Saint Sharbel Makhlūf

Saint Sharbel Makhluf is also known as Saint Charbel or Saint Sharbel. He was a Maronite monk and priest from Lebanon. He lived in the 1800s. Most people did not know about him until after he died.

Saint Sharbel lived a quiet life. He prayed a lot. He spent many years in silence. He lived alone in a small hermitage. He loved Jesus deeply, especially in the Eucharist.

After his death, many people began to visit his grave. They said he helped them. Many were healed. His name spread across Lebanon and the world.

Today, many people pray to Saint Sharbel. They ask him for help, healing, and peace. His simple and holy life touches many hearts.

Saint Sharbel was born in Lebanon in 1828. His birth name was Yousef Antoun Makhluf. He grew up in a small village called Bekaa Kafra. His family was poor. They worked on farms and lived a simple life.

When Yousef was just a child, his father died. His mother raised him and his brothers. Later, his uncle, who was strict, helped raise him. Even as a young boy, Yousef loved to pray. He would go to a small cave to be alone with God.

Yousef helped his family with the animals and the farm. But he always felt called to something more. He would often stop to pray in silence. People saw that he was different from other boys.

At age 23, he left home. He joined a monastery. He wanted to give his whole life to God. He never looked back.

When Yousef joined the monastery, he took a new name. He became Brother Sharbel. This name came from a second-century martyr. He wanted to follow Jesus in a quiet and humble way.

Sharbel lived at the Monastery of Saint Maron. It was in the mountains. Life there was hard. The monks prayed, worked, and fasted. They lived simply and shared everything.

Sharbel was very quiet. He did not talk much. He obeyed his superiors. He did not want to be noticed. He worked in the fields and read the Bible.

He became a priest in 1859. He loved to say Mass. He spent hours in front of the Eucharist. He often prayed all night. People saw that he was full of peace.

After many years in the monastery, Sharbel asked to live alone. He moved to a small hermitage near the monastery. There he lived for 23 years. He spent most of his time in prayer.

His life was very hard. He ate little. He worked with his hands. He kept silence most of the time. He wanted to be alone with God.

Even though he was alone, people came to him. Some asked for prayers. Others came just to look at him. They said he had a glow about him. He never wanted attention. He only wanted to pray.

In 1898, while saying Mass, he had a stroke. He died a few days later. After his death, strange lights were seen around his tomb. Many people were healed. His body stayed fresh for many years. Many said this was a sign from God.

Saint Sharbel was a monk of the Maronite Church. The Maronites are Catholic. They follow the Pope. But they have their own way of worship. Their prayers are older and come from the Middle East.

The Maronite Church began in Lebanon. It has been faithful to Rome for many centuries. It is part of the Eastern Catholic Churches. The Mass is said in both Arabic and Syriac, which is close to the language Jesus spoke.

Saint Sharbel is one of the most loved saints in the Maronite Church. But Catholics from all over the world love him too. He is a bridge between East and West. He shows that all parts of the Church are united.

He is also a sign of peace. In a time when the world was changing fast, he chose silence and prayer. He reminds us that God speaks in quiet places.

Saint Sharbel was beatified in 1965 by Pope Paul VI. He was canonized in 1977. The Pope said Sharbel was a light for the whole world. He said that Sharbel showed how holiness can grow in silence.

His feast day is July 24 On that day, people go to church and pray for healing. Some make a pilgrimage to his tomb in Lebanon.

Many miracles have been reported. Some people have been healed from sickness. Others say they found peace. His tomb is now a place of prayer for people of many faiths.

Saint Sharbel is the patron saint of Lebanon. He is also a patron of the sick. His life teaches us that quiet prayer, faith, and love for Jesus can lead to great things—even if no one sees.

Be Who God Made You to Be

Saint Charbel lived a quiet life, far from attention, but it was full of prayer and purpose. As a monk and later a hermit, he gave everything to God. His simple, hidden life still touches the world today through many reported miracles.

Charbel shows us that living an authentic life means saying yes to the life God made for us—not chasing what others expect, but becoming who we’re meant to be. When we live that way, even in small ways, the Church grows stronger, and others are drawn to God through us.

Love is a Radiant Light: The Life & Words of Saint Charbel

Love is a Radiant Light: The Life & Words of Saint Charbel is a short book filled with simple teachings from Saint Charbel Makhluf, a Maronite monk from Lebanon. The book shares his thoughts on prayer, faith, and daily struggles. His words are clear and direct, like the sayings of the early desert monks. The book also includes a short story of his life. Each page offers a short quote or message that helps readers think about their own walk with God. It’s a good book for people who want easy but deep reminders of how to live with faith.