Saint Charbel Prayer for Healing
Saint Charbel Makhlouf, the hermit monk of Annaya, is one of the most powerful intercessors for healing in the Catholic Church. Over 33,000 miracles have been documented at his monastery in Lebanon. Born in 1828 in the mountain village of Bekaa Kafra, Charbel lived as a monk and hermit priest in the Lebanese Maronite Order for nearly fifty years. He spent his final 23 years in almost total silence and solitary prayer at the hermitage of Saints Peter and Paul near the Monastery of Saint Maron.
Since his death on Christmas Eve 1898, his body has remained incorrupt, exuding a fragrant oil that has been associated with countless healings. People of all faiths travel to Annaya seeking his intercession, and testimonies of miraculous cures continue to arrive from every corner of the world. The prayers below are among the most widely used by those seeking healing through Saint Charbel.
Prayer to Saint Charbel for Healing
This is the most popular prayer recited by those seeking physical or spiritual healing through Saint Charbel's intercession. It can be prayed once or repeated daily as part of a novena. Many pilgrims recite this prayer while visiting his tomb in Annaya or while applying the holy oil of Saint Charbel to the afflicted area of the body.
O Saint Charbel, man of God and friend of humanity,
You who dedicated your life to prayer, solitude and the love of Christ,
We come to you today with faith and hope,
Supplicating your intercession to our Lord.
Saint Charbel, you who have healed so many broken hearts,
And brought peace to those who were despairing,
Listen to our prayers and obtain for us the graces we need.
O glorious hermit,
Fill our hearts with the light of faith,
And help us to follow the path of holiness.
Help us to accept God's will with love and humility,
And to bear witness to his goodness in our lives.
Saint Charbel, heal our physical and spiritual illnesses,
And protect us from visible and invisible dangers.
Thank you for your constant intercession and benevolent presence,
We promise to spread your name and bear witness to your miracles,
Living in the love of Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
If you are praying this for someone else, you may add their name after "obtain for us the graces we need," asking Saint Charbel to intercede specifically on their behalf. Many families recite this prayer together, especially when a loved one is facing surgery or serious illness.
Prayer for Obtaining a Special Grace
This prayer is traditionally used when asking Saint Charbel's intercession for a specific need or intention. It is particularly associated with cases that seem humanly impossible. During his canonization process, many of the verified miracles were linked to this prayer.
O Lord Jesus, You inspired the Saint, Monk and Hermit Charbel to live and die in Your path and You gave him the strength to detach himself from the world in order to make triumph, in his hermitage, the monastic virtues.
We implore Thee to bestow upon us the grace to love Thee and serve Thee following his example.
God Almighty, who has manifested the power of Saint Charbel's intercession, by the numerous miracles and favours, grant us (state your petition) through his intercession.
Amen.
After this prayer, it is customary to recite:
- Our Father
- Hail Mary
- Glory Be
When praying a novena (nine consecutive days), repeat this prayer each day with the same intention. Hold your petition clearly in your mind and heart. Many people report that their answer comes not always in the way they expected, but always in a way that brings peace.
How to Pray to Saint Charbel
There is no single correct way to pray to Saint Charbel. He lived a life of radical simplicity, and prayers offered to him can be equally simple. What matters most is sincerity of heart. That said, the following practices have been passed down by the monks of Annaya and by the faithful who have experienced his intercession.
Find a quiet place. Saint Charbel spent 23 years in the silence of his hermitage. When you pray to him, try to find a moment of stillness. Even a few minutes of quiet before you begin can help you enter into the prayer more deeply. If you have an image or icon of Saint Charbel, place it where you can see it.
State your intention clearly. Whether you are praying for healing, guidance, or a specific grace, speak your need openly. You can say it aloud or hold it silently in your heart. Saint Charbel is known for answering very specific requests.
Pray with faith, not desperation. The testimonies of those who have been healed through Saint Charbel's intercession almost always mention a deep sense of trust. This does not mean you cannot bring your pain or fear. It means you bring it with confidence that God hears you and that Saint Charbel carries your prayer forward.
Repeat daily or pray a novena. A novena is a prayer repeated for nine consecutive days. Many of the most striking miracles attributed to Saint Charbel occurred during or shortly after a novena. Choose one of the prayers above and commit to praying it for nine days without interruption. Some people also pray on the 22nd of each month, a date associated with one of his most famous miracles.
The holy oil of Saint Charbel. Since his death, a fragrant, reddish oil has been observed exuding from Saint Charbel's incorrupt body. The monks at the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya collect and distribute small quantities of this oil to pilgrims. To use it, apply a small amount to the afflicted area of the body while reciting one of the prayers above. If you are praying for a spiritual or emotional healing, you may apply it to your forehead or over your heart. The oil itself is not magic. It is a sacramental, a physical point of contact that helps focus your faith and your prayer. Many remarkable healings have been reported in connection with it.
You can also listen to guided prayers and meditations with Saint Charbel in the Charbel app, available in English, Arabic, French, and Portuguese.
Documented Miracles of Healing
The miracles attributed to Saint Charbel are not legends from a distant past. They are modern, medically documented events that have been investigated by both Church authorities and independent physicians. Here are some of the most well-known cases.
Nohad El Shami (1993)
Nohad El Shami was a Lebanese mother of twelve who had suffered partial paralysis for years. On the night of January 22, 1993, she dreamt that two monks visited her and performed surgery on her neck. When she woke the next morning, she found two fresh, clean surgical incisions on her throat. She could move freely for the first time in years.
When asked who had operated on her, she said she recognized one of the monks from a picture she later saw at the Monastery of Annaya. It was Saint Charbel. Her words became famous: "He told me, 'I did the surgery.'" Medical examinations confirmed the incisions and her complete recovery. Doctors could offer no natural explanation. This miracle became one of the most thoroughly documented cases in Saint Charbel's modern intercession and is commemorated on the 22nd of each month by devotees worldwide.
Iskandar Naim Obeid
Iskandar Naim Obeid was a blacksmith from Lebanon who had been completely blind for 25 years. After making a pilgrimage to the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya and praying fervently at Saint Charbel's tomb, his sight was restored. The case was examined by ophthalmologists who confirmed that his previous condition had been medically irreversible. His healing remains one of the most cited miracles in the monastery's records.
Dafne Gutierrez (United States)
Dafne Gutierrez, a young woman living in the United States, had suffered from blindness for 17 years due to Arnold-Chiari malformation, a structural defect in the brain. After venerating a first-class relic of Saint Charbel, her vision was restored. Her case attracted significant attention in both Catholic media and the broader medical community, as Arnold-Chiari malformation does not typically resolve on its own.
Miracles Beyond Religious Boundaries
One of the most striking aspects of Saint Charbel's intercession is that it crosses all religious boundaries. Among the documented healings at Annaya are testimonies from Muslims, Druze, and Orthodox Christians. Saint Charbel does not seem to distinguish between those who come to him. The monastery has recorded cases of healing among people who had never heard of him before their cure, and among those who came to his tomb simply because a neighbor suggested it. This universal reach is part of what makes his legacy so remarkable and so deeply loved in Lebanon, a country of many faiths.
To learn more about his life and the full scope of his legacy, visit our page on Saint Charbel Makhlouf.
When to Pray to Saint Charbel
You can pray to Saint Charbel at any time, for any need. There is no wrong moment to ask for his intercession. However, certain dates hold special significance in his devotion.
His feast day: July 24 (third Sunday of July in the Maronite calendar). This is the primary liturgical celebration of Saint Charbel in the Maronite Catholic Church. Special Masses and prayers are held at the Monastery of Annaya and at Maronite parishes worldwide. Many pilgrims time their visits to Annaya around this feast.
The 22nd of each month. Following the miracle of Nohad El Shami, which occurred on January 22, 1993, many devotees pray to Saint Charbel on the 22nd of every month. Some parishes hold special prayer services on this date. It has become an informal but widely observed tradition among those devoted to him.
During illness or before medical procedures. Saint Charbel is most often invoked by those facing surgery, receiving a difficult diagnosis, or caring for a sick loved one. Many people begin a novena in the days leading up to a medical procedure.
When you feel lost or in need of guidance. While healing is the most common reason people pray to Saint Charbel, his intercession is not limited to physical ailments. He lived a life of profound inner peace, and many who pray to him report a deep sense of calm and clarity, even before their specific petition is answered.
The Charbel app offers daily guided prayers and meditations inspired by Saint Charbel, available as audio in four languages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Saint Charbel the patron saint of?
Saint Charbel is widely regarded as a patron saint of healing and of those facing impossible situations. He is also considered a patron of Lebanon and of Maronite Catholics worldwide. Though his formal patronage is not as narrowly defined as some saints, the overwhelming majority of miracles attributed to him involve physical healing. This is why he is most often invoked by those suffering from illness or chronic conditions.
Does Saint Charbel still perform miracles?
Yes. New miracles attributed to Saint Charbel's intercession continue to be reported every year. The Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya maintains an office that documents and investigates reported healings. Over 33,000 miracles have been recorded since his death in 1898, and testimonies continue to arrive from around the world. His intercession shows no signs of diminishing.
What is the holy oil of Saint Charbel?
The holy oil of Saint Charbel refers to a fragrant, reddish substance that has been observed exuding from his incorrupt body since his death in 1898. The monks at the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya collect and distribute small quantities of this oil to pilgrims. It is traditionally applied to the afflicted part of the body while praying to Saint Charbel for healing. Many miraculous healings have been associated with this oil. It can sometimes be obtained through Maronite parishes outside of Lebanon as well.
Can non-Catholics pray to Saint Charbel?
Absolutely. Saint Charbel's intercession is not limited by religious affiliation. Throughout the documented history of his miracles, healings have been reported among Muslims, Druze, Orthodox Christians, and people of other faiths or no particular faith at all. The monastery at Annaya welcomes all visitors regardless of their religious background. Many non-Catholics have testified to receiving graces through his intercession, and this openness is considered one of the hallmarks of his spiritual legacy.
Where is Saint Charbel buried?
Saint Charbel is buried at the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya, Lebanon, located in the mountains north of Beirut. His tomb is housed in a chapel within the monastery grounds. The site remains one of the most visited pilgrimage destinations in the Middle East, receiving millions of visitors each year from all over the world. The hermitage where he spent his final 23 years is also open to visitors and is a short walk from the main monastery.
See also: Saint Charbel Makhlouf for his full biography, Saint Maron the founder of the Maronite tradition, and our guide to the Maronite tradition.