St. Charbel

St. Charbel Makhlouf, born Youssef Antoun Makhlouf in 1828 in Lebanon, spent his life pursuing spiritual solitude and peace. After his father's early death, he was influenced by his uncles, who were hermits, and he too sought a life of solitude. Charbel became a monk in the Maronite Order in 1851 and made his final profession in 1853. In 1875, he was granted permission to live as a hermit at the hermitage of St. Peter and St. Paul, where he spent the next 23 years in deep prayer and penance until his death on Christmas Eve in 1898. Following his death, numerous miracles began to occur, with reports of healings and transformations attributed to his intercession. His body was found incorrupt when exhumed, and oil from his tomb became a source of further miracles. Charbel was beatified in 1965 and canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1977. Today, he is celebrated as a powerful intercessor, with over 33,000 miracles reported through his intercession. His legacy extends beyond Lebanon, inspiring people worldwide with his example of monastic virtues and divine intervention. St. Charbel's feast day is celebrated on the third Sunday in July by the Maronite Church and on July 24 by the Latin Church, making him a beloved figure across different Christian traditions.