Charles de Foucauld to be Beatified Next Month

Vivificat! - A Catholic Blog of Commentary and Opinion ^ | 30 October 2005 | Teófilo

[Teófilo]

Folks, according to Catholic World News:

(CWNews.com) - Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, will preside at beatification ceremonies for Charles de Foucauld and two Italian nuns-- Maria Pia Mastena, and Maria Crocifissa Curcio-- on November 13.

Charles de Foucauld (1858- 1916) was a French soldier who converted to Catholicism, became a monk, and lived as a hermit in southern Algeria, where he was a pioneer of dialogue with Muslims. His beatification had originally been set for May 15, but was postponed-- along with several other similar ceremonies-- when Pope John Paul II (bio - news) became gravely ill. The Vatican took special care in re-secheduling the ceremony, to provide ample time for a delegation from Algeria to make plans to attend.

Charles de Foucauld was born in Strasburg on September 15, 1858.

At age six, orphaned by his parents, he was raised by his grandfather, who transmitted to him, with kindness and generosity, love for family and for his country, passion for his studies and for the silence of nature.

In 1876 he enrolled in the army, where he carried to completion his studies at the Academy of Cavalry, in which he also pursued a brief career.

In 1882 he took leave for an exploration of Morocco. The expedition proved to be an event of such scientific importance that it earned him the gold medal of the Geographic Society.

But success did not calm his spirit. He wrote: «I began to go to church, without believing, finding myself well only there and passing long hours repeating this strange prayer: My God, if you exist, make me know you». Not long after this, he met Abbot Huvelin; conversations with him guided him to his conversion. On a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he matured a decision to enter the Trappist Monastery of Notre Dame des Neiges in France. Then he went to Syria, seeking a harder life ; from there he passed to Nazareth, where he worked for three years as a gardener in the convent of the Poor Clares.

Little by little he came to feel that, loving Jesus, one becomes brother of all, in the love of God. For this he agreed to become a priest. He therefore chose to recommence in the Sahara where he established himself first at Béni-Abbes and then, in order to live with the Tuareg, at Tamanrasset. Sharing their life, he learned their language, translated their poems and brought to print an impressive illustrated dictionary.

Some time after, he felt the need to found a religious family, centered upon the Gospels, the Eucharist, and the apostolic life. But this remained only a wish. He died on December 1, 1916, struck by a rifle, during a skirmish provoked by Hoggar rebels. (Source: The Jesus Caritas Community).

The spirit of de Foucald, his meekness, his peacefulness, is needed today more than ever in an age where suspicion between Muslims and Christians are at an all-time hight.

[Teófilo]

Blunders. Typos. Mine.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Charles de Foucauld is one of my all-time favorite saints. This bio, though, passes by in silence over one of the most remarkable things about him: that as a young man he was deeeply troubled, and -- to speak frankly --- plunged himself defiantly into every vice he could get his hands on. He was a glutton, a drunkard, a drug abuser, a heartless fornicator with women and (if rumor has the gist of it) with men as well. And he was a contemptuous, mocking atheist.

But God had higher plans for Brother Charles and was not going to let him trifle his life away as a God-denying wastrel. The story of his conversion --- his coming to know and to embrace the truth of God in Christ --- is heart-tuggingly beautiful.

In the end, Charles is a man of heroic proportions. Not because of any worldly success --- for by worldly standards he was a failure --- but because he succeeded in making himself a total gift to God and to his brothers, the Tuaregs of the desert.

He was shot down like an animal in 1916. But I believe we will see him trnasformed in glory.

[BlackVeil]

For this he agreed to become a priest. He therefore chose to recommence in the Sahara where he established himself first at Béni-Abbes ...

I wonder where he trained - was there a seminary out there?

[Teófilo]

I think he returned to France briefly to finish his studies and receive his ordination. It all happened very fast. He kept a voluminous correspondence with his Spiritual Director who encouraged him all along and represented Foucauld before his French superiors.