Joseph (Youssef) Makhlouf was born on 8 May 1828 in a small mountain village in Lebanon and he was raised by his uncle after his father died in 1831 when Youssef was 3 years old. When he was 23 years old, to join the Baladite monastery of Saint Maron at Annaya where he took the name Charbel in memory of a 2nd century martyr. He completed his priestly studies and was ordained in 1858.
Charbel taught the value of poverty, self-sacrifice, and prayer by the way he lived. He had special devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and and was known to levitate during his prayers. His love for the Eucharist reminds us that we are privileged to be able to receive the Body and Blood of Christ every week. Charbel is renowned for two things, firstly the intensity of his spiritual life as a hermit, and secondly the extraordinary diversity and number of his miracles. He was beatified in 1965 and canonized in 9 October 1977 by Pope Paul VI. Saint Charbel Makhlouf “Hermit of Lebanon,” Maronite Catholic monk, and “Wonderworker of the East. Saint Charbel Makhlouf intercession brings not only physical healing, but more importantly, spiritual healing and growth. Saint Charbel Makhlouf feast is celebrated on 24 July.
Prayer to Saint Charbel Makhlouf
Lord, infinitely Holy and Glorified in Your Saints,
You have inspired Charbel, the saint monk,
to lead the perfect life of a hermit.
We thank You for granting him the blessing
and the strength to detach himself from the world
so that the heroism of the monastic virtues
of poverty, obedience, and chastity,
could triumph in his hermitage.
We beseech You to grant us
the grace of loving and serving You,
following his example.
Almighty God,
Who has manifested the power
of Saint Charbel's intercession
through his countless miracles and favours,
grant us...
(State your intention(s) here...)
through his intercession.
Amen.
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A beautiful ode to Saint Charbel
(written by J. Michael Thompson)
The mountain heights of Lebanon
Resound with songs of joy;
The cedars of that ancient land
Stand tall as we employ
Our hymns of praise and thankfulness
For Charbel's saintly ways,
Lived out in strict humility
That guided all his days.
True monk and hermit of the hills,
Saint Maron's modest son
Scorned wealth and comfort in his life
That heaven's crown be won.
Of Mary, heaven's Queen and Gate,
Devoted son was he,
Who cherished all the ancient rites
With great humility.
Fierce lover of the lowly life,
True father of the poor,
As you have done, so help us all
To struggle and endure,
That Christ be praised in ev'ry life,
That riches not ensnare
Or rule us in our daily walk;
That strong may be our prayer!
O Father, Son, and Spirit blest,
One God in persons three,
Receive this hymn we offer now,
And keep your Church e'er free
To follow, as Saint Charbel did,
Enflamed with love so bright
That we, with eyes fixed firm on Christ,
May vanquish sin's dark night.
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