On July 24, there occurs the optional memorial of another saint who may be unfamiliar to most, and who has also been placed in the general calendar recently, and that is St Charbel the Miracle-Worker. To most, not all. Every Lebanese will be familiar with this saint of the nineteenth century, a Maronite monk and hermit, who was famous for his devotion to contemplative prayer, and whose image is found on virtually ever street corner in the Christian parts of Lebanon. In fact a large picture of St Charbel or his statue usually announces the confessional allegiance of the quarter you happen to be entering. Just as the Maronites revere St Charbel, so the Shia revere the late Ayatollah Khomenei, and decorate their quarters with his picture, or at least they did when I was last in Lebanon about fifteen years ago. The only other place I have been to where confessional allegiance is so clearly marked is, of course, Northern Ireland.
But there is another place where St Charbel is equally revered, and that is Mexico. Embedded in its vast population is a small community of Lebanese Maronite immigrants, the most famous of whom is Carlos Slim, Mexico’s richest man. The Maronite incomers brought with them their devotion to St Charbel, and this is why virtually every Mexican church has a picture or a statue of the saint, which is the focus of much devotion. This is remarkable considering St Charbel was canonised as recently as 1965.
St Charbel deserves attention, not simply because of his reputation as a miracle worker, but because he is a fine example of prayer. In his picture his eyes are always cast down, and for the last decades of his life he practised strict custody of the eyes, only raising them to look at the Tabernacle and the Eucharist. The Church too, like Charbel, needs to keep its eyes fixed on what really matters: the Divine, and more specifically, the Blessed Sacrament.
Link on St Sharbel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charbel_Makhluf
1. Father Nadeen brought back some more St. Sharbel Oil, from the Lebanon Shrine of St. Sharbel, free for the asking, just contact St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church, or contact Brother Knight Wayne Bieniasz., there are also a few books left of St. Sharbel life. Research and investigation has started on the statue of St. Sharbel, that was bleeding oil, last month, by church authorities.
2. Apply the "oil" to to what ever part of the body that ails a person. Say a short prayer. It has healed many people over the years, for whatever reason. Naturally there are no guarantees in life or healing but what do you have to lose by not trying it?
Do your own research on his hundreds of miracles attributed to this amazing St.Sharbel..
Visit the statute, here in Las Vegas at St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church.
Warm regards and bless you all.
Ray Lanfear St Sharbel New.jpg St Sharbel New.jpg 813K View Share Download
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Welcome to FR.
Bless you too.