Lebanese church starts 'heroic virtues' cause of philosopher (and martyr) Kamal el-Hage
Axed to death in Chbanieh (Haut-Metn) in 1976, a diocesan process has begun which could lead to his being recognized as a "martyr of the faith". His death has strong symbolic connotations. He had decided to stay in a country at war, working for dialogue and reconciliation between rival factions.
Beirut (AsiaNews) - The Maronite archbishop of Antelias, Msgr Antoine Bou Najem, has officialy opened a diocesan process to recognize the heroic virtues of the Lebanese philosopher Kamal el-Hage (1917-1976), the first stage on a journey which could lead to his being recognisd as a "martyr of the faith". The announcement came during a mass celebrated in Chbanieh (Haut-Metn) on April 2, the anniversary of his assassination in 1976 at the age of 59.
On that fateful day, the man renowned for his reason and calm was returning home from a reconciliation meeting between two rival Druze factions in his village, when he was taken away in all probability by armed Palestinian elements fighting alongside the Druze. According to the reconstructions of the time, he was taken to a wood far from the houses and killed, in a gesture with strong symbolic connotations, with an axe blow on the skull.
Kamal el-Hajje was born in 1917 in Marrakesh, the son of Youssef Boutros el-Hage, a man of letters well known in society, and initiate of the Freemasonry of his time before turning his back on it. His parents emigrated to Morocco from Lebanon mainly for economic reasons, but also perhaps because of the threats recieved by the family following the father's decision to leave the local Freemasonry. Youssef el-Hage went on to later publish a sensational account of his time spent in Freemasonry, entitled: "The Temple of Solomon and the National Home of the Jews".
An eventful schooling
Young Kamal's time at school was tumultuous. First of all, he was forced to follow his parents in their wanderings between Morocco and Egypt, before returning to Lebanon in 1929 at the age of 12. He first studied with the Jesuits in Achrafieh, then at the Prep School (ancestor of today's International College) in Ras Beyrouth.
On finishing school, he had to suspend his studies for three years for economic reasons. In the '50s he attended the "Cenacle of the 12", which later became the Lebanese Cenacle: a circle frequented by some of the most prominent intellectuals of the period such as Michel Asmar, Ruchdi Maalouf, Ahmad Makki, Khalil Ramez Sarkis, Karim Azouri.
Three years later he enrolled in Literature at the American University, in spite of his established predilection for philosophy. From his earliest years, then, he attempted to translate the philosopher Henri Bergson's work "Essay on the Immediate Data of Consciousness" [his doctoral thesis] which earned him the attention of the famous orientalist Louis Massignon. Step by step, the latter made a personal effort to get him a scholarship at the Sorbonne. A few years later, he obtained a state doctorate in philosophy with a thesis on "The value of language in Henri Bergson".
A professorship at Kaslik
Kamal el-Hage, whose classmates were Charles Malek and the future patriarch Hazim, was also one of the founders of the University of the Holy Spirit of the Order of Maronite Monks (Usek, 1950) and the Lebanese University (Ul, 1951). The latter also owes him the establishment of the internal Department of Philosophy. He lived from his writings and taught a modest life, but full of ardor on a spiritual level so much so that the rosary never left his neck, nor the thought of God his inner spirit. His son, Youssef el-Hage, now a university professor, oversaw the complete publication of his works and successfully advocated for the naming of a chair at the University of the Holy Spirit (Usek) after Kamal el-Hage.
Camille Zeidan, who believed in his cause, wrote in the past: "If the Second Vatican Council specifies that the martyr 'is considered by the Church as the supreme proof of charity' (Lumen Gentium 42), then Kamal el-Hage has given proof of perfect charity [...]. He could easily have abandoned his village and the region, plunged into war, but he decided to remain there, even though he knew in full awareness that he had much to fear for his own safety. His death bears full witness to his Christian commitment."
In his homily at the opening mass of the diocesan process, Archbishop Antone Bou Najem added: "Certainly, Kamal el-Hage taught philosophy and philosophers, but his martyrdom was the most important lesson he left us. It tells us that if the grain of wheat fallen on the ground does not die, it remains alone and an end in itself, but if it dies, it bears much fruit. This is the philosophy of Jesus Christ: that of the grain of wheat.
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26/07/2022 17:50
