Saint of the day July 24: Saint Charbel Makhlouf. Catholic Saints

Every July 24, Saint Charbel Makhlouf is celebrated, a Lebanese priest, ascetic and religious who belonged to the Maronite Catholic Church – an Eastern Church that dates back to the 5th century, today one of the 24 Churches.independent” (in their own right) that make up the Catholic Church-.

Saint Charbel was the first saint from the East to be canonized after several centuries (no member of the Eastern Church had been canonized since the 13th century); and he is one of the most beloved saints in the Spanish-speaking world, especially in Mexico.

Maronite monk and priest

Saint Charbel, whose original name was Youssef Antoun (Joseph Anthony) Makhlouf (Majluf), was born in Beqakafra, Lebanon, on May 8, 1828. He lost his father at the age of three, so he was left under the care of only his mother. She remarried a Maronite priest – in the Maronite rite priests are allowed to marry – who would end up being a very positive influence on the saint.

In general, the Makhloufs were a family marked by faith and piety – two of Youssef’s uncles were hermit monks – thanks to which the saint was able to grow up in a religious environment, surrounded by authentic spirituality.

At the age of twenty-three, Youssef left his mother’s home and entered the monastery of Our Lady of Mayfouq as a candidate, later adopting the name of a famous Syrian martyr: Charbel.

The young monk made his solemn vows in 1853 and was ordained a priest a few years later, in 1859, and was incorporated into the regular clergy under the patriarchate of Paul I Peter Masad (Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1854 until his death in 1890).

Almost immediately, Father Charbel would be sent to the monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya, located in the mountainous heights of Lebanon, at 1067 meters above sea level.

To better hear the voice of God

Father Charbel lived in San Marón for fifteen years, becoming an exemplary monk, dedicated to prayer, apostolate and spirituality studies.

It will be years later when he discovers the call to life in solitude and begins to live as a hermit. For this, given his canonical status, he required special permission. The saint would receive the expected authorization on February 13, 1875.

From that day until his death in 1898, Saint Charbel was dedicated to asceticism, penance, manual work and prayer. This included a prayer regimen with the main and middle hours of the Liturgy of the hours (at seven different times of the day) -, and, naturally, the daily Mass. Saint Charbel only ate once a day and spent most of his time in silence. He eventually interrupted his hours of meditation to receive the numerous visitors, who came attracted by his reputation for wisdom and holiness. People of all kinds came in search of spiritual advice, some promise of prayer or, directly, in search of some miracle – Saint Charbel had earned the fame of a miracle worker for the miraculous healings that occurred among those who approached him.

universal man

Saint Charbel died on December 24, 1898. Pope Saint Paul VI beatified him on December 5, 1965 during the closing of the Second Vatican Council. Years later, Paul VI himself would canonize him on October 9, 1977, within the framework of the celebrations of the World Synod of Bishops.

Devotion to Saint Charbel has spread inside and outside the borders of Lebanon, even in very remote territories, possessing very different cultural forms. Proof of this is the particular and strong veneration it enjoys in Mexico, and other parts of Latin America. In that sense, San Charbel has become a very real “bridge” between East and West, a link that the Holy Spirit has established.

Link between East and West

The case of the devotion to San Charbel in Mexico constitutes something truly special. This is due in large part to Maronite immigration to that country – which began in the 19th century – as well as to the notable number of miracles attributed to the intercession of the Lebanese saint.

These deserve special mention: it is said that the Church has recorded and investigated a number that exceeds two tens of thousands. Some of these even had media impact.

Saint Charbel Makhlouf, pray for us!

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If you want to know a little more about Saint Charbel, we recommend this article from the Catholic Encyclopedia: https://ec.aciprensa.com/wiki/San_Charbel_Makhlouf.