St Sharbel Makhluf
Born Youssef Antoun (Joseph Zaroun) Makhluf, May 8, 1828, in Beekaa Kafra, Lebanon. Beekaa Kafra means “Land of Fertility and Goodness”, it is the highest point in Lebanon and the Middle East at 1800 m, and in the same providence as Hadchit, Lebanon.
St. Sharbel, studied at a number of Monasteries, studying philosophy and theology at the Monastery for Saints Cypprian and Justina in Kfifan in preparation for Holy Orders. He was ordained six years later on July 23rd, 1859 in Bkerke. From there he was assigned to the St. Maron Monastery.
St. Sharbel subscribed to asceticism. He abstained from worldly pleasures to pursue a more spiritual goals. This lead to a life of a hermit monk, for which he was known. In 1875 St. Sharbel was assigned to the Hermitage of Saints Peter and Paul where he lived for the next 23 years as a solitary hermit. He died on Christmas Eve, 1898.
St. Sharbel was buried at St. Maron Monastery where it was reported that lights would be seen over his grave that lead to the exhumation of his body which was found in perfect condition even after having been buried without a coffin. Upon the discovery of St. Sharbel’s condition his body was cleaned, re-clothed, and placed in a wooden coffin to be for veneration and contemplation in a chapel at the Monastery. While in this state the saint’s body began to perspire a bloody sweat requiring his clothing to have to be changed twice a week. Pieces of the worn clothing were begun to be distributed as relics having healing effect. These events caused the pilgrimages of Christians and non-Christians alike to visit the Monastery. The St. Maron’s Monastery - Annaya records tens of thousands for healings by God through the intercession of St. Sharbel. Some were physical but many are spiritual from visiting the tomb and graveyard.Following a 1918 autopsy the body was left outside on display where it did not decompose, dry-out, or stop hemorrhaging the bloody perspiration. After the body had been studied by aphysician of the French Medical Institute the body was finally placed in a sealed coffin and buried in a wall of the oratory of the Monastery. In 1950 it was noticed that liquid was seeping from the corner of the tomb, flowing onto the floor. On April 22nd, 1950 the coffin was reopened so that the body was still in perfect condition, having no sign of rigidity, and that the body continued to perspired through-out all the garments which St. Sharbel had been buried the second time. Currently all that remains are the red colored bones of St. Sharbel remain and the perspiration has ceased.
The Pope said: “A hermit of Mount Lebanon is enrolled in the number of the blessed… a new eminent member of monastic sanctity has by his example and his intercession enriched the entire Christian people … may he make us understand, in a world largely fascinated by wealth and comfort, the paramount value of poverty, penance and asceticism, to liberate the soul in its ascent to God.”
He was canonized October 9th, 1977, by Pope Paul VI as Blessed Saint Sharbel Makhluf.
References: http://www.catholic.org. http://www.findagrave.com,
http://www.saintcharbel-annaya.com
Society Meetings
Men’s Society Meeting: Thursday November 5th 6:30 pm in the Lebanon Room
Ladies Society Meeting: Tuesday November 10th 7:00pm in the Lebanon Room (The Ladies meeting is the second week of November due to the visit of the relics)
The Ladies Society will be accepting nominations for all four officers (President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary). If you are interested in becoming an officer please talk to Denise Seifert, Teri Elking, Kathleen Wahby, or Gina Fanetti. The new officers will begin their term in January 2016.
FEAST OF SAINT RAYMOND CELEBRATION
Saturday, November 14th
John LeCuyer and Mary Cohen will be selling tickets after Sunday liturgies in the hall. You can also contact them via email John (jglecuyer@att.net) or Mary (mehlen@charter.net) to purchase tickets. The deadline to purchase tickets will be November 8th.
Subdeacon Candidate’s Corner
As part of our formation, one of the goal’s of our ministry is to help parishioners develop a greater understanding of our rich Maronite Catholic History and Heritage. In furtherance of that goal we will be adding a short explanation to each bulletin about some aspects of our faith. This time the information is about Saint Sharbel (Charbel) Makhluf (front page message). If you have questions about Catholic teachings, our Maronite traditions, or would like to suggest a topic, please email us or tell us the next time we see you.
Thank you and God Bless
Choir Christmas Concert
The date of the Christmas concert has been changed to Saturday December 5th at 6:30 pm in the church.
There will be cookies and drinks served after the concert in the Cedars Hall.
St. Teresa Academy and Assumption High School Class of 1975 (40th) Reunion
November 27, 2015 at 7 pm at the Elks Lodge, Fairview Heights
$27.50 per person includes dinner and dance
More information can be found on line at www.ahs1975reunion.com or contact Monica Rawley Threlkeld at 618-622-0111 or northtownbuild@gmail.com
KITCHEN’S Weekly Scoop
We will be
Making Tabouli Monday November 2nd @ 8:30 am
Rolling Grape Leaves Thursday November 12th @ 5pm and Sunday November 22nd @ 10:30am
Rolling Cabbage rolls mondays @ 8:00 am
Making Kibbi aras Tuesdays @ 8:00 am
Serving Wednesday luncheon @ 11 am-2pm
The kitchen welcomes all help and is willing to teach if you are interested in learning
