Saint Sharbel From His Era To Ours Father Hanna Skandar Copyright 2013© H.N.C. Hawks Network Corporation All rights reserved to H.N.C. and protected by the Lebanese and International Laws. No part of the contents of this book (texts, materials, pictures, animations, designs or otherwise) may be fully or partially reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means (copying, photocopying, publishing on CDs, on the Internet or otherwise) without the previous written permission of the publisher, H.N.C. PUBLISHER: H.N.C. - Hawks Network Corporation Lebanon - Metn - Bsalim/Antelias Main Road - Elias Bu-Habib Center Tel: 00961-4-724711, 00961-3-786897, 00961-70-908682 E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Website: www.hnclebanon.com Facebook: HNC Lebanon LinkedIn: H.N.C. Hawks Network Corporation 2017 Charbel-English2017.indd 1 5/25/17 2:41 PM The village school directed by a monk (1893) The village school directed by a cleric (1893) 2 Charbel-English2017.indd 2 5/25/17 2:41 PM Chárbel … Apasionado por Dios Sharbel – enamored with God! Yes! Because he heard the word of Christ, and lived it literally. Christ said, “Whoever loves father, mother, brothers and sisters more than me is not worthy to be my disciple.” Sharbel, therefore, who considered Christ to be his beloved, was captivated by Him and was enamored with Him until his last hour. If only we were to take seriously the words of Christ, our lives would radically change for the better, and in this way, we would strive to transform society so that people might live out the moral and spiritual principles of Christianity more truly and deeply. In so doing, we can contribute to building a more virtuous society where God is always our ultimate goal. Bishop George Abou Jaoude Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli January 5, 2007 “We permit printing this book” Abad Elías Khalifeh 3 Charbel-English2017.indd 3 5/25/17 2:41 PM A traditional Christian family (1893) Monks and novices in Kfifane Monastery ( July 1902) Children at their First Communion (1893) 4 Charbel-English2017.indd 4 5/25/17 2:41 PM CONTENTS Chapter I: THE FIRST JOURNEY ...... 11 3 – To Repent to God (Acts 20, 21) ........................ 24 A – Youssef Antoun: In Bekaa Kafra ������������������ 11 4 – My Food You Do Not Know (John 4, 32)......... 25 1 – A Holy Family ................................................... 11 5 – Young Man Arise! (Luke 7, 14) ........................ 25 2 – The Death of His Father on Corvée .................. 11 6 – Talitha Arise (Mark 5, 41) ................................. 25 3 – To Escape the Cold and Poverty ....................... 11 7 – Lazarus Is Dead! (John 11, 14) ......................... 25 4 – The Remarriage of His Mother ......................... 11 8 – The Shia Muslims Rushed (John 4, 39-42) ....... 27 5 – Motherless, and Under the Guardianship of C – Work and Prayer ............................................ 27 His Uncle .......................................................... 12 1 – Introduction ....................................................... 27 6 – The School of the Monastery of Saint Hawshab 2 – He Went to Church to Pray (Matthew 14, 23) .. 28 (Eusebius) ......................................................... 12 3 – He Remained Silent (Matthew 5, 11-12 & 41) . 28 7 – The ‘Fortress of the Saint’ and the Cow ........... 12 4 – He Makes the Sign of the Cross ........................ 29 8 – ‘The Saint’ and the Grotto ................................. 12 D - The Poverty of Sharbel (Mark 10, 21) .......... 29 B – Sharbel the Monk ........................................... 13 1 – Introduction ....................................................... 29 1 – Sharbel’s Two Uncles: On the Way to the 2 – Take This!.......................................................... 30 Monastic Life in the Monastery of Qozhaya ....13 3 – At Dawn ������������������������������������������������������������ 30 2 – In the Monastery of Our Lady of Mayfouk: 4 – Do Not Let Me See the Money (Mark 10, 23- Follow Me (Mark 2:14) .................................... 13 25) ..................................................................... 30 3 – He Did Not Look Back (Luke 9:62) ................. 13 E – The Clothing of Sharbel ��������������������������������� 30 4 – A Reckless Decision (Matthew 18: 8-9) ........... 13 1 – Introduction ....................................................... 30 5 – You Have the Words of Eternal Life (John 6, 2 – To Patch Them .................................................. 31 68) ..................................................................... 14 3 – Why Do You Neglect Yourself? ........................ 31 6 – My Burden is Light (Matthew 11, 30) .............. 14 F – His Mat, His Sleeping and the Furniture in 7 – We Will Meet Again in Heaven (Mark 3, 31- His Cell .............................................................32 35) ..................................................................... 14 1 – Introduction ....................................................... 32 8 – Elisha the Hermit: Sharbel’s Mentor and 2 – His Sleeping Mat ����������������������������������������������� 32 Teacher .............................................................. 15 3 – His Sleep Habits ................................................ 32 9 – Sharbel: Student of Saint Nimatullah Hardini .. 15 4 – Exhausted from Sleepiness (Mark 4, 38) .......... 32 10 – “Not to Be Served, But to Serve” (Mark 5 – The Woolen Pillow (Matthew 8, 20) ................. 33 10:45) ............................................................... 16 G – Sharbel’s Food ................................................ 33 11 – In the Monastery of Annaya ............................ 16 1 – Introduction ....................................................... 33 12 – The Miracle of 1865 ���������������������������������������� 16 2 – He Ate No Grapes and Drank No Water ........... 33 C – Sharbel the Hermit ����������������������������������������� 16 3 – To Visit the Holy Eucharist ...............................34 1 – The Establishment of Sharbel’s Hermitage ������� 16 4 – Bulgur with Margarine ...................................... 34 2 – Description of the Hermitage ............................17 5 – Two Days Without Food (Luke 4, 4 Mark 8, 2) 34 3 – The First Hermit at the Hermitage ...................17 6 – The Stems of Purslane and Parsley ������������������� 34 4 – Elisha Asked for Sharbel With the Audacity of 7 – Willingly ........................................................... 35 the Saints ...........................................................17 8 – Moved to Tears .................................................. 35 5 – Water in the Lamp (Matthew 25, 1-13) ............. 18 9 –The Provisions Abound (Mark 6, 30-44) ........... 35 6 – Servant of Elisha ..............................................19 H – The Contentment of Sharbel ......................... 35 7 – Give Him Something to Eat (Mark 5, 43) ......... 19 1 – Introduction ....................................................... 35 8 – Elisha Recommends Sharbel As His Successor 20 2 – O Superior General! .......................................... 36 9 – Servant of the Hermits (John 13, 14) ................ 20 3 – Look What Your Deacon Is Giving Me! ����������� 36 I – The Intelligence of Sharbel ............................. 36 Chapter II: THE EFFORTS OF LIFE 21 1 – Introduction ....................................................... 36 A - Portrait of Father Sharbel .............................. 21 2 – Ask, and You Will be Given (Matthew 7, 7) ..... 37 1 – Description �������������������������������������������������������� 21 3 – We Have No Thieves ���������������������������������������� 38 2 – His Daily Schedule ........................................... 21 J – The Library and the Education of Sharbel �� 38 3 – The Secret of the Existence of Lebanon ........... 22 1 – Introduction ....................................................... 38 B - Sharbel the Apostle (Mark 4, 18; Matthew 2 – Religious Discussions ....................................... 39 10) ..................................................................... 24 3 – Read This Chapter ��������������������������������������������� 39 1 – Definition ..........................................................24 4 – Professor in Theology .......................................41 2 – Healing the Sick (Matthew 10, 8) ..................... 24 5 – He Never Tired of Reading the Bible ............... 41 5 Charbel-English2017.indd 5 5/25/17 2:41 PM K – The Confession of Sharbel ............................ 42 10– Even Animals Will Pick Up Snakes with 1 – Introduction ....................................................... 42 Their Hands (Mark 16, 18) ������������������������������� 57 2 – A Wise Guide .................................................... 43 11– The Wolf Shall Be a Guest of The Lamb 3 – I Was Humbled by His Admonishment During (Isaiah 11, 6) ..................................................... 58 Confession ........................................................ 43 R – The Freedom of Sharbel and His Audacity .. 58 4 – He Met the Qualifications of the Confessor ..... 43 1 – Introduction ....................................................... 58 L – Servant for Everybody (Matthew 20, 28) ..... 44 2 – He Was Not Attached to Anything .................... 58 I – Introduction ....................................................... 44 3 – From Where Sin Can Enter Your Soul? ............ 59 2 – Stranger ............................................................