Saint Charbel - Life  
  Saint Hardini    Saint Charbel  Home   Saint Rafca   Saint Maroun  

Life of Saint Charbel
 

Father Charbel - Youssef Antoun Makhlouf was born in 1828 at Beqaa-Kafra, the highest inhabited place in Lebanon, near the famous cedars. the young Joseph Makhlouf grew up with the example of two of his uncles, who were both hermits,

In 1851 before his eyes.Aged twenty-three, he left home secretly and entered the monastery of Our Lady of Mayfuq, taking the name of a Syrian martyr, Charbel, on his admission.

Ordained a priest in 23 July 1859, he took up his residence at the monastery of St Maroun at Annaya, which is over 3500 feet above the Mediterranean Sea.

Father Charbel lived in this community for fifteen years, and was a model monk in the exact sense of the word: it is recorded that, although he rejoiced to be able to be of the slightest assistance to his neighbour, nevertheless it was always a trial to him to leave his monastery. It was his delight to pass his time in singing the office in choir, in working in the fields and in spiritual reading, and nobody was surprised when eventually he asked, and received permission to go and live the life of a hermit. Whilst Maronite monks are generally engaged in parochial and pastoral work, provision is nevertheless made for those chosen souls who feel called to the eremitical life to pursue their vocation, generally in groups of two or three.

So began for the new hermit that holy life which has been led unaltered since the days of the desert fathers: Perpetual fasting, with abstinence from meat, fruit and wine; manual work sanctified by prayer; a mattress stuffed with leaves and covered with goatskin for a bed and a block of wood wrapped in a piece of old habit for a pillow; the interdiction to leave the hermitage without express permission. St Charbel placed himself under obedience to the other hermit, and passed twenty-three years thus, his various austerities seeming only to increase the robustness of his health. The only disturbance to his prayer came in the form of an ever-increasing stream of visitors drawn by his reputation for sanctity to seek from him advice, the promise of prayer or some miracle.

 Then one morning, in the middle of December 1898, he was taken ill without warning, just before the consecration while celebrating Mass. His companion helped him to his cell, which he was never to leave. The paralysis gradually gained on him and he was anointed. On the night of Christmas - 24 December 1898, Eve he died, repeating the prayer which he had been unable to finish at the altar: "Father of truth, behold Thy Son, who makes atoning sacrifice unto Thee. Accept the offering; He died for me that I might have life. Behold the offering! Accept it..." The words summed up a life of seventy years.
 
 

Miracles Performed by Father Charbel Makhlouf
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>>>>
 

Quelques mois après la mort de Père Charbel, des lumières éblouissantes apparaissaient autour de son tombeau. Son corps, qui continuait à suer de la sueur et du sang, fut déposé dans un nouveau cercueil. Beaucoup de pélerins venaient implorer sa protection. On dénombre alors bien des guérisons physiques et des grâces spirituelles.

En 1925, s’ouvrit le procès de sa canonisation. En 1950, le tombeau du Père Charbel fut ouvert en présence d’un comité officiel et de médecins qui ont procédé à la verification de l’intégrité du corps.

Dès l’ouverture du tombeau, les guérisons de toutes sortes se vent multipliées d’une manière subite et inaccoutumée. De toutes les régions du Liban les pélerins de toutes confessions venaient implorer le “Saint” Charbel.

Bientôt, les miracles dépassaient les frontières. Des milliers de correspondances et de témoignages conservés dans les archives d’Annaya restent les meilleurs témoins de la propagation de sa sainteté. Ce phénomène exceptionnel a été la cause immédiate de plusieurs conversions et d’une grande revification des vertus dans les coeurs des fidèles. Le si pauvre tombeau est devenu le pôle d’attraction qui attirait vers lui les gens de tout âge et de toute classe, rassemblés devant le “Saint” sans distinction de religion ni de condition. Ils sont tous là, fils de Dieu.

During his life, Father Nimatullah performed many miracles due to his deep spirituality, his high virtues and his radiant soul that became united to its Creator through prayer. "The Saint of Kfifan" had the charism of prophesy and hence became known as "a man of vision." On one occasion when he was teaching his students and facing a large wall outside the monastery of Kfifan, he had a sense that the wall was suddenly going to fall. Thereupon, he asked his students to move away just before the wall fell down, sparing all present from injury.

On another occasion, Father Nimatullah was divinely made aware that the barn where the cows of the monastery of Kfifan were kept was going to collapse on them (cows were then considered to be vital assets of the monastery). Father Nimatullah asked the monk in charge to change the place of the cows. At first the monk hesitated, but Father Nimatullah insisted and urged him to do so. After the cows were removed the roof of the barn collapsed and then none of the cows were lost.

Healing of the Altar-boy

On another occasion, Father Nimatullah wanted to celebrate his daily mass but his usual altar-boy did not arrive to church on time. Father Nimatullah then went to the boy's room and asked him to get up and serve mass. The altar boy was not able to because he had a high fever. Father Nimatullah then requested the boy to stand up, whereupon he ordered the malady to "Leave him..." Immediately, the boy was cured and he went and served Father Nimatullah's mass with joy and liveliness.

Provisions Box

Father Nimatullah once prayed over and blessed the provisions' box (which contained wheat and other foodstuffs) at the monastery of El-Kattara which was very short. After a little while the box was filled and spilled over. Everyone was stunned and praised God at what they saw.

While still alive his fellow monks and the ordinary people who knew him considered Father Nimatullah to be a saint. Often they would come asking him to pray for them and even bless water to be used on their land and for their livestock. His presence always imposed a special respect, reverence and solemnity.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<<<<<<

Sister Marie Abel Qamari of  the Saints Coeurs Congregation

Another miracle occurred to Sister Marie visited Charbel's tomb in Annaya at 12 July 1950, praying and asking for his blessing.opérée à deux reprises d’un ulcère très grave, supporta durant 14 ans des douleurs indescriptibles. Elle guérit

Iskandar Naim Obeid

Another miracle occurred to Iskandar Naim Obeid from the town Baabdate visited Charbel's tomb in Annaya at 1950, praying and asking for his blessing.pour son intercession et redécouvrit la vue,

Miriam Aouad

Another miracle occurred to Miriam Aouad from the town Hammana visited Charbel's tomb in Annaya at 1967, praying and asking for his blessing.avait le cancer de la gorge. Les médecins déclaraient leur incapacité de la soigner.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>>>>>

On May 2, 1996, His Excellency Bishop Khalil Abi-Nader, retired Bishop of the Maronite Diocese of Beirut, obtained the permission of His Beatitude Nasrallah Boutros Cardinal Sfeir to start the investigation of the miracle of Andre Najm. On September 26, 1996 the Congregation for the Causes of Saints began to study the miracle. On February 27, 1997 the five member medical team unanimously voted to accept the miraculous cure of Andre Najm, and on May 9, 1997, the seven member theological team also voted unanimously to accept the miracle. On July 1, 1997 the General Assembly of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, which includes twenty-four cardinals, accepted the miracle.

On July 7, 1997, and in the presence of the Holy Father Pope John Paul II, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints published a decree of accepting the miracle attributed to the intercession of the servant of God, Fr. Al-Hardini.

Nimutallah al-Hardini's Beatification by Pope John Paul II was held at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome on Sunday May 10, 1998. The Maronite Church celebrates his feast day on the 14th of December.

The People

These are a few examples of Father Nimatullah's astonishing miracles. Father Nimatullah's life was a miracle in itself. However, the greatest miracles performed by Father Nimatullah are the many people who have returned back to God because of his intercession and his way of life. This is especially so of many Monks who, realising the full depth and richness of Father Nimatullah's example, have determined to walk on the same path of loyalty to their Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<<<<<<<

Chronological Time Chart on the Road to Saint
 

May 1925: Pope Pius XI accepts the petitions for beatification of Father Charbel, Sister Rafca, and Father Neemtallah.
1954: Pope Pie XII declares Father Charbel Venerable
5 December 1965: Pope Paul VI declared Charbel Makhlouf. a Blessed
1976: Pope Paul VI declared Charbel Makhlouf. a Saint
9 October 1977: Pope Paul VI elevate Charbel to the rank of Saints at a solemn ceremony in the Vatican
  Saint Hardini    Saint Charbel  Home     Saint Rafca   Saint Maroun