Francis X. Murphy
Encyclopedia
Francis X. Murphy was a Redemptorist chaplain and theology professor. He is most known for his articles about the Second Vatican Council
, published under the pseudonym Xavier Rynne.
Sent for further studies, Murphy first earned a masters degree and, then in 1945, a Ph.D. from the Catholic University of America writing Rufinus of Aquileia (345-411): His Life and Works.
Subsequently, he was assigned as a naval chaplain at Annapolis, Maryland
, with Catholic Relief Services in Europe after the Second World War and then as a chaplain with the United States military.
In 1959, Murphy became a professor of moral theology at Pontifical Lateran University
.
which met at the Vatican
from 1962-1965 as a journalist. Under the pseudonym Xavier Rynne, combining his middle name and his mother's maiden name, he revealed the inner workings of Vatican II to The New Yorker
. He is credited with setting the tone for the popular view of the council, depicting it as "conservative" versus "liberal".
and later was connected with Johns Hopkins University
. By the early 1980s he then served as rector of Holy Redeemer College in Washington, D.C.
.
He wrote more than 20 books in his lifetime, under his pseudonym and his own name.
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
, published under the pseudonym Xavier Rynne.
Youth
Murphy was born to Irish immigrants in what was then called the Irish Bronx. His father was a policeman.Early Priesthood
Murphy took vows as a Redemptorist in 1935 and was ordained a priest in 1940.Sent for further studies, Murphy first earned a masters degree and, then in 1945, a Ph.D. from the Catholic University of America writing Rufinus of Aquileia (345-411): His Life and Works.
Subsequently, he was assigned as a naval chaplain at Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
, with Catholic Relief Services in Europe after the Second World War and then as a chaplain with the United States military.
In 1959, Murphy became a professor of moral theology at Pontifical Lateran University
Pontifical Lateran University
The Pontifical Lateran University is a university by pontifical right based in Rome, Italy. The university also hosts the central session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family...
.
Second Vatican Council
Murphy attended the Second Vatican CouncilSecond Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
which met at the Vatican
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
from 1962-1965 as a journalist. Under the pseudonym Xavier Rynne, combining his middle name and his mother's maiden name, he revealed the inner workings of Vatican II to The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
. He is credited with setting the tone for the popular view of the council, depicting it as "conservative" versus "liberal".
Later life
During the 1970s Murphy served as a visiting professor at Princeton UniversityPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and later was connected with Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. By the early 1980s he then served as rector of Holy Redeemer College in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
He wrote more than 20 books in his lifetime, under his pseudonym and his own name.