Bishop of Le Mans for 41
years
CARDINAL GRENTE, Bishop of Le Mans, died early on Monday morning following a severe attack of influenza which had lasted some weeks. He would have been 87 on Tuesday.
The Cardinal had been Bishop of Le Mans, France, since 1918 and received his red hat from the late Pope Pius XII in 1953. His death reduces the Sacred College to 73 members.
A distinguished orator and an outstanding scholar and educator, Cardinal Grente was known in France as one of that country's finest writers.
He has written extensively and his works include books on Pope St. Pius V, St. Mary Magdalen de Postel, a Study of the Seven Sacraments. as well as a treatise on literary composition and style.
In recognition of his literary works, he was elected to the French Academy in 1936. He was born in the small town of Percy in Normandy. He studied in Paris and was ordained in 1895. He then spent 18 years as a seminary teacher during which he earned a reputation as an outstanding figure in French education. In 1909 he received a Laureate in Letters from the Sorbonne.
At the beginning of the First World War he was named Rector of the Catholic Institute at Lille but was unable to assume his duties owing to wartime conditions. Pope Benedict XV named him Bishop of Le Mans in 1918. On his silver jubilee as a Bishop in 1943 he was given the personal title of Archbishop by Pope Pius X11.
The Cardinal travelled widely and received national honours and decorations including the highest decorations of Belgium, Greece, Yugoslavia, and Roumania.
The Cardinal will he buried tomorrow (Saturday) at the St. Julien Cathedral in Le Mans.