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FOUCAULD BEATIFY-Nov-14-2005 (530 words) With photos. xxxi
Newly beatified monk lived humble faith with North African Muslims
By John Thavis
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Charles de Foucauld, a French monk known for his humble form of spirituality, was among three people beatified at the Vatican in mid-November.
Born to a wealthy family, Blessed Foucauld lost his faith as an adolescent and lived the easy life for many years. Exploring Morocco in 1884, he saw the way Muslims worshiped God, and he was impressed and intrigued.
Two years later, at age 28, he rediscovered his own faith after a visit to the Holy Land.
Inspired by Jesus' years at Nazareth, he tried to live a truly contemplative life among the poor. He spent seven years as a Trappist in France and Syria before leading a life of prayer and eucharistic adoration near a convent in Nazareth, Israel.
Ordained a priest at age 43, he spent the last 15 years of his life in the northern Sahara, in what is now Algeria, living among the mostly Muslim populations of the region. He was killed in 1916 by a band of marauders.
Blessed Foucauld's "Nazareth spirituality" has inspired a number of small religious communities around the world.
In a sermon at the beatification Mass Nov. 13, Portuguese Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes, said Blessed Foucauld had lived an adventurous and fascinating life, which culminated in the radically evangelical choice to devote himself to prayer among common people.
He showed Christians how to welcome the Gospel in simplicity, to evangelize without imposing, and to witness to Christ while respecting other religious traditions, the cardinal said.
Pope Benedict XVI also spoke briefly after the Mass, saying Blessed Foucauld wanted to serve Christ with humility and poverty. His contemplative spirituality represented an ideal mix of the Eucharist and the Gospel, he said.
The pope greeted a delegation of Tuareg nomads, the people among whom Blessed Foucauld lived and prayed in Algeria. Dressed in the traditional tagelmust turban that covers the head and much of the face, they shook the pontiff's hand one by one.
Also beatified at the Vatican liturgy were two Italians:
-- Blessed Maria Pia Mastena, who in 1927 founded a religious institute dedicated to helping the poor and sick.
-- Blessed Maria Crocifissa Curcio, who founded the Carmelite Missionary sisters of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus.
The pope, who unlike his predecessor does not preside over beatification liturgies, came to St. Peter's Basilica at the end of the Mass and venerated the relics of the newly beatified. He told those present that all three represented models of holiness for the whole church.
Later, speaking at his Sunday noon blessing, the pope said the record number of people beatified and canonized by Pope John Paul illustrated one of the central teachings of the Second Vatican Council: that all the baptized are called to the perfection of the Christian life.
In effect, the pope said, the council was underlining the great role of lay Catholics and their responsibility to bring holiness to all areas of society.
The council emphasized the personal witness of lay people -- especially in places where church freedom was curtailed -- and also the role of lay associations, he said.
END
Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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