It is difficult to believe that the gaunt, haggard figure of St. Charles deFoucauld, tanned by the Moroccan sun and hardened by the desert sands, was once known back in Paris as “Fats Foucauld.” In younger years, St. Charles’ was much delighted by the pleasures afforded by food, festivities and female companionship. In his own words, he tersely summarized his youthful life: “I sleep long. I eat a lot. I think little.” St. Charles also enjoyed his younger years in the French Army, serving in North Africa. But when challenged to forgo the companionship of his fancy lady “Mimi,” Charles resigned the army and return to France. Smitten however by the African continent, Charles spent four years, traversing Morocco, disguised as a Jewish rabbi, gathering historical and geographical data on North Africa which he later published to some acclaim. Here also Charles, who had long ignored his childhood Catholic faith, became quietly impressed with the pious devotions of the Jews and Moslems he met on his African travels. The seed of faith was being nourished.
Charles returned to his family in Paris and found himself surrounded by people who were “highly intelligent, highly virtuous, and highly Christian.” Their quiet example encouraged him to return to church, not as a convert but as a seeker. His prayer was, “My God, if you exist, allow me know you.” One “beautiful soul” who quietly encouraged Charles in his religious quest was his cousin, Marie deBondy. Led gently by her good example, Charles began to think, “The religion in which she believes cannot be folly.” Through her direction, Charles came to discuss religion with Father Henri Huvelin, pastor of Saint Augustine church in Paris, who at their first meeting insisted: “Get on your knees and confess!” His wise guidance further directed Charles’ mind and heart to the waiting grace of God.
Once started on the path toward full appreciation of the Gospel message, Charles sought immediately full identification with Christ. He saw the life of a Trappist monk as the ideal total commitment. Still Father Huvelin cautioned Charles to wait three years before committing himself to the cloister. During that time, Charles visited the Holy Land and found walking the streets of Nazareth especially thrilling. The nearness of Christ’s humble example touched him greatly. In 1890 Charles did commit himself to the monastic life as a lay brother at Our Lady of the Snows monastery in south-central France. Yet, still touched by the humble lives he had witnessed in Africa, Charles sought a transfer to a Trappist monastery in Syria where his task was to supervise laborers on the monastery grounds. Still restless for a closer life with Christ, Charles was granted permission to live in a “wooden plank hut” at the door of the Poor Clare’s convent in Nazareth. It was here he wrote his religious rule that would later guide the Little Brothers of Jesus.
Charles returned to France in 1900 and once again consulted Fr. Huvelin, this time seeking ordination to the priesthood. Charles had come to appreciate the nearness of Christ so deeply in the monastery and in the Holy Land that he now felt Christ should be brought to the abandoned people of Algeria and Morocco. And he thought making Christ truly present in their midst through the Eucharist was the key to spreading authentic faith. Ordained at Viviers, France in 1901, he ministered four years at Beni Abbes in Algeria and twelve years with the Tuareg people in Morocco. In spite of his dedication, Charles had to lament: “Tomorrow, it will be ten years that I have been saying Holy Mass in the hermitage in Tamanrasset and not a single conversion! It takes prayer, work and patience.” Indeed it does. St. Charles de Foucauld was violently murdered by wandering tribesmen on December 1, 1916. He was canonized by Pope Francis on May 15, 2022.
Certainly St. Charles of Jesus, as he was canonized, is a worthy example on All Saints Day of personal commitment and community service, even though he had little to show for it. But for those of us who must be content with reading his life rather than following his example, his history contains admirable illustrations of how good quiet models and courageous sound advice can subtly advance the cause of a saint. Where would the shiftless Charles have been without the Christian example of his family and especially his cousin Marie? What would have happened to Charles without the sage advice of Fr. Huvelin? The patience of Charles’ Trappist superiors with his restless vocation and the indulgence of the Poor Clares with the ordained hermit at their door were indeed gentle supports. Even the tolerance of the North African natives for this pious Frenchman in their desert encouraged him. The average believer, so to speak, must not underrate his or her own contribution to the making of saints. God’s providence is often subtle and always shrewd.
