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| General Baron Charles Marie Athanase de Charette de La Contrie |
On Oct. 9, 1911, at 12:58 p.m., General de Charette lifted up his beautiful soul to God, at the age of 79. It is an irreparable loss for the regiment of the Pontifical Zouaves.
Today we will sketch the soldier's career: it is known throughout the world. From Castelfidardo to Loigny, it is an uninterrupted series of exploits, worthy of the paladins of the Middle Ages.
In 1860, at Castefidardo, he was the young and brilliant captain who pushed heroism to its highest degree, happy to make his debut, proud to shed his blood for the most noble of causes: the temporal power of the Holy Father.
In 1867, at Mentana, he was the valiant colonel, a daring trainer of men, who, at the psychological moment, knew with a word how to electrify his comrades in arms and launch them into the fray.
In 1870, during the Italian invasion of the Papal States, he was the prudent and shrewd leader who executed a difficult retreat, in the midst of an entire enemy army corps.
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| The Battle Near Mentana by Lionel-Noël Royer |
On Dec. 2, 1870, in Loigny, he was the chief who commanded and who dutifully accepted the sacrifice when the safety of the army required it.
During the armistice of 1871, he was the Gen. who knew how to organize a division of 15,000 combatants and shape the men in his image.
The last period of General de Charette's life is less well known; it was – at least for the public – a period of inaction that lasted forty years, entirely made up of abnegation, sacrifice, disappointment and suffering.
In the legislative elections, General de Charette was appointed deputy for Marseilles; he refuses this mandate, feeling no taste for parliamentarism.
In August 1871, M. Thiers offered him the rank of general of division in the French army; he refused "what he called the finest of rewards and the greatest honor he could aspire to"; he wanted to remain at the disposal of the Pope, and at the disposal of the Comte de Chambord (Henry V) who for him embodied the Fatherland.
For twelve years he was ready for action, he waited for God's hour. Alas! this period ends with a bitter disappointment: the Count of Chambord died and with him his restoration projects.
Charette will follow the same tradition with the Duke of Orleans and will not lose an opportunity to affirm his monarchical faith.
The cause of the Pope will nevertheless remain the first of his concerns and, for forty years, he continued his crusade throughout the world.
He traveled through France, Belgium, Holland, Canada, to groups his former soldiers formed and told them of his unalterable hope. He wanted to maintain the traditions of the regiment and pass them on to their children.
One must have witnessed these plenary meetings to understand the enthusiasm which animated those who had responded to the call, and the community of feelings which existed between the chief and the soldiers.
Almost every year Gen. de Charette went to Rome to remind the Pope that he was above all, a servant of the Church and to bear witness to him, submission, fidelity and devotion.
Leo XIII and St. Pius X welcomed with joy and kindness the former commander of the Papal Zouaves.
But what especially characterized Gen. Charette was his great spirit of faith; he was the Catholic soldier in the full sense of the word; he was the fervent soldier of the Sacred Heart.
In a century of indifference and irreligion, he understood that he must, as a soldier, publicly affirm his faith and pay solemn homage to God.
His great uncle, had given the peasants of Vendée the image of the Sacred Heart, an image placed on their breasts during the war of 1793; General de Charette wanted to make a similar demonstration on the battlefield of Loigny, raising the banner of the Sacred Heart.
We remember that this precious banner, stained with the blood of several of our comrades, came to him providentially, so to speak, by the hand of angels.
After the war, he dedicated his regiment to the Sacred Heart and swore to spread his devotion
He later continued to walk in this direction, participating in the erection of the basilica of Montmartre; he was one of the most assiduous members of the Comité du Voeu National.
On June 19, 1875, when the first stone of the Basilica was laid, Charette and his banner were there.
On Oct. 17, 1899, at the planting of the cross which dominates the central dome of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Charette and his banner were featured up there.
General de Charette's plan shines in the eyes of all; within his sphere and within the measure of his strength, he had the desire to carry out the requests of the Divine Master to Saint Margaret Mary: the image of the Sacred Heart on the flag of France, the erection of a national temple on the hills of Paris Gallia poenitens et devota: penitent and devoted France (inscription on the frontispiece of the Basilica)
Our good general was a fervent Christian in all the acts of his life he was a Mass server as often as possible he participated with fervor in the nocturnal adorations of the Blessed Sacrament he recited his Rosary several times a day.
A few months ago we were at Basse-Motte, noon struck, the general rushed towards the chapel of the Commandery, rung the bell and recited the Angelus.
His life has been a continual example to all of us.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Bl. Pope Pius IX, pray for us!
By Brendan Cassell (Papal Zouave History @PapalZouaveUS)
