Sharbelogy-11 Saint Sharbel From his Contemporaries To our Era Prepared by: Father Hanna Skandar Published by: Our Lady of Fortress-Menjez-Akkar Tel: 06/855351 Web: www. saint-charbel.com & www. menjez.com E-mail: [email protected] Lebanon - 2009 Sharbel ... Crazy by God Sharbel crazy by God! Yes! Because he heard the word of Christ and lived it literally ... Christ said: He who loves his father, his mother, his brothers and sisters more than me, he doesn't deserve to be my disciple... Sharbel, therefore, considered that Christ is the beloved one, so he was attracted to Him, and he became crazy by Him ... until the end... If only we take seriously the word of Christ in our lives ... changing our lives radically for the better and thus taking part to improve the lives of our society, so that its people live the moral values, and the spirit of Christianity literally and with accuracy. Thus we contribute to building a better society, and God remains always our only goal. 05/01/2007 Bishop George Abou Jaoude Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli. Introduction This book is a popular version, without footnotes to facilitate the understanding to the reader. I have mentioned the name of the witness only when the speaker talks in the first-person. If you wish to identify the source of the information, you have either to read the book of: “Saint Sharbel ... as his contemporaries witnessed "-Sharbelogy-7 - To be found in the libraries, or obtained on the Internet in our website www.saint-Charbel.com. We have kept some explanations, to clarify some of the information that needed to be explained. Feast of Saint Sharbel, 07/19/2009 Our Lady of the Fortress- Menjez-Akkar Father Hanna Skandar Chapter I: The first journey First: Youssef Anton, in Bkaakafra 1 – A Holy Family His father is Antoun Zaarour “Abu Hanna" from Bkaakafra, and his mother Brigitta Elias Yaakoub Al-Shediak from Becharre. He had two brothers: Hanna and Beshara, and two sisters: Kaoneh and Wardeh, he was the youngest. The origin name of Fr. Sharbel was Youssef; he changed it when he entered the Order. His father was a simple farmer like the majority people in his village; he was living from the cultivation of his properties, while his mother took care of the house chores. His parents were pious and righteous; they were interested in raising their children due the true Christian education. 2 - The death of the father during forced labor At that time, the army of the prince of Lebanon Emir Beshir Shehab was making use of the owners of pack animals, to transfer to Beit Eddin the crops of the prince, including all kinds of grains. In the harvest season of the year 1832 Anton Zaarour had a beast for burden, he was working in the region of Mejdlaya (a town between Zgharta and Tripoli).There, he was restrained for forced labor. He carried on his donkey a crop from Mejdlaya to Jbeil to be sent after that to Beit Eddin. In his coming back from Jbeil to Bekaakafra, he reached Gharfine where he got ill then died and got buried. So on August 8, 1831, Antoun Zaarouz gave up his last breath in Gharfine located in the region of Jbeil due to forced labor. His widow took care of the children with the help of his brother Tannous Zaarouz. 3 – The birth and the Baptism of Sharbel The House of St Sharbel's maternal grandfather, where he was born, is still in Khaldiyeh; it was renovated and converted into a church. They said that Brigitte used to come to Khaldiyeh in winter with her family and their cattle, to escape the cold and poverty. She helped her parents during the olive harvest and stayed there for four months. Youssef (St. Sharbel) was born there in the winter of 1833, after few months of the death of his father (1). He got baptized in the ancient church of Our Lady of Khaldiheh, or in the church of Our Lady of Bkaakafra. (.1-- for three reasons: - The mother still young, she gave birth after her second marriage for two kids: Tannous on September 8, 1834 ... and Noah on July 3, 1837. - Youssef is the last child, from her first marriage, and more likely that the mother was pregnant before the death of his father. - The priest must have with him when he entered the Order, a certificate attesting to his birth, baptism, and confirmation... So the calendar of Annaya which recorded that he was 20 years old in 1853 is more logical. ) 4-The remarriage of his mother Brigitta married Lahoud Georges Ibrahim, in the month of October, 1833. Then she moved with him, to Shlifa and Btedii where he owned some lands. Around the year 1850, Lahoud ordained a priest, and called Fr. Abdel-Ahad. He did not serve in Bkaakafra, but in the region of Baalbek, and he died on the year 1853. 5 -An orphan under the uncle guardianship Youssef lived as an orphan. His uncle Tannous raised him with his siblings. The children remained in the house after the remarriage of their mother. Brigitta was overlooking them from time to time. They looked after each other, under the supervision of their uncle Tannous, and their distant relatives. 6-The monastery school of St. Hawshab Youssef learned to read and write, according to the custom of those days, by the priests of the village, in the monastery of St. Hawshab, the village school at that time. He was carrying a prayer book always in his hands. He had a good character and cared for his brothers. Youssef grew up with age, knowledge, piety and righteousness. He was a good example, in word and deed, among the children of his village. He prayed a lot, and often went to confession and Holy Communion. 7 - Joke among the disaster Youssef was smart and intelligent; sometimes inclined to joke; he had many jokes, of course in the context of politeness. It was raining on Monday, October 12, 1842 [2]. Rain was abundant, followed by a torrent which rushed to Shaghoura in Becharre, close to the "Cedars of God". He described the scene in a popular poem, and recited it in the village school, where he was learning to read and write with other friends: A small flood has started in "Toum Elmezrab"(3) and then went down to Shaghoura The Arabs in "Daher El-Qadib" said; "The relief that comes from God is near" This is a great opportunity for the wolf; to attack a sheep or a lamb The residents of Becharre first said: we could make a visit This is a cloud that does not last; a passing cloud; When it reached Becharre the people got confused Let's bring our shovels to close the gaps This torrent raked the valley and left no standing wall People were screaming and calling, what a wonderful scene! When it arrived to Hadchit it took the greater fame and glory The walls collapsed, the largest buildings were demolished Then it reached Qanoubine , pouring right and pouring left The residents got troubled, and hid themselves in the dens In the Valley of Faradice it redoubled its efforts and became stronger People carried the image of the Saint and said: deliver us O Saint! The inhabitants of Bqarqacha, these gazelles, all lost Sleiman Youssef Hanna, the crooked teeth, projected in the pit In the pit he covered it and called his uncle Sarkis He came to dust off his gown, instead he ripped it down As for the inhabitants of Bqaakfra their appearance turned pale When they decided to move they used boats not beasts The residents of Hasroun and Bazoun were afraid of the stream They said, let's cut branches and shrubs to fill the slots Then it reached Hadad and Qnat, a farmer-member died Hanging on a mulberry tree, in the garden of Hantoura The owners of the mill, "Shahla ", fled in terror; The miller took it slightly, and then of fear he filled the pit. The owners of the mill, "Blatt "exclaimed "Bring us the mud to coat, and clay the cracks. When it arrived to Joura O God, what a scene! the largest trees in that grounds, was carried to "AlKura". At "Tourza" it came with force, all the trees bent, "O people! What can we do, we have never seen such a scene!" At Raskifa, the inhabitants, were sick of life The flood carried away the soil, and opened hundred graves. At Kosba, it grew stronger and became more violent, It uprooted all the trees with unimaginable force. In Bsarma, a torrent, of overwhelming pride Didn’t spare a hand-less jar, or strainer or small jar. At Kfarquahel (5), the people were traitors and deserved it The strongest walls collapsed and left no more traces. When it arrived to "Dahr ElAain" it raked both sides They said: "the bad luck strikes us, the sign is clear enough." At "Abu Ali" the waves rose, higher and higher Some people were killed, and others abandoned their houses. When it reached El-Mina, it raged and roared more Flowing from right and left, the punishment of God was visible. The sea water became muddy; the high tides exceeded any expectation If it lasted a little longer, it would spare no boat. ( 2- The eyewitness ,Salim Khairalah, described the flood: At 3:00pm the river of "Abu-Ali"overflowed and the water covered the bridge; devastated the iron gate (Bab Al Hadid), Al-Suwaïqa, the Slaughterhouse, the "Haraj" market, Al-Milaha, and attacked with rage the Christian quarter.