Jesus Caritas

written at the beginning of Advent

Articles by, or about, the Little Sisters of Jesus...

I have often regretted that more is not available in English on the life and spirituality of Charles de Foucauld. So I was glad when Robert Ellsberg recently re-published some of Charles' writings in Orbis' "Modern Spiritual Masters" series. At the same time Br. Antoine Chatelard, a little brother of Jesus, continues doing research into the life and writings of Charles, most of which, unfortunately, has not been translated from French. In this article I will draw on many of Antoine's insights and in particular, those about de Foucauld's

When I was young I learned that prayer was "the raising up of the heart and mind to God." Since then nothing has happened to change this view of prayer although much has happened to expand it. I now see prayer as the expression of the relationship between me and God, a complete abandonment to him.

Introduction

One of the great characteristics in the life of Jesus which I pick up from the Gospels is that Jesus had many friends and loved parties. "Of course he loved parties", said a Jewish friend of mine - "He was a good Jew".

To Bishop François Blondel of Viviers...

...I give thanks for the witness of contemplative and apostolic life of the humble, poor hermit of Hoggar, who was set on following Jesus of Nazareth.

"FAITH gives us new vision, new tastes, new ways of living".

So wrote 'Brother Charles of Jesus', as Charles de Foucauld came to call himself. That was in Nazareth, in 1900, where Charles was exploring for himself (and for us in our here-and-now - for Charles was always conscious of those who would follow the furrow he was tracing) the meaning and implications of his re-discovered faith as a follower of Jesus.

A contemplative life and incessant activity

I will try briefly to answer your questions: How can one lead a truly authentic contemplative life while working amidst the incessant activity of life in a city or wherever? And how do the Little Brothers do this?