Today the Church honors Saint Sharbel Makhlouf, a nineteenth-century Maronite monk and priest from Lebanon, known for his deep silence, ascetic life, and powerful intercessory prayer. Born in 1828, Sharbel spent the last 23 years of his life as a hermit, embracing solitude to draw closer to God. After his death in 1898, miracles of healing were reported through his intercession — so many that he became known as the “Miracle Monk of Lebanon.” Saint Sharbel reminds us that holiness can flourish in silence and hiddenness. In a world filled with noise, his life challenges us to make space for God’s voice.
Reflection: John Paul II often said that the Church has two lungs — East and West — and it must learn to breathe using both of them. Remembering saints like Sharbel helps the Church to appreciate both the diversity and unity present in the Catholic Church. Like all the saints, Sharbel points us to God and invites us to cooperate generously with God’s grace, no matter what our situation in life may be.
