Known as the patron saint of people who suffer from problems in body and soul, this time we will learn about the history of San Charbel. Every July 24, the Catholic Church celebrates the life of Saint Charbel Makhlouf, a Maronite Catholic priest, monk, and hermit who is known for performing miracles both during his lifetime and after his death.
On the occasion of his beatification in 1965, the Eastern Catholic hermit was described by Pope Paul VI as “a new and eminent member of monastic holiness”, who “by his example and his intercession is enriching the entire Christian people”.
Saint Charbel has a very peculiar story in the scholars account of his life, that he did not look at people, we will talk about this through this section. Without further ado, continue reading this story of San Charbel that is really interesting and you will surely like it.
The story of Saint Charbel
Born into humble circumstances in Lebanon during 1828, Yussef Antoun Makhlouf was the youngest of five children born to Antoun Zaarour Makhlouf and Brigitta Elias al-Shediyaq. Antoun, who had been separated from the family and forced to do hard labor, died when his youngest child was just three years old. In the story of Saint Charbel, we can read that Yusuf studied at the parochial school and took care of his family’s cow.
Committed to prayer and solitude from an early age, he spent much time outdoors in the fields and pastures near his village, contemplating God amid inspiring views of the valleys and mountains of Lebanon.
His uncle and guardian Tanious wanted the boy to continue working with him, while his mother wanted him to marry a young woman. However, Yusuf had other plans and left home in 1851 without informing anyone.
Yusuf would become “Brother Charbel”, after making a pilgrimage on foot to his new monastic home. He followed the example of his maternal uncles, who were already living as solitary monks in the Hermitage of Saint Paul in the Qadisha Valley.
Charbel took his monastic vows in November 1853, during a solemn ceremony that was closed to the public and forbidden even to his family. He subsequently studied for the priesthood and was ordained, returning to the Monastery of Saint Maron.
The priest-monk lived and served in the monastery for 19 years, showing great devotion to a life of prayer, manual labor and contemplative silence.
Charbel’s superiors observed the “supernatural power” of God at work in his life, and he became known as a miracle worker even among some Muslims. In 1875, he was granted permission to live as a solitary monk in a nearby hermitage dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul.
Saint Charbel’s tomb has been a pilgrimage site since his death. Hundreds of miracles are believed to have occurred through his intercession with God, both in Lebanon and in the world.
He was canonized in 1977 by Pope Paul VI, who had previously hailed the Lebanese Maronite saint as a “wonderful flower of holiness that blooms on the stem of the ancient monastic traditions of the East.
No one saw his face while he was alive
When he became a monk of the Lebanese Maronite Order at the age of 23, it was when he decided to take the name “Charbel”. He completely dedicated his life to the and he did it with an undivided heart.
It tells the story of Saint Charbel and studies by historians that people never saw his face when he was alive. He always kept his head down in church, at work or when walking, always looking at the ground.
Scholars comment that he only raised his eyes to look at the sky. When he was in church, he always looked at the altar with his eyes fixed on the tabernacle.
However, when he died and was lying on his back, his eyes were closed, not looking at anyone, exactly as in life. Saint Charbel was very devoted to the . He suffered a stroke while reciting this prayer in December 1898.