The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-12-14
THE HERMIT OF THE SAHARA.

1.-THE HERMIT Of THE SAHARA
Interesting Career of Vicomte de Fou-
cauId, the Daring Explorer of Moroc-
CO, Who Became Trappist and Re-
tired to the Mountains of AL Haggar
to Expiate the Crime of Denying
Christ to Save His Life-consecrates
His Life to the Conversion of Bar
barians.
For many years Morocco, "the coun-
try of the remotest west" has stood
periodically in the forefront of public
interest. Morocco agreements, Incl
dents, affairs, conferences, CONVERSE
tions, occupy a large space in the
political and diplomatic history of our
own times. Neither is there a dearth
of Morocco literature: descriptive and
narrative works dealing with the land
and the people abound in many Ian
guages. Strange to say, writes George
NlCC1dhO LII EAQOI1CO, Ou0 uduuC Is
conspicuously absent, not only among
the biographical notices, but also from
the photographed lists appended to
the articles on Morocco in our leading
encyclopedias. And yet Vicomte
Charles de Foucauld is more thorough
ly acquainted with the Shereefian do
minions than any other living man.
He was the first Giaour who penetra-
ted into the heart of Morocco, and his
monumental Reconnaissance au
Marco" published in 1888, is still one
of the best books on that mysterious
land.
On the occasion of the Emperor Will
liam's famous visit to Tangier, Karl
Muth drew the attention of the Ger
man-reading public to De Foucauld by
publishing an excellent translation of
his description of the condition of the
Jews in Morocco. (See Hochland,
Munich, May, 1905, p. 139 ss.) In the
latest number of the same review
| October, 1922, Professor Wincenty
Lutoslawski gives some particulars
about the remarkable career of De
Foucauld, which I cannot help hoping
will prove Of interest to the readers
of America. A
During his perilous journey through
Morocco, from June, 1888, to May,
1884, which he made in the disguise of
Jew, De Foucauld was repeatedly be-
trayed and escaped only by his won
derful presence Of mind The Nor
rocan Rabbi, who accompanied him,
introduced him everywhere as a fell
low-religionist, and he was thus en-
abled, under pretence of performing
some religious duty or other, to with
draw frequently and for longer periods
from his hosts and to make numerous
astronomical and meteorological OBJ
servations, to measure attitudes, etc.,
and to note down his impressions of
the country and the manners and GUS
toms of the people,
On his return to France the daring
explorer was royalty welcomed and
honors of all kinds were showered
upon him. His countrymen were proud
of his achievements, and greater things
0I111 WC1S OApSCICu lIOI1 IL
France was satisfied with him, he was
not satisfied with himself. He gradu-
ally began to look upon his enterprise
as crime, which he thought could
be expiated only by life of penance.
He especially regretted that he had
denied Christ in order to save his life,
and that he had SO often let slip the
chance of suffering martyrdom for the
Faith. These considerations deter
mined him to quit the world and to
offer up the rest of his days as holo-
caust to Christ.
He. quietly joined the Trappists, be-
came a priest, and later on betook
himself to the innermost parts of the
Sahara, forty days journey from the
coast, into the wild mountains of Al
Haggar, whose highest peaks tower
5000 meters above the sea. The
marauding Tuareggs revere him as
saint and regard it as an honor to rem
der him service. His influence is
so great that travellers provided with
a recommendation from him, or &C
companied by his messengers, have
been known to pass unmolested
through the desert as far as the Gold
Coast. His letters and books he re-
ceived by way of In-Salah, the last
French outpost in A1giers, which
means journey of several days for
his mail carrier Visitors are always
welcome to his hermitage, and he en-
tertains them like true king of the
desert.
He is anxious to have a number of
Christian families to help the spread
of civilization among the Tuareggs. He
intends to come to Europe next year
His letters breathe true humanity, and
he praises his faithful Tuareggs as
thoroughly noble souls.
The life of man like De Foucauld,
concludes DIR. LutoslaWski, is an illus
tration of what pure love of ones
fellowmen and faith and trust in God
Ts.-H.S Il