✞ One begins to really live, when he begins to be a victim.
I have a bad cold and am either lying in my armchair in the living room or in bed. I'm a bit groggy because of the asthma I've developed. St. Charbel's book “Charbel A Man Drunk with God” is on my bedside table. It becomes my reading material.
Dear prayer warriors handed me a letter with St. Charbel's rosary and prayers. I look at everything and think about whether this particular rosary prayer is necessary. Then I fall asleep in the living room and wake up with shortness of breath. My emergency pump is in the bedroom and I go there to use it. I am immediately overcome with fatigue. I lie down in my bed and immediately fall into a deep sleep. This is unusual, as I have slept earlier.
After a while, a hand with a black sleeve wakes me up and shakes me awake. The hand touches my right neck and shoulder area. I knew immediately that the hand belonged to St. Charbel.
He said: "Wake up! Wake up! Pray and spread this rosary and see that the prayers are translated well in your language."
Saint Charbel (or Sharbel) was a Maronite monk from Lebanon. He was born May 8, 1828, and died December 24, 1898. He was beatified December 5, 1965 and canonized October 9, 1977.
In the first centuries of Christianity, the Middle East was populated by monks and religious. The Maronite order in particular is know nor its love of the monastic life. Out of this tradition God raised up the humble monk Charbel as a light to the whole Church. Charbel is known for his fidelity to his vows, his love for the Eucharist, and his devotion to Our Blessed Mother.
Saint Charbel suffered a stroke while saying Mass the day before Christmas. He was reciting the prayer from the Maronite Mass, "Father of Truth". He continued to recite this prayer and to repeat over and over Jesus and Mary until he died several hours later.
After the death of Charbel, a light began to shine from his tomb attracting the local villagers. Miracles of healing began to take place. Four months after his death his body was exhumed and found to be incorrupt and floating in water. His body remained incorrupt, perspiring blood and liquid until the day of his beatification. Miracles are occurring through the intercession of Saint Charbel to this day.
The red beads are for the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, the virtues by which religious share in the Passion of Christ.
The white beads represent the Holy Eucharist, and the blue beads love and devotion to Our Blessed Mother.
On the first three red beads say the "Hail Mary" in honor of Saint Charbel's fidelity to the vow of poverty.
On the second set of red beads say the "Hail Mary" in honor of Saint Charbel's fidelity to the vow of chastity.
On the third set of red beads say the "Hail Mary" in honor of Saint Charbel's fidelity to the vow of obedience.
On the three white beads say the "Hail Mary" in honor of Saint Charbel's love for the Eucharist.
On the three blue beads say the "Hail Mary" in honor of Saint Charbel's devotion to Our Blessed Mother. Conclude with the prayer to obtain graces on the medal.
Lord, infinitely holy and glorified in Your saints, You have inspired Charbel, the saint monk, to lead the perfect life of a hermit. We thank You for granting him the blessing and the strength to detach himself from the world so that the heroism of the monastic virtues of poverty, chastity, and obedience might triumph in his hermitage. We beseech You to grant us the grace of loving and serving You, following his example. Almighty God, who have manifested the power of Saint Charbel's intercession through his countless miracles and favors, grant us this grace (here mention your intention) which we request from You through his intercession. Amen.