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   • Le dialogue des Carmélites (1960) (tu...  

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In August 1790, the Revolution had already declared the suppression of religious vows and the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. And many, alas, had capitulated before the “new order”. Great numbers fled abroad. Very few faithfully resisted, and it was against these that all the fury of the Revolution was directed.

Among this faithful few were the Carmelites of Compiègne. On August 5 members of the Directory, accompanied by a dozen guards, breached the cloister of the convent for the first time. They wished to “confirm”, in a private conversation with each nun, whether they were living in the community of their own free will, without constraint, or whether they harboured a secret desire to return to the world as “normal” French citizens. To ensure the “defence of the rights” of those they considered to be “unfortunate and kidnapped virgins,” they deployed armed soldiers throughout the building.

The Carmelites, however, firmly defied the civil authorities. Many declared that, having lived so many years of religious life – suffice it to say that the oldest sisters had been in the convent for half a century – they would not abandon their state, much less the habit of the Virgin of Carmel. One simple and uneducated nun called Sr. St. Francis Xavier, when she heard the suggestion that she should return to her civil state, replied with complete serenity that a worthy wife remains with her spouse and that nothing would make her abandon her Divine Spouse, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The resistance of the community finally obliged the emissaries to retreat, but only for a time. The Revolution was advancing rapidly in France, and everyone knew that their situation was a precarious one. One day, however, the sinister suspense that enveloped their lives was unexpectedly illuminated by a discovery.

After having been dragged from their apartments to a provisional detention house on June 22, 1794, the Carmelite nuns were finally taken to the prison set up in the Conciergerie in Paris on July 12.

It is worth mentioning that by a mysterious coincidence – or providence! – they were wearing their habits on this occasion, as the only civilian clothes they owned were being washed. Given the urgency of fulfilling the arrest warrant, the guards had no choice but to take them as they were, albeit with great reluctance.

The formal act of arraignment of the newly arrived prisoners was drawn up by Fouquier de Tinville, the then president of the Revolutionary Court, through whose hands hundreds of victims murdered on the guillotine passed daily. By yet another heavenly coincidence, the document was officially dated July 16, feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

On the 17th, the nuns of Compiègne were brought before Fouquier to answer the charges. The impact created in that filthy environment by the entrance of the sixteen Carmelite nuns in their habits can well be imagined!

Now, since this was a parody of a trial, there was no doubt that everything would result in a death sentence, for liberty, so preached and idolized by the Revolution, was ruled out for resisters, especially religious ones.

Challenging his victims, the interrogator outlined their various “crimes”, which consisted basically in the formation of counter-revolutionary coteries and in conspiracies against the nation and the republic.

The proofs of these crimes were, among other absurdities, the fact of living under the obedience of a superior and the seizure of a “voluminous” exchange of correspondence between them, which contained portraits of Louis XVI and of the royal family, as well as representations of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, symbols of the Vendean insurgents.3

These ridiculous accusations were followed by an interrogation, but obviously no heed was paid to the Carmelites’ answers. At a certain moment of the confrontation, the accuser called them “fanatics”. One intrepid sister, Marie-Henrietta of Providence, then stood up and asked him:
Like a true captain, who is always the last to leave the ship, Mother Teresa of St. Augustine finally advanced towards death and, in a few moments, she consummated the memorable holocaust of Compiègne. The prophecy was fulfilled, the offering complete. The scaffold had been the altar of immolation for those chosen ones.

Ten days later, Robespierre died and the period of the Terror in France ended. The sacrifice of the Carmel of Compiègne had been pleasing to God! The persecution, hatred and injustice of the Revolution against these faithful souls would be a glory for Holy Church, but also a sign for the wicked every age, who waste their time conspiring against the Mystical Bride of Christ:

“The Lord, who is a strong revenger, will surely repay” (Jer 51:56).