SAINT CHARBEL AND PRAYER OF THE HOLY ROSARY

 

Saint Charbel was a Maronite monk and priest who lived in Lebanon. The community in Lebanon remembers the holy man for his miraculous healings. Fr Charbel (Saint Charbel) - in his latter years a holy hermit - went to Almighty God from this life on 24th December 1898. 

St Charbel was buried outside the monastery in a grave adjacent to the church wall. In the records of the Monastery of St Maroun in Annaya, Fr (Saint) Charbel's superior wrote that because of what Charbel would accomplish after his death, he had no need to write about his life but was satisfied with stating that Charbel had kept his vows like an angel and not like a human. 

Starting from the time of his burial, St Charbel's tomb emanated a bright light. As a result, the tomb was opened on April 15th 1899, four months after St Charbel's death. The saint's body was found to be intact with no signs of change, a miraculous sign. 

In 1950, St Charbel's tomb at the Maronite monks' monastery high on a mountain in Lebanon was opened yet again, because a light had frequently been seen in the vicinity. To the astonishment of all the body of the priest who had been buried there for fifty-two years was as though he had been merely asleep that half a century. Even his clothing was intact.

Why this Wonder?

People began to pray to St Charbel to ask his intercession with God on their behalf. The monastery began to keep records of miracles performed through the intercession of Fr Charbel from 1950 onwards. There are over 26,000 miracles attributed to the intercession of St Charbel Makhlouf since 1898. 

Saint Pope Paul VI beatified Charbel

At the closing of the Second Vatican Council, on December 5, 1965, St Charbel was beatified by Saint Pope Paul VI, who said:

"Great is the gladness in heaven and earth today for the beatification of Charbel Makhlouf, monk and hermit of the Lebanese Maronite Order. Great is the joy of the East and West for this son of Lebanon, admirable flower of sanctity blooming on the stem of the ancient monastic traditions of the East, and venerated today by the Church of Rome ... the holy monk of Annaya is presented as one who reminds us of the indispensable roles of prayer, hidden virtues and penance ... A hermit from the Lebanese mountain is enrolled among the blessed ... a new, eminent member of monastic sanctity is enriching the entire Christian people by his example and his intercession ... In a world largely fascinated with riches and comfort, he helps us understand the paramount value of poverty, penance, and ascetism to liberate the soul in its ascent to God ..." [1]

Canonisation

St Charbel was canonised in 1977 by Saint Pope Paul VI. At the time, Bishop Francis Zayek wrote, "St Sharbel is called the second St Anthony of the Desert, the Perfume of Lebanon, the first Confessor of the East to be raised to the Altars according to the actual procedures of the Catholic Church, the honor of our Aramaic Antiochian Church, and the model of spiritual values and renewal. Sharbel is like a Cedar of Lebanon standing in eternal prayer, on top of a mountain." [2]

Pilgrimage

St Charbel's tomb has been a site for millions of pilgrimages ever since his burial. 

Preparation for Holy Mass

St Charbel used to spend half a day preparing to celebrate Mass, and half a day in thanksgiving. During the Holy Mass he offered the Eucharist to the Holy Trinity for the conversion of sinners.

History of Saint Charbel

History of St Charbel can be accessed at http://saintcharbel.net.au/history/

Some healings which are attributed to St Charbel

Some healings which are attributed to St Charbel can be accessed at https://epicpew.com/6-incredible-miracles-saint-charbel/

Prayer to Saint Charbel

Saint Sharbel, vessel of sweet perfume, pray for me. O merciful God, who honored Saint Sharbel through the working of great miracles, have mercy on me and grant me what I ask through his intercession. To You be glory forever, Amen. 

Rosary

One of St Charbel's spiritual practices we can imitate is prayer of the Holy Rosary. 

[1] Saint Charbel http://saintcharbel.net.au/history/

[2] Charbel Makhlouf 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charbel_Makhlouf

HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY

Visit the following link

https://www.usccb.org/how-to-pray-the-rosary

THE ROSARY

THE ROSARY

On the cross the Creed is prayed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right Hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come, to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

On the single beads the Our Father is prayed:

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; 
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as It is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. 
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

On the sets of beads, the Hail Mary is prayed:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

At the end of each set of beads, the Glory Be is prayed:

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

This is followed by the Fatima prayer:

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy. Amen.

Many people recite five to fifteen mysteries of the Holy Rosary each day:

The Joyful Mysteries (always recited on Mondays and Thursdays)

1. The Annunciation

2. The Visitation

3. The Nativity

4. The Presentation

5. The finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple

The Sorrowful Mysteries (always recited on Tuesdays and Fridays)

1. The Agony in the Garden

2. The Scourging at the Pillar

3. The Crowning with Thorns

4. The Carrying of the Cross

5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus on the Cross

The Glorious Mysteries (always recited on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays)

1. The Resurrection

2. The Ascension

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles at Pentecost

4. The Assumption of Our Lady body and soul into Heaven

5. The Crowning of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven

At the end of the Rosary recite the Hail Holy Queen:

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary, pray for us now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Follow the Hail Holy Queen by:

Pray for us O Holy Mother of God

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

LET US PRAY

O God, Who by Thy Life, Death and Resurrection didst purchase for us the rewards of eternal salvation

Grant, we beseech thee, that, while meditating upon these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary

We may both imitate what they contain

And obtain what they promise through the same Christ our Lord

Amen.

JOIN ONLINE ROSARY AT

http://www.comepraytherosary.org/

Link to online Rosary

http://www.comepraytherosary.org

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs64AFvmGWE

With thanks to usccb.org, saintcharbel.net.au, epicpew.com, wikipedia.org, comepraytherosary.org and youtube