Scenarists: Marie and Olivier Malcurat Illustrator: Fabrizio Russo Colorist: Roberta Pusceddu Martyrs of the French Revolution
3 Paris. JULY 14,1789 CITIZEN! DON'T JUST STAND THERE! COME AND JOIN US! WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? HALF OF THE FAUBOURG SAINTANTOINE IS BEHIND YOU. TO ARMS! ALMS FOR A POOR BLIND MAN... WE ARE LIKE YOU, SENILE OLD MAN: PENNILESS! I WOULDN'T BET ON IT! THE PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP, BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO FIGHT. CITIZENS, ONWARD! AFTER THE LONG WINTER WE’VE HAD, THE GRANARIES ARE EMPTY. DO YOU KNOW THE PRICE OF BREAD? PEOPLE STARVE WHILE NOBLES AND PRIESTS FILL THEIR BELLIES! FROM WHAT I HEAR, IT WON'T LAST LONG. THE REBELLION IS UNDERWAY! WE ARE JOINING THOSE OF FAUBOURG SAINTMARCEL!* FOREWORD The memory of saints leads us to raise our eyes to heaven: not to forget the realities of the earth, but to face them with greater courage, with more hope. —Pope Francis, November 1, 2019 This graphic novel is a timely reminder of the challenges we face in the twenty-first century, particularly as the world is torn apart by conflicts and the Church is buffeted by storms. This book tells the story of sixteen Carmelites of Compiègne during the French Revolution. It ends with their deaths by guillotine on July 17, 1794. We want to thank the authors for their great care in being true to the facts as they interwove the personal stories of the sixteen martyrs and the turbulent history of the Revolution, creating a striking contrast between the horror of the executions during the Reign of Terror and the peaceful sacrifice of these devout women, who gave their lives for the "restoration of peace in Church and State." Beautiful illustrations bring this story to light, leading the reader into a moving procession and sublime liturgy where God's grace transforms death into life, hatred into love. The community life of these nuns—women with weaknesses and strengths like ours—gradually united them, allowing them to overcome fear and sometimes defiance until they were able to forgive their tormentors and die singing. Their story makes us wonder: How can women condemned to die radiate peace and joy that is not of this world? May this holy story give us new hope that love will always prevail; we can do anything if we love! May it be Love that has the last word in this great battle. "For great is his mercy toward us; and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever" (Psalm 117:2). The Carmelites of Compiègne Feast of Thérèse of Saint Augustine and Her Companions July 17, 2023 To our children: Juliette, Pauline, Zélie, Louise, Gustave, Guillemette, and Joséphine To Sister Euphrasie's relative, Guillaume Levesque, for encouraging us to create this album To all the Christians persecuted for their faith Thank you to the Carmelite Sisters of Jonquières (Compiègne) for their invaluable revision. Thank you to Fabrizio Russo for the remarkable penciling and to Roberta Pusceddu for the incredible colors. Marie and Olivier Malcurat Under the direction of Romain Lizé, President, Magnificat Editor, Magnificat: Isabelle Galmiche Editor, Ignatius: Vivian Dudro Translator: Magnificat. Ignatius Proofreader: Kathleen Hollenbeck Layout Designer: Gauthier Delauné Production: Thierry Dubus, Audrey Bord © 2023, Groupe Elidia – Plein Vent, Éditions du Rocher, 98015 Monaco © 2025 by Magnificat, New York • Ignatius Press, San Francisco All rights reserved ISBN Magnificat 978-1-63967-156-4• ISBN Ignatius Press 978-1-62164-831-4 Printed in May 2025 by Dimograf, Poland Job number MGN 25L0603 Printed in compliance with the Consumer Protection Safety * FAUBOURG SAINT-ANTOINE AND FAUBOURG SAINT-MARCEL WERE POOR SUBURBS OF PARIS.
4 5 CITIZENS, TO ARMS! ALL THESE WOMEN IN CONVENTS! THIS DIDEROT IS AN ENLIGHTENED MAN, THAT'S FOR SURE! THIS NOVEL CONTAINS THE FICTIONAL LETTERS OF A NUN IMPRISONED IN A CONVENT AND DREAMING OF ESCAPE!* IT'S DELIGHTFUL. * LA RELIGIEUSE (THE RELiGIOUS), DENIS DIDEROT'S NOVEL PUBLISHED AFTER HIS DEATH, CONTAINS LETTERS WRITTEN BY AN IMAGINARY NUN BETWEEN 1780 AND 1782. ** THE ESTATES-GENERAL WAS AN ASSEMBLY OF DEPUTIES ELECTED FROM THE THREE ESTATES: NOBILITY, CLERGY, AND COMMONERS. IT WAS CONVENED BY THE KING AT HIS DISCRETION. VERSAILLES. CONVENED BY KING LOUIS XVI IN MAY 1789, THE ESTATESGENERAL** SOUGHT A WAY OUT OF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS. ON JUNE 17, 1789, THE DEPUTIES OF THE THIRD ESTATE DECLARED THEMSELVES THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. I DON'T THINK OUR DISCUSSIONS ARE IMPROVING THE DIRE SITUATION OF THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE. THE PRICE OF BREAD IS RISING. WE'RE ON THE VERGE OF AN UPRISING!! ON JUNE 20, 1789, THE DEPUTIES MET IN THE KING’S TENNIS COURT FOR THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY OF WHAT BECAME THE NATIONAL CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY. WE MUST WRITE A CONSTITUTION. THE LAWS MUST BE THE SAME FOR ALL! DEPUTY MAXIMILIEN DE ROBESPIERRE, A LAWYER, WANTED TO OVERTHROW THE KING AND HIS NOBLES. WE, THE COMMON PEOPLE OF FRANCE, ARE THE NATION! THE REVOLUTION IS THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM AGAINST OUR ENEMIES. NO BENEFITS TO THE NOBILITY! I FEAR UPRISINGS LIKE THOSE IN ENGLAND. I'VE ADVISED MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY TO SEEK EXILE. DOWN WITH THE ARISTOCRATS! WE'RE HUNGRY! LONG LIVE LIBERTY! WITH THE STORMING OF THE BASTILLE, A FORTRESS IN PARIS USED AS A PRISON, THE COMMON PEOPLE SEIZED POWER. THAT DAY MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.
6 7 VERSAILLES AUGUST 4, 1789 WE, THE DEPUTIES OF THE NATIONAL CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY, ABOLISH THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF THE NOBILITY. THE NOBILITY AND THE CLERGY ARE SUBJECT TO TAXATION. TAXATION WILL BE FAIR, BASED ON THE INCOME OF EACH CITIZEN. AUGUST 26, 1789 "MEN ARE BORN AND REMAIN FREE AND EQUAL..."* OCTOBER 28, 1789 WE, THE DEPUTIES OF THE NATIONAL CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY, ORDER THE SUSPENSION OF RELIGIOUS VOWS AND ANY OTHER OBLIGATION CONTRARY TO NATURAL RIGHTS OR THE CONSTITUTION. SAINT-DENIS THE NEXT DAY WE CAN'T ABANDON HER TO HER FATE. SHE MIGHT AS WELL COME HOME. YOU'RE RIGHT, SON. GO AND PICK HER UP TOMORROW AT THE CONVENT OF THE CARMELITES! SHE WON'T FOLLOW ME! THEN WE'LL SEND FOR THE LAW! A FEW DAYS LATER GENTLEMEN, I AM HERE WITH THE CONSENT OF MY PARENTS. IF THEY WISH ME TO LEAVE BECAUSE, IN THEIR KINDNESS, THEY FEAR THE RISKS I AM TAKING BY REMAINING, I THANK THEM… ...BUT ONLY DEATH CAN SEPARATE ME FROM MY CARMELITE MOTHERS AND SISTERS.*** IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY: MARIEGENEVIÈVE** WON'T BE ABLE TO TAKE HER VOWS? THAT'S WHAT I HEARD. AND THE CLERGY NO LONGER HAVE PRIVILEGES! * DECLARATION OF HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS. ** MARIE-GENEVIÈVE MEUNIER, BORN IN SAINT-DENIS ON MAY 28, 1765, ENTERED THE CARMELITE CONVENT IN COMPIÈGNE IN 1788, WHERE SHE TOOK THE NAME SISTER CONSTANCE DE JÉSUS. *** FROM THE ACCOUNT OF THE MARTYRDOM OF THE SIXTEEN CARMELITES OF COMPIÈGNE BY SISTER MARIE DE L’INCARNATION. MY DAUGHTER, YOUR DECISION NOT TO LEAVE IS HONORABLE. HERE, IN THIS CONVENT, GOD AWAITS ME, MOTHER. IF ONLY YOU KNEW HOW MUCH I UNDERSTAND YOU... IN THE SPRING OF 1773, I WENT TO THE CARMELITE CONVENT OF SAINT-DENIS TO TELL THE MOTHER SUPERIOR THAT I WISHED TO BECOME A NUN.... THE CARMELITE RULE OF SAINT TERESA OF AVILA IS VERY DEMANDING, MY CHILD. DOESN'T THAT SCARE YOU? ON THE CONTRARY, IT ATTRACTS ME. YOU'RE A GENEROUS SOUL! BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THE MONOTONY OF OUR DAILY LIFE IS OFTEN MUCH MORE DEMANDING THAN THE GREATEST FEATS. YOU WILL TEACH ME. A GOOD CARMELITE NEVER CALLS ATTENTION TO HERSELF. HUMILITY IS THE GREATEST VIRTUE. ALL I ASK IS TO BE UNNOTICED. VERY WELL. BUT BEWARE! IF YOU TRY TOO HARD AT HUMILITY, YOU CAN EASILY FALL INTO PRIDE. I KNOW YOU'LL PROVIDE FOR THE SALVATION OF MY SOUL. THE MORE GOD WANTS TO GIVE, THE MORE HE INCREASES OUR DESIRES, MAKING US FEEL THE SOUL'S EMPTINESS AND FILLING IT WITH HIS GOODNESS.* * SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS (1542-1591) WAS A SPANISH REFORMER OF THE CARMELITE ORDER WITH SAINT TERESA OF AVILA. HE WAS CANONIZED BY BENEDICT XIII IN 1726 AND PROCLAIMED A DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH BY PIUS XI IN 1926.
8 9 GREAT TESTS ARE COMING, MY DAUGHTER. I'M CONFIDENT GOD WILL GIVE ME STRENGTH. THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION; WHOM SHALL I FEAR? THE LORD IS THE STRONGHOLD OF MY LIFE; OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID.* GOD IS MY FORTRESS. I SACRIFICE EVERYTHING TO HIM. I ABANDON EVERYTHING. I RENOUNCE EVERYTHING. TAKE THIS PICTURE OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL. CALL UPON HER FREQUENTLY. SHE IS THE STAR THAT GUIDES US THROUGH LIFE'S STORMS. PRAY, MY CHILD. I HAVE HEARD YOUR DESIRE TO ENTER CARMEL. *PSALM 27:1. THE NEXT DAY SO, MOTHER THÉRÈSE, THIS GIRL HAS MADE A STRONG IMPRESSION ON YOU? SHE WAS CALLED TO BE A NUN AT A VERY YOUNG AGE. SHE IS VERY DEVOUT AND VERY SPIRITED. GREAT. BUT ARE YOU SURE SHE HAS THE MATURITY TO ENTER THE ORDER? I THINK SO. SHE'S DOWN-TO-EARTH AND YET VERY SPIRITUAL. SHE'S GENTLE AND WISE. BUT HER PARENTS ARE NOT VERY WEALTHY AND WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE DOWRY* NECESSARY FOR HER ENTRY HERE. THAT'S TRUE, BUT I THOUGHT WE COULD AGREE TO MAKE AN EXCEPTION… …AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE ROYAL FAMILY HAS A GREAT AFFECTION FOR OUR ORDER AND IS VERY CLOSE TO THIS CARMEL. MY MOTHER, THE QUEEN,** USED TO COME AND PRAY IN OUR CHAPEL. I'LL GET HER DOWRY.*** I AM SURE OF HER VOCATION! THE CARMELITE CONVENT OF COMPIÈGNE NEEDS YOUNG PEOPLE! I HAVE THE FEELING THAT THIS GIRL HAS A SPECIAL CALLING. APRIL 13, 1773. MARIE-CLAUDINE LIDOINE ENTERED THE CARMELITE CONVENT IN COMPIÈGNE, FOUNDED IN 1641 BY ÉLISABETH DE LOUVANCOURT. * FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION. ** MOTHER THÉRÈSE DE SAINT-AUGUSTIN, BORN LOUISE-MARIE DE FRANCE (1737-1787), WAS THE DAUGHTER OF KING LOUIS XV AND QUEEN MARIE LECZINSKA. ***Queen MARIE-ANTOINETTE, WIFE OF KING LOUIS XVI, PROVIDED THE DOWRY. ’
48 Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest, and in our souls take up Thy rest; come with Thy grace and heavenly aid to fill the hearts which Thou hast made. Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known; Thou, finger of God's hand we own; Thou, promise of the Father, Thou Who dost the tongue with power imbue. Kindle our sense from above, and make our hearts o'erflow with love; with patience firm and virtue high the weakness of our flesh supply. Far from us drive the foe we dread, and grant us Thy peace instead; so shall we not, with Thee for guide, turn from the path of life aside. Now to the Father and the Son, Who rose from death, be glory given, with Thou, O Holy Comforter, henceforth by all in earth and heaven. FOR GREAT IS HIS MERCY TOWARD US; AND THE FAITHFULNESS OF THE LORD ENDURES FOR EVER. SISTER CONSTANCE TOOK HER VOWS AND WAS THE FIRST TO ASCEND THE SCAFFOLD, SINGING PSALM 117. The other sisters sang "Come, Holy Ghost (Veni, Creator Spiritus)" in Latin. Their voices died out, one by one, as they were executed. Their heads and bodies were thrown into a mass grave in Paris. Ten days later, Robespierre, the leader of the Reign of Terror, was arrested. He was guillotined the next day, and the terror came to an end. O, may Thy grace on us bestow the Father and the Son to know; and Thee, through endless times confessed, of both the eternal Spirit blest. O comforter, to Thee we cry, O heavenly gift of God Most High, O fount of life and fire of love, and sweet anointing from aboVE. PSALM 117:2
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