Saint Charbel - Life |
|
Life of Saint Charbel |
| ||||||||||
Miracles Performed by Father Charbel Makhlouf Quelques mois après la mort de Père Charbel, des lumières éblouissantes apparaissaient autour de son tombeau. Son corps, qui continuait à suer de la sueur et du sang, fut déposé dans un nouveau cercueil. Beaucoup de pélerins venaient implorer sa protection. On dénombre alors bien des guérisons physiques et des grâces spirituelles. En 1925, s’ouvrit le procès de sa canonisation. En 1950, le tombeau du Père Charbel fut ouvert en présence d’un comité officiel et de médecins qui ont procédé à la verification de l’intégrité du corps. Dès l’ouverture du tombeau, les guérisons de toutes sortes se vent multipliées d’une manière subite et inaccoutumée. De toutes les régions du Liban les pélerins de toutes confessions venaient implorer le “Saint” Charbel. Bientôt, les miracles dépassaient les frontières. Des milliers de correspondances et de témoignages conservés dans les archives d’Annaya restent les meilleurs témoins de la propagation de sa sainteté. Ce phénomène exceptionnel a été la cause immédiate de plusieurs conversions et d’une grande revification des vertus dans les coeurs des fidèles. Le si pauvre tombeau est devenu le pôle d’attraction qui attirait vers lui les gens de tout âge et de toute classe, rassemblés devant le “Saint” sans distinction de religion ni de condition. Ils sont tous là, fils de Dieu. During his life, Father Nimatullah performed many miracles due to his deep spirituality, his high virtues and his radiant soul that became united to its Creator through prayer. "The Saint of Kfifan" had the charism of prophesy and hence became known as "a man of vision." On one occasion when he was teaching his students and facing a large wall outside the monastery of Kfifan, he had a sense that the wall was suddenly going to fall. Thereupon, he asked his students to move away just before the wall fell down, sparing all present from injury. On another occasion, Father Nimatullah was divinely made aware that the barn where the cows of the monastery of Kfifan were kept was going to collapse on them (cows were then considered to be vital assets of the monastery). Father Nimatullah asked the monk in charge to change the place of the cows. At first the monk hesitated, but Father Nimatullah insisted and urged him to do so. After the cows were removed the roof of the barn collapsed and then none of the cows were lost. Healing of the Altar-boy On another occasion, Father Nimatullah wanted to celebrate his daily mass but his usual altar-boy did not arrive to church on time. Father Nimatullah then went to the boy's room and asked him to get up and serve mass. The altar boy was not able to because he had a high fever. Father Nimatullah then requested the boy to stand up, whereupon he ordered the malady to "Leave him..." Immediately, the boy was cured and he went and served Father Nimatullah's mass with joy and liveliness. Provisions Box Father Nimatullah once prayed over and blessed the provisions' box (which contained wheat and other foodstuffs) at the monastery of El-Kattara which was very short. After a little while the box was filled and spilled over. Everyone was stunned and praised God at what they saw. While still alive his fellow monks and the ordinary people who knew him
considered Father Nimatullah to be a saint. Often they would come asking
him to pray for them and even bless water to be used on their land and for
their livestock. His presence always imposed a special respect, reverence
and solemnity. Sister Marie Abel Qamari of the Saints Coeurs Congregation On May 2, 1996, His Excellency Bishop Khalil Abi-Nader, retired Bishop of the Maronite Diocese of Beirut, obtained the permission of His Beatitude Nasrallah Boutros Cardinal Sfeir to start the investigation of the miracle of Andre Najm. On September 26, 1996 the Congregation for the Causes of Saints began to study the miracle. On February 27, 1997 the five member medical team unanimously voted to accept the miraculous cure of Andre Najm, and on May 9, 1997, the seven member theological team also voted unanimously to accept the miracle. On July 1, 1997 the General Assembly of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, which includes twenty-four cardinals, accepted the miracle. On July 7, 1997, and in the presence of the Holy Father Pope John Paul II, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints published a decree of accepting the miracle attributed to the intercession of the servant of God, Fr. Al-Hardini. Nimutallah al-Hardini's Beatification by Pope John Paul II was held at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome on Sunday May 10, 1998. The Maronite Church celebrates his feast day on the 14th of December. The People These are a few examples of Father Nimatullah's astonishing miracles.
Father Nimatullah's life was a miracle in itself. However, the greatest
miracles performed by Father Nimatullah are the many people who have
returned back to God because of his intercession and his way of life. This
is especially so of many Monks who, realising the full depth and richness
of Father Nimatullah's example, have determined to walk on the same path
of loyalty to their Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved. Chronological Time Chart on the Road to Saint
|
|