Georges Chevrot

I recently wrote a piece for Scepter Publishers that answers the question “Who was Georges Chevrot?

It begins …

Beyond the holy assembly of canonized saints, the list of fervent souls birthed to the Church by French mothers seems equally endless. Among the legions we find four born within a few years of each other in the late nineteenth century. Three were cradle Catholics, one converted at age twenty-four. Two became priests, two remained laymen. In the twentieth century each in his own way made significant contributions to the Church. Three are well known: Jacques Maritain, Etienne Gilson, and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Less known is Georges Chevrot. While Maritain contributed to philosophy, Gilson to the history of philosophy, and Teilhard to speculative science, it was Chevrot, ordained in 1903, who became the preacher extraordinaire.

And more from the essay …

In 1938 Cardinal Verdier added to his parish duties by calling him (Chevrot) to the pulpit of the cathedral, Notre Dame. There he often attracted faithful by the thousands, and his sermons were carried on radio. The following year Pope Pius XII conferred the Domestic Prelature on Monsignor Chevrot. He continued to preach at Notre Dame until 1940, when, according to de Lubac, “he gave it up, rather than have to subject the Gospel to undue censorship” during the German occupation.

During this time Chevrot made no attempt to conceal his hostility toward the Nazis. The Tablet of Brooklyn, New York, reported that his popularity saved him from arrest but there were several attempts on his life.

There’s much more to Chevrot’s remarkable story. Please read the entire essay here.

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NB: Scepter has published six books by Georges Chevrot. I have them all—you should, too. You won’t be disappointed.