St. Charbel - Miracle Worker

By TOM DENNEHY

St. Charbel is one of the greatest saints of the Catholic Church. With more than 29,000 registered miracles, his help today is very much needed to bring peace to the Middle East and to end the terrible suffering of his native Lebanese people.

St. Charbel was born Youssef Antoun Makhlouf in Lebanon in 1828. His father was a mule driver who died when Youssef was only three. Two of the boy’s uncles were hermits and Youssef wanted to follow their example. As a boy, he tended the family’s flock of sheep and goats and would spend the day praying at a small grotto where he had installed an icon of the Blessed Virgin. He was influenced by the Christian example of his two uncles and was drawn to the monastic life.

He became a monk and took the name Charbel after a second century martyr. He made his final profession as a monk in 1853 St. Charbel beckons us to speak to our Heavenly Father often and to make prayer a priority in our lives.

He teaches us to seek God’s presence amongst the noise of work and to listen attentively to His gentle voice. He lived, worked and prayed in silence performing his priestly ministry and monastic duties with love. Just as he did, we too should perform our duties with love whether in the workplace, with family or generally in society. In his life of prayer and labour combined, the Eucharist was the centre of St. Charbel’s life, encouraged by Scripture and the Blessed Mother Mary. He would spend hours preparing for The Divine Liturgy, work prayerfully in the fields and immerse himself completely in adoration of The Blessed Sacrament.

In 1875, he was given permission to live his life as a hermit. He spent the next 23 years living a solitary life. Through prayer and penance, he offered himself as a sacrifice so that the world would return to God. He serves as a powerful reminder to pause, to find moments of silence and to tune our hearts to the presence of God who is real, alive, and loving. In these silences we discover the profound wisdom and guidance that the Lord wishes to impart to us. During his life, he detached himself from earthly things and devoted himself entirely to God. He lived in poverty, silence, obedience and abstinence.

Many people speak today of the powerful intercession of St. Charbel. He is revered for his healing miracles among Lebanese Christians who number about one million. He is a miracle saint and wonder worker, helping people who are sick, disabled, mentally ill and dying. Many miracles have been attributed to his intercession, more so perhaps than any other saint in the history of The Church. Miracles and healings have been received by people from many religions including Catholics, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, and others beliefs. His monastery receives thousands of letters every year from people who want to share the great news of the saint’s intercession in their lives.

He died on Christmas Eve 1898. A few months after his death a bright light was seen surrounding his tomb, the superiors opened his tomb to find his body intact. After that day a blood like liquid flowed from his body. Experts and doctors were unable to give an explanation for the incorruptibility and flexibility. His grave has been opened four times. The last time it was opened was in 1955 and it was noticed that his bleeding body still has its flexibility as if it were alive.

Many favours received have been attributed to Saint Charbel since his death in 1898-Many of them have been very recent. He was canonised in 1977.

We pray that St. Charbel will intercede in the Middle East and we pray that the light of Christ will shine brightly once again to bring peace to this troubled region.

Miracle prayer of St Charbel

O St. Charbel, saint of great wonders, from whose miraculous body emanates the fragrance of Heaven, come to my assistance and, if it be for the glory of God and the good of my soul, obtain from God for me the grace of which I am in need.

( State your intention). Amen.