It seems to be the lot of some of the servants of God that they begin to exert a powerful influence only after their death. One such case, of course, was Soeur Thérèse of Lisieux, unknown at death, of world-wide renown within twenty years afterwards (before her beatification). Such too seems to be the case with Fr Charles of Jesus-Charles de Foucauld, the missionary monk and hermit of the Sahara.

His way of life can have but a limited attraction though his teaching and methods have anything but a restricted application. It is perhaps the very relevance of his method of apostolate that is drawing men to study what he did, and in some cases to imitate him, with the necessary adaptations of course, in the task of proclaiming the Gospel by their life. Crier l'Evangile par toute ma vie was his watchword; if it were indeed done by all Christians how quickly would the world be conquered for Christ.