Father John Burchill, O.P. celebrated Mass for my chapter, today. His homily of course, was about hope, since today's readings were for the second week of Advent: Baruch 5:1-9, Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11, Psalm 126,and Luke 3:1-6. In talking about hope, Father happened to mention Jacques Fesch. I didn't know that much about him, except that B16 met with his sister this week, after his General Audience.
The story Father Burchill told was the same story as many of my cloistered brothers. It was not so remarkable to us. Yet, some think of Jacques Fesch as a saint because of his spiritual turn around. B16 should come to my chapter if he wants to meet some living saints.
Jacques Fesch was a spoiled rich kid. He was a disappointment to his family. He squandered their money and love. He never took anything seriously. He was only interested in having a good time. He could have gone to any university in the world, but he was too lazy. His father took him into the banking business but he wasn't interested. He married young and wasn't faithful to his wife. He fathered a daughter with one of his mistresses. Then Jacques decided to get away from it all and wanted to sail to the South Pacific and live there. His parents were fed up with him and wouldn't give him the money. So he stole it. Jacques shot a man in the robbery. In fleeing he emptied three shots into the heart of a police officer and one into another. The dead police officer was a widower and the sole support of one very young child. Jacques was caught red handed.
No remorse was shown at his trial. In fact, Jacques was quoted as saying that he was only sorry that he didn't have a machine gun, so he could have killed them all and gotten away.
He was sentenced to die by guillotine. This is 1957, France.
Cardinal Angelo Comastri happened to be the chaplain in the prison where Jacques Fesch was incarcerated. He was present also, at the audience Fesch's sister had with the Pope. Comastri testified to the spiritual conversion Fesch underwent.
Jacques' lawyer was a devout Catholic. Paul Baudet continually prayed for Jacques conversion. So Baudet was fighting for Jacques soul, as well as for his body.
Somehow grace entered Paris' La Sante Prison in 1957. Jacques, himself, can't explain. He went to bed as an atheist young man, and woke up a converted believer.
...a powerful wave of emotion swept over me, causing deep and brutal suffering. Within the space of a few hours, I came into possession of faith, with absolute certainty. I believed, and could no longer understand how I had ever not believed. Grace had come to me. A great joy flooded my soul and above all a deep peace. In a few instants everything had become clear. It was a very strong, sensible joy that I felt. I tend now to try, perhaps excessively, to recapture it; actually, the essential thing is not emotion, but faith. Source
From then on, Fesch's life was one of asceticism. He tried to atone for his sins. He did penances; he prayed constantly; he wrote to beg forgiveness from everyone; he hungered for the Eucharist.
It wasn't fake. Jacques look forward to meeting Jesus. He accepted his fate. His prison writings have gained attention. It is the depth of his spirituality that have caught people's attention and the idea to propose his cause for sainthood.
It's a wonderful story of conversion, isn't it? Praise God!
But you should meet my brothers!
Amen.
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