Saints
St. Charbel
St. Charbel – In 1 Minute
St. Charbel (also known as Sharbel Makhluf) was a Lebanese Maronite monk and priest who lived in the 19th century. He was born in the village of Bekaa Kafra, in present-day Lebanon, on May 8, 1828.
From a young age, Charbel had a strong desire to become a monk and serve God. At the age of 23, he entered the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya, where he took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. He spent the next 25 years of his life living a life of extreme asceticism and devotion, dedicating himself completely to prayer and contemplation.
Charbel was ordained a priest in 1853, and spent the rest of his life serving the people of his community. He was known for his generosity, kindness, and humility, and was deeply loved and respected by those who knew him.
St. Charbel died on December 24, 1898, and was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1977. He is now considered a patron saint of the Maronite Church and is revered by Catholics around the world. St. Charbel’s feast day is celebrated on July 24th.
St. Charbel – Detailed Biography
Saint Charbel, also known as Sharbel Makhlouf, was a Maronite monk and priest from Lebanon who lived in the 19th century. He was known for his holiness, his miracles, and his ability to unite Christians and Muslims. He is one of the most popular saints in Lebanon and the Middle East, and his tomb in the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya is a place of pilgrimage and healing for many people.
Early Life
Saint Charbel was born on May 8, 1828, in Bekaa Kafra, a small mountain village in northern Lebanon. His baptismal name was Youssef Antoun Makhlouf. He was the fifth child of a poor but devout family. His father died when he was three years old, leaving his mother to care for him and his siblings. He learned Arabic and Syriac from the priest of the village, and he developed a strong love for prayer and the lives of the saints. He was especially devoted to the Virgin Mary, and he used to pray in front of an icon of her in a nearby grotto, where he also tended his family’s small herd of cows.
Monastic Life
At the age of 23, Youssef felt a call to the monastic life and left his family and village to join the Lebanese Maronite Order at the Monastery of Our Lady in Mayfouq. He took the name Charbel, after a second-century martyr from Antioch. He made his final vows on November 1, 1853, and he was ordained a priest on July 23, 1859. He studied philosophy and theology at the Monastery of Saints Cyprian and Justina in Kfifan, where one of his teachers was Saint Nimatullah Kassab, who was later canonized as well.
Saint Charbel spent 16 years in the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya, where he lived a life of austerity, obedience, and humility. He prayed the liturgy of the hours, celebrated the Mass, worked in the fields, and practiced penance and silence. He was known for his piety, his charity, and his miracles. One night, he asked a worker to refill his oil lamp, but the worker filled it with water instead. The lamp still burned throughout the night, which was seen as a sign of God’s favor on Saint Charbel.
Hermitage Life
In 1875, Saint Charbel felt a deeper call to solitude and contemplation, and he asked his superior for permission to live as a hermit. His request was granted, and he moved to the nearby hermitage of Saints Peter and Paul. There, he spent 23 years in prayer, fasting, and worship. He followed a strict rule of life that included seven hours of prayer every day, three hours of manual labor, two hours of spiritual reading, and one hour of meditation. He ate only one meal a day, consisting of bread, salt, olives, and water. He slept on a wooden board with a stone for a pillow. He wore a hair shirt under his habit and a chain around his waist. He never left his cell except for Mass or confession.
Saint Charbel’s life in the hermitage was marked by extraordinary graces and supernatural phenomena. He often entered into ecstasy during prayer or Mass, sometimes levitating or shining with light. He had visions of Jesus, Mary, and the saints. He performed many miracles of healing and conversion for those who sought his intercession. He also endured many trials and temptations from the devil, who tried to disturb him or make him doubt his vocation.
Death and Legacy
On December 16, 1898, Saint Charbel suffered a stroke while celebrating Mass. He fell to the ground after uttering the words “Father of truth, behold your Son; a sacrifice pleasing to you.” He was carried to his cell, where he remained unconscious until he died on Christmas Eve at the age of 70.
His body was buried in a common grave in the monastery cemetery without any special ceremony. However, soon after his death, a bright light was seen surrounding his tomb for 45 nights in a row. His body was exhumed and found to be incorrupt and exuding blood and sweat. It was transferred to a special coffin and placed in a chapel, where it continued to ooze blood and oil for 67 years. Many miracles and cures were attributed to his relics and his intercession.
Saint Charbel was beatified by Pope Paul VI on December 5, 1965, and canonized by the same pope on October 9, 1977. He is the first saint from the Lebanese Maronite Order and the first saint from Lebanon. He is celebrated on July 24 by the Latin Church and on the third Sunday of July by the Maronite Church. He is the patron saint of Lebanon and of many causes, such as the sick, the suffering, the dying, and the persecuted. He is also revered by many Muslims, who call him “the miracle monk of Lebanon.”
Prayers to St. Charbel
Prayer of Intercession to St. Charbel
O God, you called St. Charbel to be a beacon of light in the world, shining the truth and love of your message. Through his intercession, help me to be a light in the world as well, sharing your love and compassion with all those I encounter. Amen.
Prayer to St. Charbel
O God, you blessed St. Charbel with the gifts of faith, hope, and love. Through his intercession, grant me the grace to live my life in accordance with your will. Help me to follow his example of humility and service, and to always seek your presence in my life. Amen.
Prayer to St. Charbel
O St. Charbel, you who devoted your life to prayer and contemplation, I turn to you today seeking your help and guidance. Please intercede for me before the Lord and ask that my prayers be answered. Help me to grow in holiness and devotion, and to follow your example of humble service to others. St. Charbel, you who devoted your life to the service of others, I ask for your help and guidance as I navigate the challenges and struggles of life. Please pray for me and for all those I hold dear, that we may be granted the strength and courage to persevere through all trials. Amen.
Children’s Story about the life of
There once was a young boy named Charbel who lived in a small village in Lebanon. From a very young age, Charbel was deeply devoted to God and had a strong desire to become a monk.
As he grew older, Charbel decided to follow his dream and entered the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya. There, he took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and dedicated himself to a life of prayer and contemplation.
Charbel lived a simple and humble life at the monastery, spending long hours in prayer and fasting. He was also known for his kindness and compassion, always willing to help those in need.
As time passed, Charbel was ordained a priest and spent the rest of his life ministering to the people of his community. He was loved and respected by all who knew him, and his reputation as a holy man spread far and wide.
Charbel lived a life of devotion and service until the day he died. And even after he was gone, people continued to be inspired by his example and prayed to him for help and guidance.
Today, Charbel is remembered as a saint and is revered by Catholics around the world. His feast day is celebrated on July 24th, and he is remembered as a shining example of what it means to live a life of faith.
Reflection on the Feast of St. Charbel
Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Charbel on July 24th. St. Charbel was a humble monk and priest who dedicated his life to serving God and his community.
As we reflect on the life of St. Charbel, we are struck by his unwavering devotion to prayer and contemplation. He lived a life of extreme asceticism, choosing to live a simple and humble life in order to draw closer to God.
But St. Charbel was not just focused on his own spiritual growth. He was also deeply committed to serving others, and was known for his generosity, kindness, and compassion. He spent his life ministering to the people of his community, offering them comfort, guidance, and support.
In St. Charbel, we see a powerful example of what it means to live a life of faith. He reminds us that true spirituality is not about seeking our own personal enlightenment, but rather about using our gifts and talents to serve others and make the world a better place.
As we celebrate St. Charbel’s feast day, let us ask for his intercession and be inspired by his example to live lives of deep faith and service to others.
Next up: Biography of St. Charles