Charles de Foucauld asked to be called "Brother Charles of Jesus." Many young men and women have followed his example. Today, roughly 1,400 women and 250 men around the world live by his witness in small fraternities, adoring Jesus in the Eucharist and standing close to the poor and the distant, especially among Muslims. They too call themselves "Little Brothers and Sisters of Jesus." They are deeply connected to the Arca and to Faith and Light, and have frequently welcomed and sheltered Jean Vanier during his travels to establish communities of welcome for people with disabilities.
1 - Charles was born in Strasbourg in 1858. He was only six, and his sister Mary just three, when their parents died. Charles suffered deeply and withdrew into himself. His grandfather took him and his sister into his home in Nancy.
2 - Charles attended the military academy at Saint-Cyr. He gained so much weight he no longer fit into his uniform. As a cavalry soldier in Saumur, he led an idle and dissolute life. He threw parties, lost money, was undisciplined and lazy. A great sadness consumed him—he despised himself.
3 - His regiment was sent to Algeria. Charles discovered the desert and learned Arabic. He left the army and went to Morocco as an explorer. When he returned to Paris, his maps and research documents were admired and purchased by the Geographical Society.
4 - For some time, Charles had lost the faith his mother had given him. His cousin Mary de Bondy prayed that he would recover God's love. One day Mary fell ill. Charles was desperate—he began to search seriously for God.
5 - He entered the Church of Saint Augustine in Paris to meet Father Huvelin, who told him: "Confess." "But I didn't come for that." "Confess," the father repeated. Charles fell to his knees, let his heart speak, asked forgiveness for all his sins. He received the Eucharist. The love of Jesus filled him with peace.
6 - Charles decided to give his life to Jesus and do whatever he asked. He gave away all his possessions and withdrew to the convent of Our Lady of the Snows, taking the name Brother Mary-Alberic. He asked to be sent to a convent in Syria.
7 - Charles wanted to imitate Jesus in everything, to be the poorest of the poor. He asked to live in Nazareth alone, in a small hut in the garden of the Poor Clare sisters, to live as Jesus did, in the place where he had lived. He spent many hours before the Tabernacle.
8 - He became a priest and asked to live as a "hermit in the Sacred Heart of Jesus" in the desert at Beni-Abbès; later he settled in Tamanrasset in Algeria. His heart overflowed with love for Jesus, and he wanted to offer this love to others. He became a friend to many Muslims.
9 - He lived alone but received many visitors from the nomadic tribes. In his hermitage, Charles prayed constantly and celebrated Mass. He ate little—a few dates, some barley biscuits. He worked hard on a French-Tuareg dictionary (the language of the desert nomads). In every way he could, he helped those in need.
10 - His hunger for the Absolute led him to establish a second hermitage on the peak of Assekrem, in the Hoggar mountains. There he lived in God's presence, always alone, for his rule was so demanding that no one could follow it.
11 - Charles was very poor. He ate badly and his health suffered for it. Yet his eyes always shone with light, and his face reflected peace. He knew he was ready to die for love of God: "Father, I abandon myself to you. Do with me what you will."
12 - In 1914, war broke out. The village of Tamanrasset was threatened by nomadic raiders who seized the opportunity of the chaos. Charles built a small fort in the center of the village around a well: he gathered supplies and medicines there to offer shelter to the people.
13 - On December 1, 1916, bandits came to plunder the fort guarded by Charles. They tricked him into coming out and tied him up. A young man stood guard, but hearing strange noises, he panicked and shot Father de Foucauld.
14 - Following the example of "Brother Charles of Jesus," many men and women have chosen to live as he did. You too, without being a priest or sister, can love Jesus with all your heart and desire to become a brother to all people.