BLESSED CHARLES DE FOUCAULD
The feast of Blessed Charles De Founcauld is December 1st. Chalres certainly did NOT start out his life as a holy man. he was truly a playboy! When he joined the French Foreign Legion in Africa, he brought his mistress with him and kept drinking! The army threw him out, and he returned to his family in disgrace. However, his time in the desert and near the Arab people touched something deep inside him. He returned to the deserts of Morocco and Algeria in a disguise.He spent a long time travelling on foot, making maps of his journeys. When he returned to France and gave his reports, he became a hero.
However, he now was hungry for something deeper inside him. He gave up his drinking and his sexual behavior. He went to Confession to ask God to forgive his many sins. After that, he began a long journey of prayer, reading the Bible, and silence. He went to work as a janitor for a convent in the Holy Land. Later, he was ordained a priest. He asked to be assigned to the farthest, most remote place in the desert of Morocco to work with people who knew nothing about Jesus Christ.
He spent his last years away from his family, totally serving the needs of the Tuareg peoples of the desert. He learned their language and customs. He spent many days and nights praying silently to God. Sadly, in 1916, a young boy shot and killed him in a robbery attempt, an ironic crime since Charles owned nothing! For many people, his life seemed a waste since he did not even convert one person to become a Christian. Yet, to this day, many people are devoted to his life of service and prayer, and inspired by his life of sacrifice for the Gospel. the pope declared him "Blessed" only one step away from becoming a saint. His favorite prayer that he wrote is also a prayer I offer everyday:
Father, I abandon myself into your hands; to 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.
However, he now was hungry for something deeper inside him. He gave up his drinking and his sexual behavior. He went to Confession to ask God to forgive his many sins. After that, he began a long journey of prayer, reading the Bible, and silence. He went to work as a janitor for a convent in the Holy Land. Later, he was ordained a priest. He asked to be assigned to the farthest, most remote place in the desert of Morocco to work with people who knew nothing about Jesus Christ.
He spent his last years away from his family, totally serving the needs of the Tuareg peoples of the desert. He learned their language and customs. He spent many days and nights praying silently to God. Sadly, in 1916, a young boy shot and killed him in a robbery attempt, an ironic crime since Charles owned nothing! For many people, his life seemed a waste since he did not even convert one person to become a Christian. Yet, to this day, many people are devoted to his life of service and prayer, and inspired by his life of sacrifice for the Gospel. the pope declared him "Blessed" only one step away from becoming a saint. His favorite prayer that he wrote is also a prayer I offer everyday:
Father, I abandon myself into your hands; to 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.
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