St Charles de Foucauld, apostle of the desert and silent witness to the love of Christ, dedicated his life to the presence of God in the heart of the world, in simplicity, poverty and fraternity. His example teaches us that holiness is born of abandonment, trust and the total gift of self. To pray to Saint Charles de Foucauld is to ask for the grace to live fully in God's light and to sow peace around us.

Ô Saint Charles de Foucauld, you who left everything to follow Christ, I come to you with confidence to entrust you with my life, my doubts and my hopes. In the silence of the desert, you found the face of God; teach me to seek him in the desert of my heart. Help me to discover His presence in moments of solitude, to listen to His voice in silence, and to entrust myself totally to His will.

You who lived the Gospel in simplicity and brotherhood, make me attentive to the needs of those around me. Give me a gentle and humble heart, capable of loving without expecting in return, and of serving without calculation. Teach me to recognise Jesus in every face, especially in that of the poor, the forgotten and the suffering.

Saint Charles, you who said: "As soon as I believed that there was a God, I understood that I could do no other than live only for Him", make faith and trust grow in me. Help me to place my fears, my wounds and my desires in the hands of the Lord. Obtain for me the grace of total surrender to the Father's love, in peace and inner freedom.

O universal brother, friend of the peoples of the desert, intercede for our torn world. Inspire in hearts the desire for peace, brotherhood and forgiveness. May your spirit of simplicity and prayer spread throughout our lives, our families and our communities.

Saint Charles de Foucauld, model of humility and fidelity, make my life an offering of love, a light in the night, a reflection of Christ's presence among men. May I be able, following your example, to say every day:

"My Father, I surrender myself to You, do with me whatever pleases You."

Amen.