Father Charbel spent the night before Christmas, 1898 in church, following his usual custom of twenty-three years, ever since he became a hermit at the hermitage of Saints Peter and Paul on the mountain of Annaya. He did not waver from this praiseworthy custom. But that last night, he was lying down, neither awake, nor praying, nor meditating; he was asleep, sleeping the sleep of death. His soul, however, was with God, quite awake, in the eternal awakening. This was the last night Father Charbel would spend in the church of Saints Peter and Paul. Contrary to his custom and for the first time, Father Charbel was lying on the floor, over the mat of hair, with his face exposed.
Please note 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 to the ground. He would lift his eyes only to heaven. When in church, he always faced the altar with his eyes fixed on the tabernacle. However, when he died and was Lying face upward, his eyes were closed, still not looking at anyone, exactly as in his lifetime. Holding vigil at the body of the Servant of God in church, were his companions of the hermitage, Father Macarius Mishmshany, and Brother Francis of Artaba, along with a group of monks from the monastery of St. Maron. As soon as they learned of the passing of Father Charbel they rushed to the hermitage to kiss his hands and to be blessed by touching his body while bidding him farewell. Many spent most of the night kneeling near him, praying.
The snow was coming down heavily, accumulating on the hermitage and on the neighboring mountains and valleys. It was extremely cold and windy, to a degree that those keeping vigil around the saintly remains were trembling from the severity of the cold. And no wonder. The altitude of the hermitage is one thousand and four hundred meters above sea level, on a high summit exposed to the wind.
Those keeping vigil were asking one another, "If we are suffering so much for only one night in this severe winter, how was Father Charbel able to live twenty-three years here spending every night of his life, kneeling on bamboo, in pain from midnight until the time of his Mass at 9:00 o'clock in the morning, fasting and immobile as the stone statue erected on the floor before the altar. Truly, this hermit was a saint. He endured fatigue, hunger, poverty and cold with the courage of a martyr. Every minute of his life was martyrdom, without complaint. No doubt he is now finding the reward of his marvelous martyrdom, with God."
Through prayer and penance he offered himself as a sacrifice so that the world would return to God.
EWTN GALLERY: July 24 ~ 28 THEME: The Maronite Trilogy
This is an excellent introduction to the Maronite Rite for Latin Rite Catholics who may be unfamiliar with who the Maronites are and how they ‘fit in’ with the rest of the Catholic Church. Host Jan Marie Halphen interviews Maronite priest Fr. Nabil Mouannes.
EWTN GALLERY
THE MARONITE TRILOGY: EP. 01 (30:00) NEW
St. Maron and Maronite Rite
Monday July 24, 2006 3:00 AM
Monday July 24, 2006 6:30 PM
EWTN GALLERY
THE MARONITE TRILOGY: EP. 02 (30:00) NEW
The Maronite Saints
Tuesday July 25, 2006 3:00 AM
Tuesday July 25, 2006 6:30 PM
EWTN GALLERY
THE MARONITE TRILOGY: EP. 03 (30:00) NEW
Contemplative prayer life of the Maronite Saints
Wednesday July 26, 2006 3:00 AM
Wednesday July 26, 2006 6:30 PM
What you are posting is the story of a very humble saint. Also this is a reminder that those of us who are Christian believers are call to pray and fast during this most diffcult time.