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INTRODUCTION TO CURRENT EDITION The Call of the Desert THE HERMIT OF LEBANON, BLESSED SHARBEL PREFACE M. A. Assemani AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION Part I: His Life Part II: After Death OF FATHER SHARBEL Part I: In General Part II: In Particular ECHO FROM THE NEW WORLD SUPPLEMENTS: To the Second Edition To the Third Edition: Documents Papal Decrees Addresses Illustrations the East of EPILOGUE: Saint Sharbel's Message
CONTENTS FATHER SHARBEL's MYSTERIOUS PICTURE FATHER SHARBEL MAKHLOUF (1828-1898) CHAPTER I: BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY: CHAPTER II: MIRACLES FOR PRODIGIES Some Extraordinary Cures THE GLORIES OF THE BEATIFICATION: Fourth Edition: Text from A New Star
New introduction to the reprinting of Saint Sharbel by Chorbishop Eid Electronically we are more plugged-in and intercon- nected than ever before, and yet we are told that the sense ofloneliness is increasing all the same among the popu- lation. At first regard, this would seem to be a contradic- tion; but there is a difference between isolation and soli- tude. Isolation is a result of a wounded and fragmented world. Solitude flourishes when life i
the Chal-
the more for it. Whether exposed in the open without
shelter, or living on pillars, or similar forms of penance,
dom of God to the peoples of the Syrian plains and even
Bedouin tribes evangelized by the ascetics loved them all
these ascetics preached the Good Tidings of the King-
the orthodoxy of Within this tradition, the ascetic and the hermit have
into the mountains of the Lebanon. When Saint Maron, who was a contemporary, friend and correspondent with Saint John Chrysostom, died around the year 410 AD, there was a following of men and women who continued his holy path through imita- tion. They had been well formed by both the ascetic and sacerdotal attributes of their master-their abba, or ra- ban. They proved themselves passionately orthodox to the message of the Gospel t
cation of the hermit. The providential canonization of
tury should be the occasion for us to call to mind and
Saint Sharbel is more than a miracle-worker, although he
is certainly that, he is part of the very fabric of what it
ing of the Kingdom-each has been present at the very
per-connectivity we are at risk of losing this Christian
re-evaluate this Catholic vision of consecrated solitude.
heart of the Church. Sadly, in this day of technical hy-
the preach- His saints; glory 1
Saint Sharbel in the second-half of the twentieth cen-
and evangelical vision of the fruitful and necessary vo-
vowed celibate-from the commencement of
means to be Maronite Catholic. Praise, thanksgiving, glory, honor and exaltation to the One Holy Father Who dwells in the souls of those who fear Him; to the One Worshipful Son Who abides in the bones of to the One Holy Spirit Who weaves crowns of for His athletes .... Maronites are the spiritual descendants of Saint Ma- ron, Mor Maroun, and thus, as a Church, conceived in this inner quest for God. Perhaps one
cedon, established a monastery for them in the area of
Apamea/Hama. Nevertheless, by the end of the same
both patronage and martyrdom. Emperor Marcian in
ban. They proved themselves passionately orthodox to
They were defenders of the great Church Councils of the
the message of the Gospel that they continued to preach.
around the year 410 AD, there was a following of men
tion. They had been well formed by both the ascetic and
and correspondent with Saint John Chrysostom, died
the more for it. Whether exposed in the open without
fifth century: Ephesus and Chalcedon. They thus merited
When Saint Maron, who was a contemporary, friend
Bedouin tribes evangelized by the ascetics loved them all
shelter, or living on pillars, or similar forms of penance,
dom of God to the peoples of the Syrian plains and even
martyrdom was given to these mo- nastics through the hands of Emperor Anastasius, who burned the monastery that his predecessor had built and slaughtered the monks to the number of 350. This was the baptism of fire that distinguished the birth of the Catholic Maronites. Asceticism, intense orthodoxy and tenaciousness became the abiding qualities of their Within this tradition, the ascetic and th
these ascetics preached the Good Tidings of the King-
into the mountains of the Lebanon. and women who continued his holy path through imita- sacerdotal attributes of their master-their abba, or ra- 452 AD, following their defense of the orthodoxy of Chal- century, the crown of descendants. -
cation of the hermit. The providential canonization of
is certainly that, he is part of the very fabric of what it
tury should be the occasion for us to call to mind and
ing of the Kingdom-each has been present at the very
per-connectivity we are at risk of losing this Christian
re-evaluate this Catholic vision of consecrated solitude.
Saint Sharbel is more than a miracle-worker, although he
the preach- His saints; glory 1 . . . Saint Ma- asceticism were often
heart of the Church. Sadly, in this day of technical hy-
Saint Sharbel in the second-half of the twentieth cen-
and evangelical vision of the fruitful and necessary vo-
vowed celibate-from the commencement of
means to be Maronite Catholic. Praise, thanksgiving, glory, honor and exaltation to the One Holy Father Who dwells in the souls of those who fear Him; to the One Worshipful Son Who abides in the bones of to the One Holy Spirit Who weaves crowns of for His athletes . Maronites are the spiritual descendants of ron, Mor Maroun, and thus, as a Church, conceived in this inner quest for God. Perhaps one could even go
the English
reprint for speaking world the little book on Saint Sharbel by Chor- bishop Joseph Eid. He was vice-postulator for the cause of Sharbel's beatification in 1965, and as such was in an excellent position to lay out an authoritative overview of the saintly priest/ hermit. As the memory of Monsignor Eid is still alive among many here at Saint Anthony of the Desert (the parish that Chorbishop Eid generously it also has been the desire to honor th
Thus, it seemed good to pastored over decades) this ancient, yet ever new path. eternally in the "stole of glory." lasting peace be granted them in the Kingdom. Rev. Fr. James H. Doran Saint Anthony of Fall River, Massachusetts November 21, 2016 Entrance of the Virgin Mary into the Temple
also a special grace for the Moreover, consecrated solitude is a beneficial path The centuries-long venerated Qadisha Valley, with individual men and women seeking the
Saint Sharbel is Maronites themselves as a reminder of their heritage, their historic glory and their ideals. Surely, in a Church that has embodied an ascetic movement, finding its ori- gin in a Syrian ascetic-himself both priest and athlete of Christ-we should continue to venerate the conse- crated goal of solitude in and for Christ, and this in turn should inspire greater fidelity to grace and prayer even in those not called to physical asce
foreseen. Word Incarnate. by generations of 2
the English the Desert." Its content is appro-
seemed good to reprint for speaking world the little book on Saint Sharbel by Chor- bishop Joseph Eid. He was vice-postulator for the cause of Sharbel's beatification in 1965, and as such was in an excellent position to lay out an authoritative overview of the saintly priest/ hermit. As the memory of Monsignor Eid is still alive among many here at Saint Anthony of the Desert (the parish that Chorbishop Eid generously pastored over decades)
Thus, it small work of is entitled, "The Call of this ancient, yet ever new path. eternally in the "stole of glory." Rev. Fr. James H. Doran Saint Anthony of Fall River, Massachusetts November 21, 2016
Saint Sharbel is also a special grace for the
should inspire greater fidelity to grace and prayer even in
gin in a Syrian ascetic-himself both priest and athlete
their historic glory and their ideals. Surely, in a Church
Maronites themselves as a reminder of their heritage,
crated goal of solitude in and for Christ, and this in turn
Moreover, consecrated solitude is a beneficial path
Church. This path joins the individual intimately to the
for both the individual ascetic and for the whole Catholic
life of divine grace, and the inner pursuit of grace, to be
whole Church, both Head and Body. There is only one
that has embodied an ascetic movement, finding its ori-
true, must be inspired and ultimately found only in the
The centuries-long venerated Qadisha Valley, with
individual men and women seeking the its sacred grottoes and caves in the Lebanon consecrated Good One in their fully human and "gracified" spiritual capacity as children of the Light, now has been made known to the whole world through the canonization of Saint Sharbel. This invitation to seek God is sacred Leb- anon's answer to remedy modern loneliness: human life transformed by grace in depth and tra
of Christ-we should continue to venerate the conse-
those not called to physical ascetic solitude.
foreseen. Word Incarnate. by generations of our modern proclivity to superficiality. Saint Matthew 10: 39 2