Monastic martyrs of compassion: murdered Trappist monks in Algeria and the different meanings of martyrdom

Abstract

This article explores different dimensions of martyrdom by analysing the case of a group of murdered Trappist monks in Algeria in 1996. The monks had remained in their monastery, although they were threatened by terrorism and advised to leave the country. Monastic stability became the leading principle of their life and death, and opened the space to develop the virtue of compassion directed to all groups present in their surroundings, radically. To be able to understand this martyrdom of compassion, the author analyses the representation of the fate of the monks in the movie Of Gods and Men (2010). Furthermore, monastic practices that guarantee stability and compassion are analysed from the perspective of monastic and ritual studies. The aim is a contribution to the understanding of practices contributing to the development of virtues in monastic life that have both, humanitarian and religious relevance.

Keywords:

• martyrs
• monasticism
• stability
• virtues
• Trappists

Additional information

Biographical Note

Thomas Quartier (1972) teaches Ritual and Liturgical Studies at Radboud University Nijmegen (The Netherlands). He is visiting professor for monastic studies at Catholic University Leuven (Belgium) and the Benedictine University Saint Anselmo in Rome. He has done research in thanatology and monastic studies. Published works include: Bridging the gaps. An empirical study of Catholic funeral rites (Münster: Lit Verlag 2007); Die Grenze des Todes. Ritualisierte Religiosität im Umgang mit den Toten (Münster: Lit Verlag 2011); Liturgische Spiritualiteit – Benedictijnse impulsen (Berne 2013). He is a Benedictine oblate at Willibrord abbey in Doetinchem (the Netherlands).