April 18a

Pastoral letter
April 2018
Arnaud Beltrame, a lieutenant-colonel in the gendarmerie and deputy commander
of the anti-terror police squad in the Aude region of Southern France died a hero
after being shot in the throat during a terrorist siege in a supermarket in the small
town of Trèbes towards the end of last month.
Lieutenant-Colonel Beltrame had taken the place of a woman hostage during the
siege. She escaped unhurt while he sacrificed his life to ensure her safety. It was
a remarkable act of heroism by a man who already had a distinguished record in
the service of his country, including a bravery award while serving in the French
military police in Iraq, and in 2012 he was knighted in the Legion of Honour.
Arnaud Beltrame was a remarkably courageous man.
The Trèbes terrorist attack took place just a matter of days before the start of Holy
Week, the most poignant, emotionally-charged period in the Christian year as, with
the whole Church, we journey as pilgrims together through the hours and days that
lead to the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus … and then gloriously to the
Resurrection.
The circumstances of Lt-Col Beltrame’s tragic death provide a stark reminder that
human beings are capable of the most noble behaviour in the service of one
another, and though it may argued that his actions arose out of his strong sense of
duty as well as his professional training, we must surely believe that he was moved
also by profound compassion when he witnessed the horrifying plight of fellow
human beings finding themselves at the mercy of a heavily armed extremist.
As Jesus lived through those fateful hours leading up to his death on the cross he
had the strongest possible sense of purpose: this was the ministry of salvation and
redemption for which he had come into the world, and his unfailing faith in his
heavenly Father enabled the act of sacrificial love that mere words can never
describe. At the very heart of Jesus’ ministry was, and is, grace, mercy and
compassion that are without limit.
Arnaud Beltrame was indeed a remarkably courageous man and his actions will
long be remembered not just in the small, peaceful town where the atrocities took
place, but across France and far beyond. Thankfully few if any of us will be faced
with demands of our courage and compassion as extreme as those that confronted
Beltrame, but in this Easter season when Christ’s sacrifice has been our focus in
worship and in life we are conscious that sacrificial love and compassion are
required of all who bear the name of Jesus Christ.
With all my love,
Calum.