War-Time Insight

Many of those who have gone before us down the frightening corridors of war and terrorism, have left us the security that can be found only in God's faithfulness. This weekly column will help us touch for ourselves the faith of Christians, Jews, and Moslems who have suffered death at the hands of terrorists, even at the hands of each other. The radiance of their peace shines a light on the world's fragile path.

The Seven Trappist Monks in Algeria

In the middle of the night of March 26-27, 1996, seven monks of Our Lady of Atlas, a Trappist monastery in Tibhirine, Algeria, were kidnapped by members of the Islamic Armed Group (GIA), guerrillas determined to drive non-Muslims from Algeria and to impose an Islamist government. On April 18, the GIA contacted the French government and offered to free the monks in return for releasing several of its members from prison, but this proposal was never considered. On May 21, the GIA announced that the monks had been executed. On May 31, their decapitated heads were found. On June 4, their bodies were brought back to the monastery and buried

The martyr-monks of Tibhirine came to world attention when the last testament of their prior, Father Christian de Cherge, was released by his family in France. Father Christian closed his letter by addressing the murderer he expected would kill him one day: "And you also, the friend of my final moment, who would not be aware of what you were doing. Yes, for you also I wish this 'thank you' - and this adieu - to commend you to the God whose face I see in yours...may we find each other, happy 'good thieves,' in Paradise, if it pleases God, the Father of us both. Amen."

AN OFFERING OF PEACE:
THE MARTYRED MONKS OF TIBHIRINE