Lionel Groulx was a French Canadian Roman Catholic priest, historian and Quebec nationalist.
Background
Lionel Groulx was born on January 13, 1878 in Vaudreuil, Quebec, Canada, in the family of Leon and Philomene Salomee (Pilon) Groulx. A month after his birth, his father died of smallpox, and two of his three siblings died during an outbreak of diphtheria. Following these tragedies, his mother remarried. His new family was apparently a happy one, and from childhood Groulx showed evidence of a strong religious faith.
Education
Lionel had seminary training and studies in Europe.
Career
Lionel taught at Valleyfield College in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, and then the Université de Montréal. In 1917 he co-founded a monthly journal called Action Française, becoming its editor in 1920.
Religion
Groulx was quite successful promoting his brand of ultramontanism.
Politics
Groulx and other intellectuals settled into a partial alliance with Liberal Party of Quebec leader Adelard Godbout, who served as Premier from 1939 to 1944. They soon broke with him on account of his submission to the federal Liberals.
Views
Groulx believed that only through national education and the Quebec government could the economic and social inferiority of French Canadians be repaired. Groulx was quite successful promoting his brand of ultramontanism.