The Life of St. Charbel: Rooted in Love for the Mother of God

The life of Saint Charbel Makhlouf (May 8, 1828 – December 24, 1898), one of the greatest Catholic mystics and miracle workers of the last 500 years cannot be understood apart from his unconditional love for the Blessed Virgin Mary. From his childhood in Baakafra, Lebanon, devotion to the Mother of God was deeply rooted in his soul. As a child, Charbel would join his mother in prayer at the village church, where they honored the Virgin with hymns and litanies. Charbel's mother often reminded the young future saint of a simple yet powerful truth:

"Whoever venerates the Virgin cannot be lost."

This statement is absolutely true. The only sign the Catholic Church acknowledges as a sign of predestination to Heaven is praying the Rosary every day. Complete trust in the Mother of God to lead the soul perfectly and safely and gently into the arms of Jesus. Jesus came into the world through Mary. We in the world ascend to Jesus through Mary.

This very simple guidance formed the foundation of St. Charbel's spirituality and accompanied him throughout his priesthood and life as a hermit as his monastery. It was the seed which grew into the strongest cedar of Lebanon. He entrusted every difficulty, every suffering, and every prayer to her maternal intercession. St. Charbel's devotion to Mary was not only personal, but also a universal, a sure guidance for us all. When villagers visited St. Charbel seeking advice for the salvation of their souls, Charbel's answer was strikingly simple and always the same:

"If you desire to be saved easily, venerate the Virgin. She will save those who venerate Her."

I pass along the message of this great Saint to all of you: If you desire to be saved, venerate the Virgin. Offer all your prayers to Jesus by placing them in Her hands. She will then "magnify" them (See Luke 1:46), and give them all to Her Son. She is the surest path to Her Son.

She will save you if you pray the Rosary everyday.