On July 24, the Catholic Church celebrates the life of St. Charbel Makhlouf. St. Charbel is a Maronite Catholic priest, monk, and a hermit who is known for working miracles both during his life and after his death.

On the day of his beatification in 1965, Pope Paul VI referred to him as "a new, eminent member of monastic sanctity who through his example and his intercession is enriching the entire Christian people."

St. Charbel was born in Lebanon in 1828. He took his monastic vows in 1853, during a solemn ceremony which was closed to the public and off-limits even to his family. He subsequently studied for the priesthood and was ordained, returning to the Monastery of St. Maron. He served in the monastery for 19 years, showing great devotion to the life of prayer and contemplative silence.

St. Charbel suffered a stroke while celebrating the Divine Liturgy of the Maronite Catholic Church on December 16, 1898 and died on Christmas Eve of that year.

St. Charbel's tomb has been a site for pilgrimages since his death. Hundreds of miracles have occurred through his intercession with God, both in Lebanon and around the world. He was canonized in 1977 by Pope Paul VI.

POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II: ''CHARBEL INVITED US TO COOPERATE WITH GOD"
John Paul II often said that the Church has two lungs, East and West, and it must learn to breathe using both of them. Like all saints, Charbel points us to God and invites us to cooperate generously with God’s grace, no matter what our situation in life may be. As our prayer life becomes deeper and more honest, we become more ready to make that generous response.

LIGHT ILLUMINATED FROM HIS TOMB
Many people confirmed seeing light illuminating from St. Charbel’s tomb after his death. His body was exhumed multiple times. Church authorities found him completely incorrupt.

It was reported that a few months after his death, authorities found that “further examination showed that his body transpired blood and water like any living organism.” It was further reported that his body remained intact for more than 40 years after his death.

Many healing miracles are attributed to his powerful intercessions which include healings from cancer, stroke, cysts, and the healing of a premature baby.

ST. CHARBEL PRAY FOR LEBANON AND THE WORLD
As Lebanon and the world at large are suffering from setbacks covering all aspects of life, we pray seeking the miraculous intercession of St. Charbel to extricate Lebanon from the imbroglio in which it is embroiled, save the world from the waves of economic disruptions, crime, violence, discrimination and hatred.

With the turbulent situation prevailing in the various parts of the world, it is the right time to seek the intercession of saints who still care for extricating humanity from all forms of suffering.