July 24
Saint Charbel Makhlouf
“Miracle Monk”, Mystic
(1828- 1898)
“Every person is a lamp made by the Lord to shine and give light.”
Saint Charbel Makhlouf
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or on the Book Cover Image above to buy it!
Click here for the Amazon page or on the Book Cover Image above to buy it!
Saint’s Life Story
Fatherless as a Youth
Youssef (Joseph) Antoun Makhlouf was born on May 8, 1828, in the small mountain village of Beqa-Kafra, Lebanon, the highest elevation in the country. Charbel was one of five children born to his father, Antoun Zaarour Makhlouf, who was a mule driver, and his mother, Brigitta (née Chidiac). When Charbel was three, his mother became a widow when his father died returning from corvée (free forced labor) for the Turkish army.
Tended Sheep
His family was poor, but pious and had a great devotion to the Blessed Mother. As a child, Charbel tended the sheep in the fields, where he built an outdoor shrine to Our Lady, spending hours in prayer. As he matured, Charbel also spent time reading Scriptures and Thomas a Kempis’s “The Imitation of Christ”, which was was his favorite book.
Entered Monastery
At the age of twenty-three, Charbel left his family to enter the Lebanese-Maronite Monastery, Notre-Dame de Mayfouk, in Mayfouk, Lebanon – about 40 miles north of Beirut. Later, Charbel transferred to the Monastery of St. Maron monastery in Annaya. He received his religious habit and took the name Charbel (Sharbel) in honor of a second-century martyr. Charbel was ordained in 1859. The priest-monk lived and served in the monastery for 19 years, showing great devotion to the life of prayer, manual work, and contemplative silence.
Miracle-Worker
Charbel was known for his mortification, obedience, and chastity. He was gifted with occasional levitations during prayer, and he had great devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament. Charbel celebrated Mass close to noon so as to devote the morning to preparation, and the rest of the day to thanksgiving. In all things, Charbel maintained perfect serenity. His charity and kindness endeared him to all, both Christians and Muslims. His tomb has been a site for pilgrimages since his death. Numerous healings of the body, heart and mind have been obtained through his intercession. Hence, Charbel is known as the Miracle-Worker.
Life in Solitude Before His Death
Charbel spent the last twenty-three years of his life in solitude at a hermitage near Annya. Charbel suffered a stroke on December 16, 1898 while celebrating the Holy Liturgy. He was reciting the prayer, “Father of Truth, behold your Son, a sacrifice pleasing to you. Accept this offering of Him who died for me.” Charbel fell to the floor holding the Holy Eucharist in his hands. and he died on Christmas Eve, 1898 in the Monastery of Saint Maron, Lebanon.
St Charbel Makhlouf’s Mattress and Pillow Stained by a Blood and Sweat Mixture issued from his incorrupt body exhumed in 1899, 1927, and 1950. Several post-mortem miracles are attributed him. His tomb has become a place of pilgrimage for Lebanese and non-Lebanese, Christian and non-Christian alike.
Second St Anthony of the Desert
When Charbel was canonized, Bishop Francis Zayek, head of the U.S. Diocese of St. Maron, Bishop Zayek wrote: “St. Charbel is called the second Saint Anthony of Egypt, the Perfume of Lebanon, the first Confessor of the East to be raised to the Altars according to the actual procedure of the Catholic Church, the honor of our Aramaic Antiochian Church, and the model of spiritual values and renewal. Charbel is like a Cedar of Lebanon standing in eternal prayer, on top of a mountain.”
Born: May 8, 1828 in Beqa-Kafra, Lebanon
Died: December 16, 1898 in Annaya
Beatified: December 5, 1965 by Pope Paul VI
Canonized: October 9, 1977 by Pope Paul VI
Feast Day: July 24
Patron Saint: Lebanon
Source:
Reflection
Do you think that if you don’t live a busy, exciting life with a powerful job that your life is not meaningful? Born in Lebanon, Saint Charbel Makhlouf entered a monastery as a young man and later lived as a hermit, spending many hours in prayer and silent reflection. He lived a quiet simple life hidden away from the attention of the world, but filled with the love for the Eucharist.
Saint Charbel believed that everything should lead a person closer to Christ. He worked diligently and prayed with great devotion. Even after his death, many people reported receiving healings through his intercession. His life teaches us that holiness is not measured by fame. Instead, our “success” is our willingness to love God wholeheartedly and follow His will.
In a world filled with distractions, Saint Charbel encourages us to make time for prayer and listen for God’s voice. His example shows that peace comes from trusting God and placing Him at the center of our lives. We can grow closer to Christ each day through faithfulness in the quiet moments of life.
Like Saint Charbel Makhlouf, you can live a simple less “exciting”, but meaningful life by having a good relationship with God through quiet prayer times.
Prayers
Saint Charbel Makhluf,
You remind us of the importance of prayer and solitude for the development of holiness. Prayer and solitude can, as they did for you, deepen our relationship with God and help us to become better people.
Saint Charbel Makhlouf, may you intercede for us in prayer that we improve the quality of our time with the Lord.
Let us grow in our faith by regularly setting aside some time in our day as a respite from our busy schedule to include some time for prayer and solitude with God.
Saint Charbel Makhlouf, pray for us. Amen.
Saint Links
Aleteia – How to protect your family from the devil, according to St. Charbel Makhlouf
Catholic Exchange – St. Charbel Makhlouf Wants to Pray for You
Catholic Fire – St. Sharbel (Charbel) Makhlouf, Miracle-Worker
Catholic Ireland – Jul 24 – St Charbel (or Sharbel) Makhluf (1828-98) Lebanese priest and monk
Catholic Online – St. Charbel
Dynamic Catholic – St. Charbel
Franciscan Media – Saint Sharbel Makhlouf
Newman Connection – Saint Sharbel Makhlouf
Saint for a Minute – Saint Charbel Makhlouf
Saint Mary’s Press – Saint Charbel Makhlouf (1828-1898)
University of Notre Dame – St. Sharbel Makhloof