SAINT FOR ALL SEASONS: Charles de Foucauld.

It is hard to imagine a more conflicted and convoluted life than Saint Charles de Foucauld, Martyr. Yet, he is indeed one to whom I look for inspiration in my journey from my false self to my true self as an adopted son (daughter) of the Father and heir to what fulfills my humanity as nature intended.

Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916)

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CHARLES DE FOUCAULD (Brother Charles of Jesus) was born in Strasbourg, France, on September 15th, 1858. Orphaned at the age of six, he and his sister Marie were raised by their grandfather, in whose footsteps he followed by taking up a military career.

He lost his faith as an adolescent. His taste for easy living was well known to all and, yet he showed that he could be strong-willed and constant in difficult situations. He undertook a risky exploration of Morocco (1883-1884). Seeing the way Muslims expressed their faith questioned him, and he began repeating, “My God, if you exist, let me come to know you.”

On his return to France, the warm, respectful welcome he received from his deeply Christian family made him continue his search. Under the guidance of Fr. Huvelin, he rediscovered God in October 1886. He was then 28 years old. “As soon as I believed in God, I understood that I could not do otherwise than to live for him alone.”

A pilgrimage to the Holy Land revealed his vocation: to follow Jesus in his life at Nazareth.He spent 7 years as a Trappist, first in France and then at Akbès in Syria. Later he began to lead a life of prayer and adoration, alone, near a convent of Poor Clares in Nazareth.

Ordained a priest at 43 (1901) he left for the Sahara, living at first in Beni Abbès and later at Tamanrasset among the Tuaregs of the Hoggar. He wanted to be among those who were, “the furthest removed, the most abandoned.” He wanted all who drew close to him to find in him a brother, “a universal brother.” In a great respect for the culture and faith of those among whom he lived, his desire was to “shout the Gospel with his life”. “I would like to be sufficiently good that people would say, “If such is the servant, what must the Master be like?”

On the evening of December 1st, 1916, he was killed by a band of marauders who had encircled his house.

He had always dreamed of sharing his vocation with others. After having written several rules for religious life, he concluded that this “life of Nazareth” could be led by all. Today the “spiritual family of Charles de Foucauld” encompasses several associations of the faithful, religious communities, and secular institutes for lay people and priests. https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20051113_de-foucauld_en.html

GOD’S HALL OF FAME: QUOTES FROM THIS QUIET SAINT OF ABANDONMENT

http://www.azquotes.com

“To love anyone is to hope in him for always. From the moment at which we begin to judge anyone, to limit our confidence in him, from the moment at which we identify him with what we know of him and so reduce him to that, we cease to love him and he ceases to be able to be better.” ~ Charles de Foucauld

“It is not necessary to teach others, to cure them or to improve them; it is only necessary to live among them, sharing the human condition and being present to them in love.” ~ Charles de Foucauld

“We should never forget the two axioms: ‘Jesus is with me’ and whatever happens, happens by the will of God.” ~ Charles de Foucauld

“Above all, always see Jesus in every person, and consequently treat each one not only as an equal and as a brother or sister, but also with great humility, respect and selfless generosity.” ~ Charles de Foucauld

“The one thing we owe absolutely to God is never to be afraid of anything.” ~ Charles de Foucauld

“You have only one model, Jesus. Follow, follow, follow him, step by step, imitating him, sharing his life in every way.” ~ Charles de Foucauld

“The absence of risk is a sure sign of mediocrity.” ~ Charles de Foucauld

“Cry the Gospel with your whole life.” ~ Charles de Foucauld

“Anything that doesn’t lead us to that – to better know and serve God – is a waste of time.” ~ Charles de Foucauld

For me, the life of Saint Charles de Foucauld typifies what has been at the heart of my Lectio Divina all these years; mine is, iindeed a useless life in the eyes of the world. It is dying to self each day and having the mindset of that struggles to keep my center anchored in Christ, “Have in you the mind of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5). My Catholicism is the occasion (my 84 years of fumbling around trying to discover what contemplation has begun to whisper in my ear. “Wait for the Lord!”) The example of Brother Charles of Jesus is what helps me to focus on abandonment of my false self to put new wines in new skins. I follow only Jesus, but am inspired by all the Saints and saints left on earth, such as Saint Charles de Foucauld, Martyr, who also tried to follow in the footsteps of the Master. He did this by literally abandoning all material things and retiring to the desert. Still, much more than that, he abandoned his will completely and totally with the help of the Holy Spirit, seeking nothing other than to be present to others. I take comfort from this Saint who is in Heaven and ask him to intercede with the Blessed Mother, St. Michael, and all the Saints standing in the presence of the Lamb of God, proclaiming with their lives that what is impossible for humans to achieve by themself, in, with, and through Jesus, who abandoned all on the cross for me.

Father, I abandon myself into your hands, do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you: I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me and in all your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands, I commend my soul;
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart;
For I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself:
To surrender myself into your hands without reserve and with boundless confidence. For you are my Father.’

Praise be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. The God who is, who was, and who will be at the end of the ages. –Cistercian Doxology