Br. Charles was killed Dec.1, 1916 in the
confusion of World War I, having chosen to remain among those
in Tamanrasset who were too poor to flee the conflicts in the
area. He had been well aware of the risk to his own life.
He was be beatified in Rome on Nov. 13,
2005.
Charles de Foucauld had no followers at
the time of his death and would have remained virtually unknown
had it not been for a biography published a few years after his
death by Rene Bazin.
Last known picture, taken a few months
before his death. He was 58 years old.
Br. Charles is remembered as
a model of
"desert spirituality" and for
what has become known as
the Prayer of Abandon.
It is taken from a meditation which he
imagines that Jesus
prayed on the cross.
He introduces the meditation saying,
"It is the last prayer
of our Master, of our Beloved…
may it be ours…
May it not only be the prayer of our last
moment, but that of all our moments…"
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 you're your hands
without reserve and with boundless
confidence
For you are my Father.
Amen.