Saint Charbel Makhlouf
Early Life
Youssef Antoun Makhlouf was born on May 8, 1828, in the small mountain village of Bekaa Kafra in northern Lebanon, the highest village in the country. The youngest of five children in a devout Maronite family, Youssef showed an early inclination toward the spiritual life. His father died when he was just three years old, and he was raised by his mother and uncle.
From a young age, Youssef was drawn to prayer and solitude. He would often tend the family's small herd of cows and use the quiet hours in the hills to pray. He was deeply influenced by two maternal uncles who lived as hermit monks in nearby monasteries, a path he would eventually follow himself.
Religious Life
In 1851, at the age of 23, Youssef left his home without telling his family and entered the Monastery of Our Lady of Mayfouq, where he began his novitiate in the Lebanese Maronite Order. He later moved to the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya, where he took his monastic vows in 1853 and received the name Charbel, after a second-century Christian martyr from Antioch.
He was ordained a priest in 1859 and spent the next 16 years living in the monastery, known for his strict adherence to the monastic rule, his profound humility, and his deep devotion to the Eucharist. His fellow monks noted that he would spend hours in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, often losing all sense of time.
The Hermitage
In 1875, at the age of 47, Charbel received permission to withdraw to the hermitage of Saints Peter and Paul, a secluded dwelling near the monastery. Here he would spend the final 23 years of his life in almost complete silence, dedicating himself entirely to prayer, penance, and contemplation.
His daily routine was austere: he rose before dawn, celebrated Mass with extraordinary devotion, spent hours in silent prayer, worked in the garden, and ate only one meal a day. Those who visited him were struck by his serenity and the profound peace that seemed to radiate from him.
"In silence, one finds God. In prayer, one finds peace. In humility, one finds the path to heaven."
Death and Miracles
On December 16, 1898, while celebrating the Holy Mass, Charbel suffered a stroke during the prayer of consecration. He died on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1898, at the age of 70.
After his burial, a mysterious light was reported shining from his tomb. When his body was exhumed months later, it was found perfectly preserved and exuding a mysterious oil-like substance. This phenomenon continued for decades and attracted pilgrims from across the world.
Countless miracles have been attributed to Saint Charbel's intercession, including healings of the blind, the paralyzed, and those suffering from terminal illness. These miracles have been documented by both religious authorities and medical professionals, leading to his beatification in 1965 and canonization by Pope Paul VI on October 9, 1977.
Legacy
Today, Saint Charbel is one of the most widely venerated saints in the Maronite Catholic Church and is beloved by Christians of all denominations worldwide. His monastery in Annaya, Lebanon, receives millions of pilgrims each year.
His example of radical simplicity, deep prayer, and silent devotion continues to inspire those seeking a deeper relationship with God. He reminds us that holiness is found not in grand gestures but in the faithful, humble practice of daily prayer and surrender to God's will.
Saint Charbel's feast day is celebrated on the third Sunday of July in the Maronite liturgical calendar.
See also: Saint Nimatullah Al-Hardini, his teacher and mentor, and Saint Rafqa, another beloved Lebanese Maronite saint. Learn more about the Maronite tradition that shaped his spirituality.