Augustin-Michel Lemonnier Presents Light over the Scaffold: Prison Letters of Jacques Fesch and Cell 18 : Unedited Letters of Jacques Fesch Guillotined on October 1, 1957 at the Age of 27

Catholicism, since I converted in 2004, has always had a beautiful stronghold over me. One aspect of that powerful influence has always stemmed from the fascinating lives of the saints and those on the path to sainthood. Over the years, I have certainly read my lion’s share of biographies on these remarkable holy men, women, teenagers and even children. Their life stories, from antiquity to the present day, are so individualistic, so unique and touching because of their unbridled openness and allowance of divine grace to penetrate into the core of their consciousness, their spirit. I always thought, at least at the onset of my religious journey, that a person had to be unquestionably perfect to be thought of as a saint, someone beyond reproach who founded a religious order or who lived an austere life of poverty, chastity and obedience or someone who was a martyr. And while, for the most part, that is usually the case, it is not always so. And the life story of Jacques Fesch illustrates that clearly.Growing up in a lukewarm Catholic family where atheistic nihilism ruled the roost, Jacques Fesch was a boat without a port, floating hither and thither without the framework of love in his life. Love was not completely absent, but it was not grounded in anything transcendent, a higher truth: God. Materialism and careerism were poor substitutes, yet, that seemed to be the only thing available to Jacques Fesch. During his life he was looking for something, but at every avenue to which he turned, more day-to-day worldly hardness greeted him. As that was so, he delved deeper and deeper into unrealistic dreams and fantasies. Mental escapism of the highest order. That combined with the inherent flaws of his character-immaturity, an attitude of entitlement, irresponsibility as well as a pervasive hard-bitten cynicism-made his whole person hard as marble. To compensate for his inner coldness, he became a lust filled playboy, sleeping around and siring two children. Not content with the direction of his life, he hungered to live a life on the sea. To financially fund an endeavor of that magnitude he needed money; denied the capital by his father, he chose to rob a seller of gold coins to make his unrealistic dreams come true. However, in the process of that robbery, a police officer was shot and killed. But all this is a setup to what is truly remarkable about Jacques Fesch: his conversion and his letters and journal entries - literary works in their own right that are so profoundly theological and clear-cut and comforting they are almost supernatural in nature. When you read the letters, you can sense the Dark Night of the Soul and the despondency as well as the divine graces of mystical elevation. Yet his prose is simultaneously blunt and eloquent while not at all diminishing the hard but loving truths of his insights. It is as if he himself is not fully capable of what he is writing down, but he is being supernaturally infused with the knowledge that he is expressing. He is a channeler or a conduit of God’s mercy, as were the authors of the Gospel books.His beginning journey behind bars and eventual execution by means of the guillotine in 1957, however, was anything but open and holy. Initially, he was caustic and insulting to his Catholic lawyer who defended him. And he upped the anti with his defiance, refusing to acknowledge the crimes for which he was charged. For his lawyer and for those who loved him, he was a public relations nightmare. But in the solitariness of his cell, away from the media and public din, he was able to look inward, and in that process became suddenly attuned to a supernatural voice counseling and urging him to accept the truth of faith to which he had so smugly abandoned years earlier. Questioning his experience but not fully denying it altogether, the door to his soul was left slightly ajar. And because that hardness had cracked just a little bit, Jesus Christ was able to penetrate and condescend down to Jacques Fesch and to be moved for him. Sensing that unearthly love, unlike anything he had experienced before, he became immediately transformed, and that transformation is beautifully illustrated in these stunning letters. To say that these letters conveyed a “Wow!” factor for me is to put it mildly. Faith is a wonderful and metamorphic gift. People just have to learn to be humble enough to ask for it. In the late eighties the Archbishop of Paris opened a diocesan inquiry into his life, thus paving the way for the cause for his beatification, which was formally opened in 1993. Now instead of being known as Jacques Fesch the murderer, he is Servant of God Jacques Fesch, the repentant murderer who through the blood and truth of the Cross will one day hopefully be counted among His elect.

This man had a life-changing conversion and gives hope to even the very worst criminal. God bless his soul.

A reason to live and not to punish with death from committing a crime. All men (inclusive language) are pilgrims are on a journey to their heavenly father, and they all sin. Sin can be forgiven and this book shows the power of God's grace (Sanctifying Grace-supernatural power to do what is humanly impossible) and when one is truly contrite and asks for the God's forgiveness, He can touch that soul to the point of ultimately that sinner can become a saint and a child of God.

This is a book for anyone going through a difficult time. It gives insight into the minds of why people do what they do. It also shows how reaching out to others in need can transform lives. Very inspirational. It seems as if the topic would be very depressing, yet I found it to be quite the opposite. I think at some point we all contemplate our own death, and this shows us how to do it with courage, fortitude, and faith in a loving, merciful God.

It's an outstanding story of conversion and hope. Having gotten caught in an unwitting murder, Jaques lands in solitary confinement in a french prison. His letters reveal a strikingly honest appraisal of his situation, and a way forward for all of us in hope and encouragement as we face our own mistakes. this is a book to be read and re-read.

I hrad the story of this person's life by a Dominican Student brother who gave us a presentation in March and was taken aback hasto how he find Christ in prison

Great read

This is a true, wonderful, inspiring conversion story!

Excellent!

I've read this book several times. It was recommended by a Catholic priest. It is a life changing read if you're ready. My first thought upon hearing the basic story was one of scepticism. I assumed anyone facing death row would find Jesus to attempt to get a reduced sentence or change of outcome. I was wrong about this. The book is deeply moving. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I do. It's an amazing conversion and redemption story. Pray for Jacques Fesch.

Wonderful read. There is always hope. Even when there is no hope. God is always at workIt's amazing.