St Charles de Foucauld

Born in 1858, to a French aristocratic family, Charles was left an orphan by the age of six, and he and his sister were brought up by their grandfather. As a teenager Charles drfited away from church, and after his grandfather’s death in 1878 is said to have led a wild life for a while. It was through a cousin, Marie de Bondy, a deeply spiritual young woman, that he gradually rediscovered his religion. Charles said: “The moment I realized that God existed, I knew I could not do otherwise than to live for him alone.”

For a time after his return to the sacraments, Charles lived as a Trappist monk. Although he is remembered as an exemplary religious, the conviction grew that this was not his vocation. After being released from his temporary vows, Charles went to the Holy Land where he became a servant for the Poor Clare nuns. Mother Elizabeth, the Superior of these Clarist sisters encouraged him to consider becoming a priest. Charles finished his studies for the priesthood and was ordained in 1901. Later that year, he left for Algeria to take up the life of a hermit in the desert.

Little Brother Charles of Jesus, as he called himself, thought up and wrote down a plan for two religious orders. The members of these orders would live a life patterned on the life of Jesus at Nazareth. At the time of his death, neither his missionary contacts nor his designs for new religious orders had borne visible fruit. In 1916, living among the fierce Tuaregs of Tamanrasset, Charles de Foucauld was killed by bandits.

Within twenty years after his death, three congregations which derived their inspiration, purpose, and Rules from Charles de Foucauld were formed. The Little Brothers of Jesus, Little Sisters of the Sacred Heart, and Little Sisters of Jesus live in small groups all over the world, preaching by the lives they lead. Two other Orders, founded later, also trace their heritage to Little Brother Charles of Jesus. Charles de Foucauld was declared Venerable on April 13, 1978. He was beatified by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins on 13 November 2005, on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI.

On December 13, 2020, Pope Francis canonized Charles de Foucauld, recognizing his exemplary life of holiness, devotion, and selfless service. Charles de Foucauld is considered to be one of the pioneers of interreligious dialogue.

Read more about St Charles de Foucauld here: https://charlesdefoucauld.info/