Poorest amoung the Poor
On 15 May 2022, Charles de Foucauld will be canonised by the Pope. Often unknown, this humble saint has struck those who approached him by his kindness and selfabnegation.
C
harles Eugène de Foucauld, Viscount Foucauld, was born into a French noble family, in Strasbourg, 15 September 1858, with an apparently easy life ahead. Sadly, at the age of six, having lost both his parents, he and his threeyearold sister were sent to Viscountess Clothilde de Foucauld, their grandmother, who also died soon after. Finally, the children were put in the loving care of Colonel de Morlet and his wife, their maternal grandparents. In 1878, after two years of study at the Military School, he became an officer, a rich officer, since his grandfather had just died and left him a huge inheritance. He was just 20. For several years, he found his pleasure in debauchery. “I eat a lot,” he admitted, “and don’t think much.” In October 1880 he was appointed to Algeria, a country which he found interesting; but, because of an affair with a woman and insubordination, he lost his post and was back to France. In 1882, he resigned from the Army, and went to Algeria again. He was also fascinated by Morocco, which, at the time, was closed to Europeans; however, determined as he was to enter the country, he disguised himself as a Jewish
Rabbi and lived there like one. He watched and noted all his observations, collecting treasures of information on the culture, the geography, the economy and the people. He was discreet, but managed to create bonds with Jewish families who asked him to bless their children – which he did with no scruples. On 23 May 1884, he returned to Algeria, a poor Jewish beggar, but rich with his discoveries as an explorer. These enthused the scientists of the time: he had travelled 3000 kms in an unknown country. He had suddenly become a hero! Interestingly, he was not carried away by his fame and went back to France: he was 28 years old. While he had his work published, he met Christian people who inspired him to go to Church. Then God accomplished what seemed impossible: Charles’s conversion. “As soon as I came to believe there was a God, I understood that I could not do otherwise than live only for him.” In January 1890, he joined the Cistercian 1
