Why Pray the St. Charbel Makhlouf Novena? Miracles, Devotion and Hope

July 15, 2026: There are moments in life when we simply run out of answers. A loved one receives a difficult medical diagnosis. Family relationships begin to fall apart. Anxiety steals our peace. Financial burdens seem overwhelming, and despite our prayers, nothing appears to change. In those moments, many Catholics find comfort in remembering that God never abandons His people. Sometimes, He also gives us holy men and women whose lives continue to strengthen our faith long after they have entered eternal life. One such saint is St. Charbel Makhlouf, affectionately known as the "Miracle Monk of Lebanon."

Jesus reminds us, “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). The life and intercession of St. Charbel have become a powerful witness to this truth.

A Hidden Life That Continues to Inspire the World

Born Youssef Antoun Makhlouf in 1828, St. Charbel chose a life of silence, prayer, severe fasting, and complete devotion to the Holy Eucharist as a Maronite hermit. He spent his life seeking only God, living in humility and obscurity. He died on Christmas Eve in 1898, but what happened after his death astonished the world.

For 45 days after his burial in a muddy grave, villagers and monks witnessed a mysterious, brilliant light shining from his tomb. When his grave was opened four months later, his body was found completely intact and flexible, despite the heavy rain and mud. Even more remarkable, for over 65 years, his body exuded a unique, fragrant, reddish fluid—a mixture of blood and sweat—that became associated with extraordinary healings.

Today, the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya, Lebanon, has officially recorded over 33,000 miracles attributed to the intercession of St. Charbel.

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The Miracle That Renewed Faith Around the World

One of the most well-known miracles through St. Charbel's intercession is the healing of Nohad El Shami in 1993.

Nohad, a 55-year-old Lebanese mother of 12, suffered a massive stroke in January 1993. Doctors found that 80% of the arteries in the left side of her brain and 70% on the right side were completely blocked. She was left with severe hemiplegia, resulting in total paralysis of her left side. The medical verdict was clear: her condition was irreversible.

Her son brought blessed oil and soil from St. Charbel's tomb and gently applied them to her body. On the night of January 22, Nohad dreamed that two Maronite monks—St. Charbel and St. Maron—stood beside her bed. St. Charbel told her he was going to operate on her neck to relieve her pain while St. Maron held the pillow.

When she awoke, everything had changed. She could walk and move her body normally. Even more astonishing, she discovered two visible, bleeding surgical incisions on both sides of her neck.

St. Charbel gave her a message that continues to inspire millions: “I did the surgery to let people see and return to their faith. I ask you to visit my hermitage in Annaya on the 22nd of every month and attend Mass regularly for the rest of your life.” Nohad faithfully kept this promise for more than 30 years until her passing in May 2025. This miracle is also the reason why countless faithful around the world honour St. Charbel on the 22nd of every month.

Miracles That Continue Across the World

The intercession of St. Charbel continues to touch lives far beyond Lebanon.

In 1950, Iskandar Obeid, a blacksmith who had been blind in one eye for 13 years because of severe retinal damage, dreamed of St. Charbel and awoke with his sight completely restored. This miracle played an important role in the process leading to the saint's beatification.

In 2016, Dafne Gutierrez, a 30-year-old mother from Phoenix, Arizona, had been declared legally and irreversibly blind due to intracranial hypertension. After being blessed with a first-class relic of St. Charbel at her local Maronite parish, her vision was instantly restored to 20/20.

Why Pray the St. Charbel Novena?

The St. Charbel Novena is an invitation to place our trust completely in God through the prayers of a saint who devoted every moment of his life to Christ. Whether you are praying for healing, peace of mind, strength during trials, guidance, protection, or a deeper relationship with God, this nine-day journey encourages you to surrender every intention with faith.

More than asking for miracles, the novena is an opportunity to experience the spiritual renewal that St. Charbel himself desired. His message to Nohad was not only about healing but about helping people "return to their faith."

Click here to pray the novena.