Pope Francis this week officially cleared the way for the canonization of Charles de Foucauld, a former cavalry officer in the French army who was murdered in 1916 after having become a priest and hermit in Algeria.
Foucauld’s beatification case was opened just 11 years after his death and, finally, Benedict XVI declared him in 2005 as a martyr for the faith.
The soon-to-be-recognized saint left a rich spiritual legacy. His life and writings have been the inspiration for the foundation of more than a dozen new religious congregations, confraternities and movements.
Among the best known are the Little Brothers of Jesus and the Little Sisters of Jesus.
Sister Odette, a member of the Little Sisters of Jesus in Paris, spoke with La Croix‘s Claire Lesegretain about the forthcoming canonization of “Brother Charles” and how he continues to inspire her congregation and other believers.
La Croix: What was your reaction when you learned of the upcoming canonization?
Little Sister Odette: It was a great joy! Especially since what Charles de Foucauld experienced is a little bit in line with current events.
During these two months of lockdown when we were deprived of the Eucharist, I thought a lot about him. He so often celebrated alone, without any of the faithful.
What Charles de Foucauld experienced among Muslims is a message of universal fraternity that we need to hear in these times of global pandemic.
When I learned that some priests and founders in the Church had failed by betraying their vows, I also often thought of him since he gave witness to a great integrity throughout his entire life.
Do the younger generations know much about Charles de Foucauld?
No, young people hardly know him anymore.
We can only hope that his upcoming canonization will help them rediscover him.
At a time when there is so much talk of inter-religious dialogue, he is a great figure of that dialogue through his apostolate of prayer, silence and friendship with his Muslim brothers and sisters.
While people are always looking for results, he accepted an apparent uselessness.
I believe that Pope Francis is in this trend of a Church “coming out”, of a life that is hidden and given in the midst of the world.
What attracted you to the Little Sisters of Jesus?
The first biography I read of him, by Michel Carrouges (Charles de Foucauld: Mystical Explorer, 1954), guided me as I was searching. That was in 1959.
I read others afterwards, notably those by René Bazin and Jean-François Six.
It was contemplation that attracted me to this congregation, and the fact that Brother Charles had not converted anyone.
I did not come from a believing milieu and had never succeeded in sharing my faith in a family setting.
I was attracted to a simple life, like that of Jesus of Nazareth.
At present, I live with two other Little Sisters in an apartment on rue Saint-Denis [one of the prostitution districts in Paris].
We are a loving, respectful presence among the poorest families and women in the neighborhood.
Prayer occupies a central place in our life, with one hour of prayer in the morning, one hour of adoration during the day and the times for community prayer.
During your formation, did you go to Algeria where Brother Charles lived?
Yes, Little Sister Magdeleine [who founded the Little Sisters of Jesus in 1939] sent all the novices to the Sahara for at least six months.
I did not go to Tamanrasset, but I spent six months in El Golea [the place where the tomb of Charles de Foucauld was transferred in 1925].
Alone, I was able to experience there what my future life would be like, in detachment and contemplation.
Will you go to Rome for the canonization?
I hope so! To attend his canonization and to meet our fraternity again.
In total, there are about 300 of us in France and about 1,200 in the world.
Our congregation attracted a lot of people in the 1960s, but today it is ageing.
We have no novices in Europe, but a few in Africa and Asia