Monthly Readings

PITH Press

June 2008 Readings

St. Sharbel Makhluf

July 24th

At the age of 23, he joined the Monastery of St. Maron at Annaya, Lebanon, and took the name 'Sharbel ' in honor of a second-century martyr. He professed his final vows in 1853 and was ordained six years later. Following the example of the fifth-century St. Maron, Sharbel lived as a hermit from 1875 until his death. His reputation for holiness prompted people to seek him to receive a blessing and to be remembered in his prayers. He followed a strict fast and was very devoted to the Blessed Sacrament. When his superiors occasionally asked him to administer the sacraments to nearby villages, Sharbel did so gladly.

On December 16, 1898, Sharbel was struck with an illness while celebrating the Holy Mass. He died on the Christmas Eve of 1898, and was buried in the St. Maron Monastery cemetery in Annaya. A few months later, dazzling lights were seen around the grave. From there, his corpse, which had been secreting sweat and blood, was transferred to a special coffin. Hordes of pilgrims started swarming to the place to obtain his intercession.

In 1925, his beatification was proposed for declaration by Pope Pius XI. In 1950, the grave was opened in the presence of an official committee which included doctors, who verified the soundness of the body. The variety of healing incidents multiplied. A multitude of pilgrims of different religions started flocking to the Monastery seeking the saint's intercession. Several post-mortem miracles are attributed him, including periods in 1927 and 1950 when a bloody "sweat" flowed from his corpse, soaking his vestments. His tomb has become a place of pilgrimage for Lebanese and non-Lebanese, Christian and non-Christian alike.

In 1954, Pope Pius XII signed a decree accepting a proposal for the beatification of the hermit. On December 5, 1965, Pope Paul VI officiated at the ceremony of the beatification of during the closing of the Vatican II. In 1976, Pope Paul VI canonized St. Sharbel.

July

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20	21	22	23	24	25	26
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Greetings from Tijuana!

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These past few months have been very difficult for us. I understand that the economy of the US is strained, but please don't abandon us. We really need you! We will be having another raffle... this time to Guadalajara, Mexico. Hopefully, you will participate. We really need your help right now.

GREAT NEWS! Joining us at La Encarnación parish is Fr. John Jensen, as an auxiliary pastor and a brand new priest, Fr. Omar Aguirre. This brings to four the number of priests serving this enormous area of Tijuana. Four Missionary Servants of the Word, three Samaritan Sisters and three Disciples of Jesus, an army of committed laity and all of you, our dedicated Readers... how can we not turn all these people of the Cañada Verde into saints?!

All we need is prayer, study, healthy work and your financial support!

I have so many dreams! I want to build a house for AIDS patients -- the untold/unrecognized plague of Tijuana. A house for the elderly who can no longer care for themselves. Another school for all the youth who have not had the opportunity of basic studies... we've got to get these kids out of this stifling poverty! Dream with me. Help make it a reality! We need you!

~Fr. Jeffrey David