On Friday, November 29th, 2024, the eve of the Feast of St. Charles de Foucauld, Msgr. Rafiq Nahra, Patriarchal Vicar in Galilee, presided over a special Mass at the Church of St. Charles de Foucauld in Nazareth. The Mass was attended by the Little Brothers of Jesus Caritas, the Little Sisters of Jesus, and the local faithful. Both religious communities, inspired by the life of St. Charles, live among the poor, working alongside them and sharing in their everyday struggles.
St. Charles de Foucauld, a former French military officer and explorer, underwent a profound spiritual conversion in 1886 while in Morocco. Embracing a life of poverty, humility, and service, he dedicated himself to living in solidarity with the poor, spreading Christ’s message through his example of faith and brotherhood. His life became a model for the Little Brothers and Little Sisters of Jesus, whose mission is not to preach but to quietly embody the Christian message through their presence and simple way of life.
In his homily, Msgr. Nahra reflected on the Gospel reading from John 15:16, he highlighted the deep love and humility that St. Charles de Foucauld exemplified love that mirrors the Gospel and challenges believers to live differently from the world’s values. Msgr. Nahra shared how St. Charles’ journey of conversion, guided by Fr. Huvelin, led him to a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where he felt called to emulate the life of Jesus in Nazareth—living in prayer, solitude, and humility.
Msgr. Nahra also emphasized that God has chosen each of us for a purpose, and that true friendship with Jesus is a treasure that helps us remain in Him and bear lasting fruit. St. Charles’ devotion was rooted in his love for prayer and the Eucharist. His service flowed from a deep desire to share God’s love with those rejected by society, offering them a powerful witness to the Gospel through his simple and humble life.
As the Mass concluded, Msgr. Nahra prayed for the people of Nazareth, acknowledging the ongoing struggles they face, and asked for the intercession of St. Charles de Foucauld to help all Christians follow in the footsteps of Jesus, and to be witnesses of God’s goodness to those around them.
