Saint Charbel Makhlouf was born on May 8, 1828, in Biqa-Kafra, a small village nestled in northern Lebanon’s high mountains. His parents, poor by means, had five children, with Joseph, later known as Charbel, being the youngest. Brought up in a devout family, he developed a deep-seated piety and love for God from an early age. His childhood was marked by solitude, prayer, and detachment from worldly concerns.

At the age of twenty-three, he left home, drawn towards a religious vocation as a monk and hermit. He joined the Lebanese Maronite Order, established in Lebanon in 1695 and officially recognized by Pope Clement XII in 1732.

Charbel first resided in the Monastery of Our Lady of Mayfouk, located north of Jebeil, before being transferred to the Monastery of Saint Maroun at Annaya, which was part of the Lebanese Maronite Order. Here, he continued his Novitiate until 1853, taking vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, and adopting the name “Charbel.” Despite facing trials and doubts from some about his vocation, including his own family, he remained resolute and unshaken in his path.

After professing his solemn monastic vows, Charbel was sent to the Monastery of Kfifan, where he studied theological subjects and was ordained a priest in 1859. Subsequently, he was posted back to the Monastery of Saint Maroun in Annaya. His humility, fidelity to duty, and virtuous life, akin to an angel’s, made him a revered figure.

He spent sixteen years as a priest at Saint Maroun’s. His superiors, recognizing his deep desire and calling for a hermit’s life, permitted him to move into the hermitage of St. Peter and St. Paul in 1875. Located approximately a mile from the monastery, he lived there, practicing mortification and self-denial, which served as an inspiration to all.

For Saint Charbel, living as a hermit was not just a vocation, but a divine calling. The goal of his religious life was the sanctification of his soul through faith, hope, and charity. He strived to achieve this by means of prayer, manual labor, fasting, and self-detachment, all to a heroic degree. For twenty-three years, he lived as a hermit, until his passing on December 24, 1898.

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18 COMMENTS

  1. Saint Charbel has helped many people doing several miracles in Lebanon. Almost in every Christian family in Lebnaon someone is named after him. People visit his tomb very often and pray a lot for him.
    I pray for you Saint Charbel: please keep war away from this country.

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  2. I interest in St. Charbel Makhlouf hystory including documenter films concerning His Live and devotes story. We can heard arabic/middle east sound from Lebanon’s language that similar sounds of middle east. That’s amazing being there in His Histories and Prays.

  3. Comment: I have known St. Charbel for years back, have special Devotion with my fellow Christians known as Charbelians. we received a gift of knowing the Virgin Mary when we united in. prayers through this wonderful Saint. May all Catholics pray through St. Charbel who never denies all who love God thru him, especially to ask to. end of Wars in Islamic Countries.

  4. Nour , I think u have ur wires crossed, you don t pray to or for the saints. you praise them, then ask them to pray for you .

  5. Jesus I pray for everyone who is stuck in life please show them the way specially – Samy, Maryann, Dexter and other members of my family and all over the world. I pray for baby Eliyana, Danelle, Stanley, Theo and all those who need prayers for healing mentally, spiritually and physically – Amen

  6. Dear St. Charbel, Please intercede for my younger daughter, who has lost her way and has a lot to learn. Please ask Our Lord to send his Holy Spirit to enlighten her. I ask this through Christ Our Lord Amen.

  7. Dear St Charbel, please intercede for Andrene and Bill that there is mercy and forgiveness between them and there families please intercede for me in my present injury that as you know needs your miraculous intercession and please bless my employment search and capabilities that ai may have that happy employment that allows Holy Mass everyday, i will always pray for the people of Lebanon and assist financially the poor and distressed. Gerry

  8. Happy feast day St. Charbel. Please pray for the United States and the end of Christian persecution in the USA and abroad. Please pray for the end of Covid pandemic and those who have died. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

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