FOUCAULD CHARLES DE: (1858-1916) Foucauld was a former cavalry Officer in the French army, he ...

FOUCAULD CHARLES DE: (1858-1916) Foucauld was a former cavalry Officer in the French army, he would later become an Explorer, and finally a Catholic Priest. Foucauld lived as a hermit, among the Tuareg in the Algerian Sahara. In 1916 Foucauld was assassinated and is considered by the Catholic Church a martyr. The Little Brothers of Jesus were found after him. An excellent and rare A.L.S., `Fr. Ch. de Jesus´ to the conclusion, also signing ` Charles de Foucauld´ to the first page text, four pages, grid paper, 8vo, Maison Carée, 4th December 1906, to an Abbott, in French. To the upper left corner of the front page letter, Foucauld annotates ` Jesus + [sketch of a heart] Caritas´, and to the head of the three other pages, he annotates ` Jesus + [sketch of a heart]´. Foucauld is about to depart and states in part `... Dans 3 jours je repars pour Beni-Abbès, où vous pouvez m´adressertoutes vos lettres; je n´y resterait pas longtemps, mais elles me suivront. Par prudence mettez toujours cette adresse: Mr. Charles de Foucauld à Beni Abbès (Extrême sud Oranais) Algérie. Que Jésus bénisse les désirs de ce bon prêtre qui voudrait partager ma solitude et qu´il lui fasse accomplir Sa divine Volonté, c´est l´unique nécessaire et le seul bien... Je bénis le divin bien aimé qui vous permet de commencer les travaux de la Basilique dans son cher Nazareth; puisse t-elle être un foyer de graces d´où le parfum du divin adolescent se répande sur le monde entier, et sur nos pauvres chrétiens qui suivent si peu le modèle unique et sur les musulmans, ces infidèles de toute sorte plongés dans un si profond mort.´ (Translation: " In three days I will return to Beni-Abbès, where you can send me all your letters; I will not stay long, but they will follow me. For safety, always use this address: Mr. Charles de Foucauld, Beni-Abbès (Southern Oran Region), Algeria. May Jesus bless the desires of this good priest who wishes to share my solitude and may He grant him His divine Will; this is the only thing necessary and the only good. I bless the divine Beloved who allows you to begin the work on the Basilica in his beloved Nazareth; may it be a center of grace from which the fragrance of the divine youth spreads throughout the world, and upon our poor Christians who so rarely follow the one true model, and upon the Muslims, these infidels of every kind plunged into such profound death.") Further, Foucauld asks for a favour, saying ` Je viens vous prier de vouloir bien m´envoyer par la poste - non-recommandé- à Beni Abbès un paquet de 50 images de Jésus adolescent, sans chant et sans prière, à verso blanc; je préfère les images bleu foncé à celles en sepia... Espérons que la tempête présente ne sera pas une entrave à la préparation de votre cher petit Louis de Gonzague; s´il pense toujours à évangéliser les nègres, le noviciat des Pères Blancs à Maison Carrée lui tend les bras. Si Jesus l´appelle à partager ma vie, il s´en rendra compte auprès des Pères Blancs qui, en serviteurs de Dieu, l´enverront où veut le seul Maitre...´ (Translation: " I am writing to ask you to kindly send me, by regular mail, to Beni Abbès, a packet of 50 images of the adolescent Jesus, without singing or prayer, on a blank back; I prefer dark blue images to sepia ones... Let us hope that the current storm will not hinder the preparation of your dear little Louis de Gonzague; if he still intends to evangelize black people, the White Fathers' novitiate at Maison Carrée welcomes him with open arms. If Jesus calls him to share my life, he will realize this with the White Fathers who, as servants of God, will send him wherever the one Master wills...") VG