Happy Feast of St Charbel!
Image Credit: Unknown (Old Photo), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Happy Feast of St Charbel! Saint Charbel, also known as Charbel Maklouf, was a Lebanbese monk who lived in the 1800's. His life and teachings continue to inspire believers around the world. Born Youssef Antoun Makhlouf in 1828 (and venerated as Saint Charbel) in a small village called Bekaa Kafra. Charbel grew up in a humble family and was deeply devoted to his faith from a young age. He later entered the Lebanese Maronite Order, where he dedicated his life to prayer, asceticism, and the pursuit of spiritual perfection. Saint Charbel became renowned for his holiness and his mastery of the contemplative life. His disciplined lifestyle and profound humility became a model for other monks and clergy seeking to deepen their spiritual journey. One of the most remarkable aspects of Saint Charbel's life was his commitment to silence and solitude. He spent several years living as a hermit in a small room adjacent