On 8 July 1969, Danneels was appointed assistant professor at the Faculty of Theology of the Catholic University of Leuven. Initially the appointment was for two years, but Danneels was to stay until 31 January 1978,M&S 136. shortly after he was consecrated bishop. In Leuven he became thoroughly interested in what was to become his "hobby horse",Sic, Dutch stokpaardje; M&S 115. the interlocking of theology and humanism, which he was to develop throughout his life in both his academic and his pastoral writings. The latter too were numerous and important, for when he was relieved of his spiritual directorship at the Bruges seminar in the summer of 1967, he was put in charge of the continuing education of the priests of the Bruges diocese.M&S, chapter 5.
