July 24: St. Sharbel (Charbel) Makhluf, Priest & Hermit

The purest cedar of Lebanon
Today’s memorial was first inserted into the liturgical calendar in the United States in 2004. Prior to that, today’s saint was known primarily among the Christians of Lebanon, either in their homeland or in Lebanese diaspora communities outside of the Middle East. The dominant form of Catholicism in Lebanon is the Maronite Church. Maronites are united to the Bishop of Rome. The universal Church is like an umbrella under which are found different rites, or ritual forms of praying. The vast majority of the world’s Catholics pertain to the Latin Rite. But millions of other Catholics, fully members of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, worship using an Eastern, or Middle Eastern, liturgy. To the casual Western observer, this liturgy can seem exotic. The Maronite liturgy, rituals, church customs, and forms of prayer are, however, of ancient origin and enrich an already diverse Church with theological fruit picked from one of Christianity’s oldest orchards.
Saint Sharbel, baptized as Youssef (Arabic for Joseph), was one of five children born into a poor family from a remote village in the hills of Lebanon. They were devout Maronite Catholics whose relatives included priests and monks. Youssef shepherded his family’s small flock of animals when he was young. Very early on, he displayed a tender....
Attributions
Lalupa, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommon..., via Wikimedia Commons; Axxis10, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommon..., via Wikimedia Commons; Nheyob, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommon..., via Wikimedia Commons; RomanDeckert, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommon..., via Wikimedia Commons;
Eternalsleeper at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 creativecommon..., via Wikimedia Commons

[@bettyweber8424]

Thank you so much for the history on this great Saint.

[@TheCatholicSamurai]

Not realizing today was the feast day, my grandfather was telling me about Saint Charbel today! He just discovered him and I have know but I am definitely going to increase my friendship with him after this Holy Spirit moment!

[@josephlaidaban4063]

Saint Charbel Makhlouf pray for us 🙏 ❤️ 🙏

[@astariusrayen9534]

Too late uploading of videos. Can you please upload a day earlier. We are in Asia.

[@RoyNo-f8h]

ST Sharbel (Charbel) Mahklouf , Priest and Hermit. Pray for us, and thank you. AMEN...❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊

[@RoxanaKristina]

Thank you, love St Charbel. Wish you would jave done something on St Christina, too, as that is my saint name and this is her feast day, as well. Perhaps you will . Thank you 🙏💎

[@vanishingGolem]

🙏please God, thru Jesus & Mary, accept my praises for you and my thanks for your blessings. Father, forgive my repeated offenses. Holy Spirit, always guide and protect my rica, maja & czari.