St. Charbel Makhlouf, whose feast day is July 24, was born in Lebanon in 1828. He grew up with four siblings and spent much of his childhood tending the family farm. Attending school and working outdoors amidst the beauty of the Lebanese landscape inspired St. Charbel’s solitary, prayerful, quiet lifestyle. St. Charbel left home in his early twenties without telling anyone, leaving on foot for a pilgrimage to a monastery, where he became Brother Charbel. He took monastic vows and became ordained two years later. Living at the monastery for 19 years, St. Charbel valued manual labor, prayer, and contemplative silence. In 1875, he was granted permission to live as a solitary monk at a nearby hermitage. St. Charbel, known for his devotion to the Eucharist, passed away from a stroke while celebrating the Divine Liturgy on Christmas Eve, 1898. St. Charbel’s superiors distinctly noticed God’s supernatural powers at work in him, and to this day he is known for performing many miracles through God’s intercession, not only while alive, but also after his death. He is the patron saint of those suffering in body and soul.

Questions for Reflection:

• How often do you practice silence? Are there any practical ways you can invite more peace and contemplative silence into your everyday life?
• What are some aspects of St. Charbel’s life that surprise or inspire you?
• Have you ever gone on a silent retreat or intentionally unplugged for any length of time? If not, is there a time in the near future you can do so?