His message was received, later, by various persons, who gave birth to many communities, each with its own characteristics, but respecting his suggestions and inspired by a single model, Jesus of Nazareth. Today, together they form the International Association of Charles de Foucauld.
He was born in Strasburg on September 15, 1858.
At age six, orphaned by his parents, he was raised by his grandfather, who transmitted to him, with kindness and generosity, love for family and for his country, passion for his studies and for the silence of nature.
In 1876 he enrolled in the army, where he carried to completion his studies at the Academy of Cavalry, in which he also pursued a brief career.
In 1882 he took leave for an exploration of Morocco. The expedition proved to be an event of such scientific importance that it earned him the gold medal of the Geographic Society.
But success did not calm his spirit. He wrote: «I began to go to church, without believing, finding myself well only there and passing long hours repeating this strange prayer: My God, if you exist, make me know you». Not long after this, he met Abbot Huvelin; conversations with him guided him to his conversion.
On a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he matured a decision to enter the Trappist Monastery of Notre Dame des Neiges in France. Then he went to Syria, seeking a harder life ; from there he passed to Nazareth, where he worked for three years as a gardener in the convent of the Poor Clares.
Little by little he came to feel that, loving Jesus, one becomes brother of all, in the love of God. For this he agreed to become a priest. He therefore chose to recommence in the Sahara where he established himself first at Béni-Abbes and then, in order to live with the Tuareg, at Tamanrasset. Sharing their life, he learned their language, translated their poems and brought to print an impressive illustrated dictionary.
Some time after, he felt the need to found a religious family, centered upon the Gospels, the Eucharist, and the apostolic life. But this remained only a wish. He died on December 1, 1916, struck by a rifle, during a skirmish provoked by Hoggar rebels.
Charles together with an african boy, Abd Jesus, which he had baptised.
Charles de Foucauld dressed in his "gandurah" with the symbols of the heart and the cross.