Today’s saint was born into a Maronite Catholic family in Lebanon. He left home when he was twenty-three in order to enter a monastery and imitate the desert fathers of the early Church. He became a hermit and dedicated himself to prayer and fasting in solitude. A series of miraculous events followed his death. For over forty days after his burial a bright light shone around his grave and when his body was exhumed it was found to be incorrupt. People flocked to his grave asking for his intercession and hundreds were healed, including many Muslims. According to Bishop Francis M. Zayek, from April 22 to July 14, 1950, there were 350 documented cures, including 31 who were blind, 37 who were deaf, 163 who were paralyzed, and 119 who had incurable diseases. Pope Paul VI beatified him a few days before the closing ceremonies of the Second Vatican Council and later, in 1977, canonized him. Let us pray the following prayer which is from Claire M. Benedict’s books “Saint Sharbel: Mystic of the East.”

O Merciful Father, through the Holy Spirit, You chose St. Sharbel as a voice crying in the wilderness. His monastic life is an example to Your Church. In the Scriptures he discovered Your Holiness as Word Made Flesh, and darkness gave way to light. In the Eucharist he encountered Your Divinity as Bread of Life, and the poverty of this world gave way to the treasures of Your Kingdom. In prayer he experienced Your Silence as Mystery Present, and loneliness gave way to communion. Through the Virgin Mother he embraced Your Son as Lover of Mankind, and hostility gave way to hospitality. We now beseech You, through his intercession, to change our hearts of stone to hearts of flesh and to grant our special request. Amen.