In the footsteps of Jesus with Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt

The Franco-Belgian writer and playwright publishes The Jerusalem Challenge, a book of reflection in which he retraces his journey to the Holy Land. The book is more inspirational than inspiring, and even includes an afterword by Pope Francis.

It all starts with a phone call—one from Sandro, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt’s Italian publisher. The Vatican proposed a project to the author: the Holy See wanted him to take a trip to the Holy Land, meet with people there, and, perhaps, write a book about it… Initially reluctant—mainly due to a lack of time—Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt eventually agreed: he had an opening in his schedule. So he would set foot on the birthplace of Christianity.

«To walk there, where it all began, where it all came together»

Armed with nothing but a Bible to read, the writer sets out on this pilgrimage, which is divided into two parts. First, he travels with a group of pilgrims from Réunion led by Father Henri. Then he continues alone, before finally meeting Pope Francis in Rome. What an ambitious plan!

Let’s say it right away: what the author is seeking on this journey is to experience an «incarnate» Christianity. The author wishes to «[…] walk where it all began, where it all came together.» He thus explores all the key sites that gave rise to this journey: Nazareth, Capernaum, the Sea of Tiberias, Jerusalem…

These are points that Pope Francis revisits in the book’s afterword. In it, he emphasizes the «memorial» aspect of the Christian faith. Indeed, what would a religion be without places of worship and pilgrimage where the faithful are meant to draw, as from a spring, new strength to enrich their faith? Yet Jerusalem is a special city not only for Christianity, but also for Islam and Judaism. Therein lies «the challenge»: how can believers of different faiths coexist in a place that each considers «holy»?

A mystical Christian

Each stop, each visit, is an opportunity for reflection or commentary on biblical texts. The author thus reminds us of the passages associated with each place and their significance, and he reflects on his family, his writings, and his spiritual journey. Originally, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt grew up in «Charles de Gaulle’s France»—a France where Christianity, even though it retains a certain moral standing, is a social practice: people go to Mass and follow certain social codes because that’s the norm and «that’s just the way it is,» but deep down, they don’t really believe in it.

As a young adult, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt earned his agrégation in philosophy and defended a doctoral dissertation on Diderot and metaphysics. He therefore has an affinity for materialism and identifies as an atheist. But during an expedition to the Hoggar Mountains in the footsteps of Brother Charles de Foucauld, the author had a mystical experience: this journey and this experience would become the subject of his book The Night of Fire (2015). Deeply shaken, he turned to mystical Christianity.

During his journey through Israel, the author forges connections with this book, as well as with its The Gospel According to Pilate (2000), a way to reflect on the journey he has taken and thus open himself up to the experiences and encounters he has during his pilgrimage. Throughout the book, the author’s talent for describing the places he visits and for weaving together scenes from the present and those from the Bible is evident. On the other hand, the ending is (too) predictable. No surprises, not much emotion…

The Intervention of Grace

Of course, when a book like this is published, you find yourself thinking that at some point something—mystical, spiritual, supernatural…—is going to happen. That’s the author’s implicit contract with the reader. It happens during Eric-Emmanuel Schmidt’s visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

A scene described in a serious tone, but which is a bit kitschy: the author receives During his prayer, he experiences a «revelation» and is touched by grace. It almost takes his breath away… In the same vein, Grace by Thibault de Montaigu (Plon, 2020, winner of the 2020 Prix de Flore) told the story of how the uncle and the author had experienced grace and transformed their lives.

«Walking, exhausting myself, sweating, discovering, meeting people—that is what, time and again, has renewed my spiritual life. If I hadn’t crossed the Sahara, I would never have come to faith. If I hadn’t made it to Jerusalem, I would never have come to see Jesus as both a person and God. Throughout my life, revelations have always awaited me at the end of the road.»

Write to the author: ivan.garcia@leregardlibre.com

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Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt 
The Challenge of Jerusalem
Editions Albin Michel 
2023 
217 pages 

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