Christian de Chergé was a French priest and prior of the Community of monks of Tibhirine, a Cistercian monastery in the Algerian Atlas mountains. During the troubled years in Algeria in 1996, he was murdered along with six other brothers.
God called Christian de Chergé to become a monk in Algeria through a meeting with a Muslim friend, a meeting deep within Islam territory. During the Algerian war, Mohamed, who had six children, risked his life to protect Christian when he was attacked. This was a turning point in Christian's life and he heard God calling him to join with the people, in the country of Algeria.
With his brother monks, Christian de Chergé saw himself as "just one person praying amidst others praying", surrounded by Moslem neighbours and friends with whom he shared his everyday life. This experience formed the basis for Christian de Chergé's original theological approach,.
Christian Salenson, who is well acquainted with the writings of Christian de Chergé, shares with us the originality of the life and thought of Christian de Chergé, and his firm conviction that this tiny monastery, precariously situated in an oppressed and suffocating Algeria, offers us all a sign of the Spirit at work today .