Beatification of Blessed Stephen Nehme">
Posted on 06/28/2010 8:35:17 AM PDT by NYer
Beatification of Blessed Stephen Nehme">
.- Previously "venerable" Maronite brother Estephan Nehme was beatified on Sunday morning in Lebanon. The Holy Father remembered Blessed Estephan after the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square, entrusting the people of Lebanon to his protection.
Brother Estephan, whose body was discovered uncorrupted in the tomb of the monastery of Kfifane over a decade after his death in 1938, is remembered as a humble, loving and devout monk. The Maronite Voice, a Glen Allen, Virginia-based publication, described him in its most recent edition as "distinguished for his simple and evangelical life," living in service to the Lord and men, loving all without discrimination.
The postulator general of his cause for canonization, Fr. Paolo Azzi, said of him in an interview with L'Osservatore Romano (LOR) that he left "everywhere a witness of loyalty to God's call, ascetic commitment and of continuous prayer. His characteristic was to do everything in the presence of God."
Archbishop Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, said in his letter for the beatification of the Lebanese monk that he was an "angel with a human face."
His beatification ceremony, which took place on Sunday morning at the Monastery of Sts. Cyprien and Justine in Kfifane, Lebanon, was presided over by Archbishop Amato. The Mass which followed was led by His Beatitude Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and concelebrated by patriarchs, archbishops, bishops and other Maronite clergy.
Maronites follow in the footsteps of the spirituality of St. Maron, a 4th century monk who chose to become a hermit in modern-day Syria. Fr. Azzi told LOR that the Maronite Church's "originality" is that is the only Eastern Church that has always been faithful to the Holy See.
The Church celebrates 1,600 years since St. Maron's death this year.
After Sunday's Angelus prayer, Pope Benedict XVI joyfully recalled Brother Estephan's beatification, entrusting the "Lebanese brothers and sisters" to the protection of the blessed Maronite monk.
In Lebanon this morning, Estéphan Nehmé, born Joseph Nehmé, was proclaimed blessed. He was a religious of the Lebanese Maronite Order, who lived in Lebanon between the end of the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. I heartily rejoice with the Lebanese brothers and sisters, and I entrust them with great affection to the protection of the new Blessed.
Angelus
On Following Christ
"One of the Most Beautiful Experiences"
H.H. Benedict XVI
June 27, 2010
At yesterday's Divine Liturgy, throughout the world, oil was blessed and used to annoint the congregations, in celebration of the new Blessed Stephen. One miracle has already been attributed to the new Blessed. We are now praying for another. Please join us with your special needs and prayers. May Blessed Estephan bring you Christ's peace and joy.
Oh yeah, that will drive Hezbollah even MORE nuts! I love it!
I went to view his body today with my parents and a few cousins at the monastery in the mountains, ill try and post a closer picture of his tomb(the one seen in the post) as well as the syriac writing under it(although i dont know how to speak the language as its unfortunately rarely spoken)
Thank you! That would be wonderful. I can also share it with our pastor and publish it in the church bulletin. Do you reside in Lebanon?
No I dont, I was studying in Montreal and came to visit my parents for 1 month before I go to Sydney to complete my degree. I will get working on those pictures for you when I wake up tomorrow morning.
Thanks for the clarification. Are you Maronite?
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