Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay - Homily The words of St Paul were fulfilled in him: "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." St Charbel’s Feast Day Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay Homily Sunday 15 July 2018 Dearly Beloved, It is my greatest joy to be with you on this day celebrating the feast of the patron of this Parish and my personal patron, St Charbel, this man of prayers virtues and holy silence. Born in Bekaakafra, Charbel lived there until the age of 23. He was characterized by true Christian values that manifested in his words and actions. From a young age, he showed a desire to live in isolation and engage in a deep dialogue with God through meditation and prayer, searching for his life’s purpose. The people of Bekaakafra used to call him the Saint and the grotto where he used to pray is still called the Grotto of the Saint, مغارة القديس to this day. Throughout his monastic life, in Annaya and Kfifane, Charbel Makhlouf became a new man and an ideal monk, an example for all other monks. He offered himself fully and completely to God. Charbel’s dedication to God reached its climax through the priesthood. Like Christ, he was a priest and a sacrifice. His Mass was a sacrifice with Christ, his receiving of the body and blood of the Lord an act of devotion, service and giving. Celebrating his daily mass and living it became the goal and focal point of his monastic life. He spent sixteen years of his priesthood at the monastery of St. Maroun Annaya, before moving to the hermitage where he lived for twenty-three years. In his hermitage, he strived to live in total union with Christ, the priest and the sacrifice. The words of St Paul were fulfilled in him: "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." (Galatians 2:20). And although he was living as a hermit, Charbel gave a new dimension to evangelisation and missionary work. Holy Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament were at the centre of his life contemplating God's love for us in Jesus Christ. But prayer and adoration did not distance Charbel from his brothers in the monastic life or in humanity. On the contrary, in the solitude of his hermitage in Annaya and in his daily prayers, he carried the concerns of his people, his church, and his home country. Although he chose to live an ascetic life away from the hustle of the world, many blessings and graces were received through his prayers and deeds. 
During the celebration of St Charbel’s Feast Day Dearly Beloved, Do we yearn for the Eucharist as much as Charbel did? Do we approach it with reverence and joy? Do we truly unite ourselves to our Lord every time we receive His body and blood? Saint Charbel was man of silence, but a man of actions. We do not have many words or books from this Saint but his life, his devotion to the Eucharist and his service are a perfect example for all of us. (See more information in Arabic section) 
During the celebration of St Charbel’s Feast Day 
During the celebration of St Charbel’s Feast Day
During the celebration of St Charbel’s Feast Day
During the celebration of St Charbel’s Feast Day
During the celebration of St Charbel’s Feast Day |
