St. Charbel Makhlouf – A Saint of Miracles

Feast Day 24th July

About St. Charbel Makhlouf

St. Charbel Makhlouf, a revered Maronite monk and priest, was born Youssef Antoun Makhloufon May 8, 1828, in Bekaa Kafra, a small village in North Lebanon. From a young age he was drawn to a spiritual life and his devout upbringing cultivated a deep love for God and a passion for prayer. 

At the age of 23, Youssef entered the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya, adopting the name Charbel, after a second-century martyr. His monastic life was characterized by fervent prayer, strict abstinence, and humble service. After sixteen years in the monastery, St. Charbel sought to emulate the desert fathers, embracing solitude and simplicity as paths to divine intimacy and felt called to a more profound solitude. He was granted permission to live as a hermit and spent the next twenty-three years, in the Hermitage of Saints Peter and Paul, where his life of contemplation and austerity deepened.

He celebrated the Divine Liturgy with great devotion, spent countless hours in adoration, and maintained a spirit of silence and mortification. His intense spirituality and the miracles attributed to him during his lifetime drew people from all walks of life, seeking his prayers and counsel. St. Charbel’s died on December 24th 1898 and was buried in the St. Maron monastery cemetery in Annaya. 

A few months after his death dazzling lights were seen around his grave, after which, his corpse began secreting sweat and blood. His body was transferred to a special coffin, and many pilgrims began to visit praying and asking his intercession. Through his intercession God blessed many persons with miracles of healing, conversion and spiritual graces. 

He was beatified by Pope Paul VI in 1965 and canonized in 1977. To this day, his incorrupt body continues to be a source of wonder and veneration for all who visit and ask his intercession.

Miracles of St. Charbel

St. Charbel is know as a saint of miracles because there have been one 29,000 miracles attributed to his intercession. Read more about his miracles here.

St. Charbel’s Patronage

In addition to being the patron saint of Lebanon, St. Charbel is also the patron saint of those who suffer in body and soul. Suffering is part of our pilgrim journey on this earth. We all have our daily crosses to endure, if there is something you are struggling with, you can ask St. Charbel’s intercession.

Prayer Asking St. Charbel’s Intercession

Prayer To Saint Charbel Makhlouf 

Lord, infinitely Holy and Glorified in Your Saints, You have inspired Charbel, the saint monk, to lead the perfect life of a hermit. We thank You for granting him the blessing and the strength to detach himself from the world so that the heroism of the monastic virtues of poverty, obedience, and chastity, could triumph in his hermitage.

We beseech You to grant us the grace of loving and serving You, following his example. Almighty God, Who has manifested the power of St. Charbel’s intercession through his countless miracles and favours, grant us… (State your intention here…) through his intercession. Amen.

Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be…

Novena to St. Charbel

The novena to St. Charbel begins on July 15th to end in time for his feast day on July 24th. However you can say this novena at anytime for your intentions. Click here for a free pdf booklet with his novena.

Click here for a full booklet with his novena & prayers.

What’s inside:

• Nine days of prayers asking St. Charbel’s intercession.
• The Chaplet of St. Charbel
• Additional Prayers asking St. Charbel’s intercession

This nine-day novena is an invitation to deepen your relationship with God, drawing inspiration from the life and virtues of Saint Charbel!

St. Charbel is truly a great saint and we can learn much from his life of prayer and humble service. We may not be called to be hermits, but we can learn follow his example in little days within our daily lives.

St. Charbel, Pray for us!