“Oh! My God, how much your hand was upon me and yet how little I was aware of it! How Good you are! How Good you are! How you protected me! How you covered me with your wings when I did not even believe in your existence!”

Charles was born into a wealthy French family in 1858 and lost his faith and bearings after being orphaned at the age of 6. Raised by his devout grandfather, he continued to reject the Catholic faith as a teenager, joined the French army, but barely made it through military school. He was often disciplined for his behavior and for openly parading his mistress about town. He inherited a large sum, but was lost.

He was dismissed from the military, took time to compile himself, and re-enlisted, only to resign after not having received permission for scientific study of Morocco. On his own, he undertook a very risky exploration of Morocco, having disguised himself as a poor rabbi. He recorded his journey and observations in a book that was well received. He was inspired by the Jews and Muslims and resumed his Catholic faith upon his return to France, joining a monastery.

As a monk, his inner quest took him to the Holy Land, where he spent several years in a Trappist monastery, and returned to France to accept becoming a priest.

Still drawn to the people and desert life, he journeyed to Morocco, intending to found a monastic religious community in North Africa. It was to offer hospitality to all religions but he attracted no companions or interest. He was invited to live among the Tuareg people in Algeria by a friend and he extensively studied their culture and language. He was able to translate the Gospels into Tuareg, spread the Good Word to Muslim Lands and saying Holy Mass.

The outbreak of WWI led to attacks on the French in Algeria and during a raid, having chosen to remain among those who were too poor to flee, was shot on December 1, 1916.

Seeming to predict his impact on the people, “Unless a wheat grain falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.” He had no followers and would have remained virtually unknown had it not been for a biography published several years after his death. 5 religious congregations, associations and spiritual institutes draw inspiration from the peaceful, largely hidden, yet hospitable life of his.

He was canonized in 2022.

His feast day is December 1.

For God’s Glory.