary schools and universities is “the expansion of Regnum Christi.” His cherished image for Legionary centers is “a fish producing ‘tank’ where fishermen are able to devote themselves to an intensive and unquestionably successful harvest” (“‘un estanque’ donde se cultiven los peces para que los pescadores tengan la oportunidad de dedicarse a la pesca con intensidad y con certeza de éxito.”). Now that the Legionaries have reformed and moved on, they will doubtless have purified themselves of their founder’s repulsive attitude, but, for the sake of students at Southern Catholic College who wish to avoid the harpoon, perhaps the apostolic visitators should ask and make sure.

The texts:

Works of apostolate of the Legion of Christ
Educational Works

333. When Our Lord God gave us the opportunity to begin our primary apostolic work, in 1954, we opted to start an educational center. From that moment I clearly saw that this would be the path that God set out for us. First and foremost its primary importance was, is and will be in the human and Christian formation of children and adolescents. Secondly, this would allow us to be in contact with a wide range of people — through the relationships with parents and teachers — which would serve to form and bring into the apostolate lay Catholics. I was thinking especially, as we look back now, about Catholic leaders. For this reason we launched the Cumbres Institute rather than a poor little neighborhood school which would have been a much more simple and manageable affair. Thirdly, I was convinced that these schools would become an important source for vocations for the Movement and for the priesthood. Lastly, I was also thinking about the economic support these institutions would be able to offer for the maintenance of the congregation's houses of formation.

341. I hope that in this way the image I have always cherished of our apostolate centers becomes a reality: a fish producing “tank” where fishermen are able to devote themselves to an intensive and unquestionably successful harvest. («un estanque» donde se cultiven los peces para que los pescadores tengan la oportunidad de dedicarse a la pesca con intensidad y con certeza de éxito.)

343. Therefore, let us consider one my greatest concerns as founder — that of our educational projects. I have discussed this many times and perhaps things are improving somewhat, but it still pains me to see that our schools and universities are not fulfilling their primary goal: the expansion of Regnum Christi, especially through the recruitment of leaders and the cultivation of vocations for the Legion and for the consecrated life of the Movement.

344. Allow me to take advantage of this exceptional opportunity the General Chapter has offered me to once again insist on this: the meaning and goals of our schools — like all apostolic work of the legion and the Movement — must not be worn down by operating solely as teaching facilities. They will not accomplish their true goal in God’s plan for us if they do not bring a large number of students, parents, family members of students and teachers into Regnum Christi. I have said it many times: for us these schools serve primarily as an open means of recruitment and of the recruitment of leaders.