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Never Tire of Trying
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Rich
Jul 24, 2023, 5:21:08 AM7/24/23
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Never Tire of Trying
"Be assured that you can never be perfect in this world unless you realize that it is impossible for you to be perfect here. Therefore, your aim in life should be as follows.
Always try your best in doing what you have to do, so that you may reach perfection. Never get tired of trying, because there is always room for improvement."
--St. Augustine--Commentary on Psalm 33, 14
Prayer: How do I seek you, O Lord? For when I seek you, it is happiness I seek. Let me seek you that my soul may live; as my body lives by my soul, so my soul lives by you.
--St. Augustine--Confessions 10, 20
<<>><<>><<>>
July 24th - Saint Charbel Makhlouf, "Wonderworker of the East"
(also known as Sharbel )
Saint Charbel Makhlouf “Hermit of Lebanon,” Maronite Catholic monk,
and “Wonderworker of the East.” Pope Paul VI said of him, “a hermit of
the Lebanese mountain is inscribed in the number of the blessed, a new
eminent member of monastic sanctity is enriching, by his example and
his intercession, 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..."
Youssef Makhlouf was born in 1828 in Bika’Kafra, the highest village
of Lebanon, near the grove of the still-conserved famous cedars of
Lebanon. He was the youngest of 5 children born to a pious mother, who
lived the life of a religious within their home. Youssef worked as a
shepherd in the fields for most of his childhood, especially following
the death of his equally pious father. Following his father’s death,
the family was supported by a kind and generous uncle. Youseff was
profoundly affected by the example of his two other maternal uncles,
who were both monks of the Maronite Lebanese Order. These monks lived
in a hermitage approximately 3 miles away, and young Youssef would
often visit them--first with his mother, and late on his own. They
would tell him repeatedly: “All here below is nothing, the world is
vanity, life is short. The true beauty is God, near Him there is true
happiness. Wisdom is to not find oneself with empty hands at the
supreme hour.”
Youssef grew in maturity and piety. He spent hours each day praying
and reading Holy Scriptures and Christian literature. His favorite
book was Thomas a Kempis's “The Imitation of Christ,” which he began
in earnest attempting to follow. Youssef served Mass every morning,
and in that function, on the alter, he discovered the true purpose of
his existence: to be, like his Savior, a victim to be offered, with
Christ, to His Father.
At the age of 23, Youssef left home one morning without warning, and
walked to the monastery of the Maronite Order. There, he entered the
order, with the support of his mother, and received the habit only one
week later. He chose the name of Saint Charbel, a martyr of the church
of Antioch. At the monastery of Annaya, Charbel served his community
for two years, as a novice. He was then sent to prepare for ordination
to the priesthood at Saint Cyprian of Kfifan. Six years later, at the
age of 31, he was ordained. For 16 years her served the members of his
congregation and community, a model of Christian humility, obedience,
patience, and love. He dedicated himself totally to Christ to live,
work and pray in silence
At 47, he returned to the hermitage near Annaya, where he would remain
until his death. There, he lived a life of contemplation, penance, and
mortification. During the extreme cold of the winters, he refused to
put on additional clothes, shivering through his prayers in simple
robes. Following his death, the monks who trembled with cold during
the night when they kept vigil at his coffin before his funeral, said:
“See how we find ourselves unable to endure for a single night, the
rude cold of this chapel! How could this priest live here for 23
years, on his knees, like a statue before the altar, every night from
midnight until eleven in the morning, when he rose to say his Mass?
Blessed is he, for he undoubtedly receives at present his reward with
God!” Saint Charbel also gained a reputation for holiness, and despite
his wish to live in isolation, was much sought for counsel and
blessing. He had a great personal devotion to the Blessed Sacrament,
and was known to levitate during his prayers. He reportedly never
raised his eyes from the ground, his face shrouded by his cloak,
unless his gaze was fixed on the tabernacle during the Eucharist.
The week before Christmas, while Saint Charbel was offering Mass,
paralysis struck him suddenly as he elevated the Eucharist during the
consecration. For one week, he suffered in agony, repeating the prayer
he was unable to complete during the Mass: “O Father of truth, behold
Your Son, victim to please You; condescend to approve [this offering],
because for me He endured death, to give me life...”
On the evening of his funeral, his superior wrote: “Because of what he
will do after his death, I need not talk about his behavior.” A few
months later, a bright light was seen surrounding his tomb. The
superiors ordered the tomb to be opened, and they found his body
perfectly preserved, incorrupt (as it remains today). Scientific
experts and doctors have been unable to explain this phenomenon. Since
his death, thousands of miracles have been attributed to his
intercession, giving him the title “Wonderworker of the East.” Sick
and infirm people of every religion and nationality have been healed:
deaf, dumb, blind, paralytic, those with cancer, mental illness, and
many others. God worked these wonders either when people touched the
body of the holy saint, were anointed with the oily liquid that sweats
miraculously from his precious remains, or when they touched cloth
soaked with this liquid or which had belonged to him.
At the closing of the Vatican II in 1965, Charbel was beatified by
Pope Paul VI who said: "Great is the gladness in heaven and earth
today for the beatification of Sharbel Makhlouf, monk and hermit of
the Lebanese Maronite Order. Great is the joy of the East and West for
this son of Lebanon, admirable flower of sanctity blooming on the stem
of the ancient monastic traditions of the East, and venerated today by
the Church of Rome.”
Bishop Zayek wrote: “Saint Charbel is called the 2nd Saint Anthony of
the Desert, the Perfume of Lebanon…Charbel is like a Cedar of Lebanon
standing in eternal prayer, on top of a mountain.” Saint Charbel lived
a life of silence, mortification, deprivation and total gift of self,
concentrating fully and completely on Christ. We might take a lesson
from his simple acts of sacrifice and service, looking to our Savior
with the same love, devotion, obedience, and longing exhibited by
Saint Charbel.
--by Jacob
Quote:
Why do we talk and gossip so continually, seeing that we so rarely
resume our silence without some hurt done to our conscience? ...
Devout conversation on spiritual things helpeth not a little to
spiritual progress, most of all where those of kindred mind and spirit
find their ground of fellowship in God.
--Thomas à Kempis, Of the Imitation of Christ
Bible Quote
And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer
persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)
<><><><>
A beautiful ode to Saint Charbel, written by J. Michael Thompson:
The mountain heights of Lebanon
Resound with songs of joy;
The cedars of that ancient land
Stand tall as we employ
Our hymns of praise and thankfulness
For Sharbel's saintly ways,
Lived out in strict humility
That guided all his days.
True monk and hermit of the hills,
Saint Maron's modest son
Scorned wealth and comfort in his life
That heaven's crown be won.
Of Mary, heaven's Queen and Gate,
Devoted son was he,
Who cherished all the ancient rites
With great humility.
Fierce lover of the lowly life,
True father of the poor,
As you have done, so help us all
To struggle and endure,
That Christ be praised in ev'ry life,
That riches not ensnare
Or rule us in our daily walk;
That strong may be our prayer!
O Father, Son, and Spirit blest,
One God in persons three,
Receive this hymn we offer now,
And keep your Church e'er free
To follow, as Saint Sharbel did,
Enflamed with love so bright
That we, with eyes fixed firm on Christ,
May vanquish sin's dark night.
"Be assured that you can never be perfect in this world unless you realize that it is impossible for you to be perfect here. Therefore, your aim in life should be as follows.
Always try your best in doing what you have to do, so that you may reach perfection. Never get tired of trying, because there is always room for improvement."
--St. Augustine--Commentary on Psalm 33, 14
Prayer: How do I seek you, O Lord? For when I seek you, it is happiness I seek. Let me seek you that my soul may live; as my body lives by my soul, so my soul lives by you.
--St. Augustine--Confessions 10, 20
<<>><<>><<>>
July 24th - Saint Charbel Makhlouf, "Wonderworker of the East"
(also known as Sharbel )
Saint Charbel Makhlouf “Hermit of Lebanon,” Maronite Catholic monk,
and “Wonderworker of the East.” Pope Paul VI said of him, “a hermit of
the Lebanese mountain is inscribed in the number of the blessed, a new
eminent member of monastic sanctity is enriching, by his example and
his intercession, 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..."
Youssef Makhlouf was born in 1828 in Bika’Kafra, the highest village
of Lebanon, near the grove of the still-conserved famous cedars of
Lebanon. He was the youngest of 5 children born to a pious mother, who
lived the life of a religious within their home. Youssef worked as a
shepherd in the fields for most of his childhood, especially following
the death of his equally pious father. Following his father’s death,
the family was supported by a kind and generous uncle. Youseff was
profoundly affected by the example of his two other maternal uncles,
who were both monks of the Maronite Lebanese Order. These monks lived
in a hermitage approximately 3 miles away, and young Youssef would
often visit them--first with his mother, and late on his own. They
would tell him repeatedly: “All here below is nothing, the world is
vanity, life is short. The true beauty is God, near Him there is true
happiness. Wisdom is to not find oneself with empty hands at the
supreme hour.”
Youssef grew in maturity and piety. He spent hours each day praying
and reading Holy Scriptures and Christian literature. His favorite
book was Thomas a Kempis's “The Imitation of Christ,” which he began
in earnest attempting to follow. Youssef served Mass every morning,
and in that function, on the alter, he discovered the true purpose of
his existence: to be, like his Savior, a victim to be offered, with
Christ, to His Father.
At the age of 23, Youssef left home one morning without warning, and
walked to the monastery of the Maronite Order. There, he entered the
order, with the support of his mother, and received the habit only one
week later. He chose the name of Saint Charbel, a martyr of the church
of Antioch. At the monastery of Annaya, Charbel served his community
for two years, as a novice. He was then sent to prepare for ordination
to the priesthood at Saint Cyprian of Kfifan. Six years later, at the
age of 31, he was ordained. For 16 years her served the members of his
congregation and community, a model of Christian humility, obedience,
patience, and love. He dedicated himself totally to Christ to live,
work and pray in silence
At 47, he returned to the hermitage near Annaya, where he would remain
until his death. There, he lived a life of contemplation, penance, and
mortification. During the extreme cold of the winters, he refused to
put on additional clothes, shivering through his prayers in simple
robes. Following his death, the monks who trembled with cold during
the night when they kept vigil at his coffin before his funeral, said:
“See how we find ourselves unable to endure for a single night, the
rude cold of this chapel! How could this priest live here for 23
years, on his knees, like a statue before the altar, every night from
midnight until eleven in the morning, when he rose to say his Mass?
Blessed is he, for he undoubtedly receives at present his reward with
God!” Saint Charbel also gained a reputation for holiness, and despite
his wish to live in isolation, was much sought for counsel and
blessing. He had a great personal devotion to the Blessed Sacrament,
and was known to levitate during his prayers. He reportedly never
raised his eyes from the ground, his face shrouded by his cloak,
unless his gaze was fixed on the tabernacle during the Eucharist.
The week before Christmas, while Saint Charbel was offering Mass,
paralysis struck him suddenly as he elevated the Eucharist during the
consecration. For one week, he suffered in agony, repeating the prayer
he was unable to complete during the Mass: “O Father of truth, behold
Your Son, victim to please You; condescend to approve [this offering],
because for me He endured death, to give me life...”
On the evening of his funeral, his superior wrote: “Because of what he
will do after his death, I need not talk about his behavior.” A few
months later, a bright light was seen surrounding his tomb. The
superiors ordered the tomb to be opened, and they found his body
perfectly preserved, incorrupt (as it remains today). Scientific
experts and doctors have been unable to explain this phenomenon. Since
his death, thousands of miracles have been attributed to his
intercession, giving him the title “Wonderworker of the East.” Sick
and infirm people of every religion and nationality have been healed:
deaf, dumb, blind, paralytic, those with cancer, mental illness, and
many others. God worked these wonders either when people touched the
body of the holy saint, were anointed with the oily liquid that sweats
miraculously from his precious remains, or when they touched cloth
soaked with this liquid or which had belonged to him.
At the closing of the Vatican II in 1965, Charbel was beatified by
Pope Paul VI who said: "Great is the gladness in heaven and earth
today for the beatification of Sharbel Makhlouf, monk and hermit of
the Lebanese Maronite Order. Great is the joy of the East and West for
this son of Lebanon, admirable flower of sanctity blooming on the stem
of the ancient monastic traditions of the East, and venerated today by
the Church of Rome.”
Bishop Zayek wrote: “Saint Charbel is called the 2nd Saint Anthony of
the Desert, the Perfume of Lebanon…Charbel is like a Cedar of Lebanon
standing in eternal prayer, on top of a mountain.” Saint Charbel lived
a life of silence, mortification, deprivation and total gift of self,
concentrating fully and completely on Christ. We might take a lesson
from his simple acts of sacrifice and service, looking to our Savior
with the same love, devotion, obedience, and longing exhibited by
Saint Charbel.
--by Jacob
Quote:
Why do we talk and gossip so continually, seeing that we so rarely
resume our silence without some hurt done to our conscience? ...
Devout conversation on spiritual things helpeth not a little to
spiritual progress, most of all where those of kindred mind and spirit
find their ground of fellowship in God.
--Thomas à Kempis, Of the Imitation of Christ
Bible Quote
And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer
persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)
<><><><>
A beautiful ode to Saint Charbel, written by J. Michael Thompson:
The mountain heights of Lebanon
Resound with songs of joy;
The cedars of that ancient land
Stand tall as we employ
Our hymns of praise and thankfulness
For Sharbel's saintly ways,
Lived out in strict humility
That guided all his days.
True monk and hermit of the hills,
Saint Maron's modest son
Scorned wealth and comfort in his life
That heaven's crown be won.
Of Mary, heaven's Queen and Gate,
Devoted son was he,
Who cherished all the ancient rites
With great humility.
Fierce lover of the lowly life,
True father of the poor,
As you have done, so help us all
To struggle and endure,
That Christ be praised in ev'ry life,
That riches not ensnare
Or rule us in our daily walk;
That strong may be our prayer!
O Father, Son, and Spirit blest,
One God in persons three,
Receive this hymn we offer now,
And keep your Church e'er free
To follow, as Saint Sharbel did,
Enflamed with love so bright
That we, with eyes fixed firm on Christ,
May vanquish sin's dark night.
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