Prepared By: Father Hanna Skandar
Sharbelogy-11
Saint Sharbel
From his Contemporaries
To our Era
Prepared by: Father Hanna Skandar
Published by: Our Lady of Fortress-Menjez-Akkar
Tel: 06/855351
Web: www. saint-charbel.com
& www. menjez.com
E-mail:
Lebanon - 2009
Sharbel ... Crazy by God
Sharbel crazy by God! Yes! Because he heard the word of Christ and lived it literally ... Christ said: He who loves his father, his mother, his brothers
and sisters more than me, he doesn't deserve to be my disciple...
Sharbel, therefore, considered that Christ is the beloved one, so he was attracted to Him, and he became crazy by Him ... until the end...
If only we take seriously the word of Christ in our lives ... changing our lives radically for the better and thus taking part to improve the lives of our society, so that its people live the moral values, and the spirit of Christianity literally and with accuracy.
Thus we contribute to building a better society, and God remains always our onlygoal.
05/01/2007
Bishop George Abou Jaoude
Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli.
Introduction
This book is a popular version, without footnotes to facilitate the understanding to the reader. I have mentioned the name of the witness only when the speaker talks
in the first-person.
If you wish to identify the source of the information, you have either
to read the book of:
“Saint Sharbel ... as his contemporaries witnessed "-Sharbelogy-7
-To be found in the libraries, or obtainedon the Internet in our website
www.saint-Charbel.com.
We have kept some explanations, to clarifysome of the information that needed to be explained.
Feast of Saint Sharbel,07/19/2009
Our Lady of the Fortress- Menjez-Akkar
Father Hanna Skandar
Chapter I: The first journey
First: Youssef Anton, in Bkaakafra
1 – A Holy Family
His father is Antoun Zaarour “Abu Hanna" from Bkaakafra, and his mother Brigitta Elias Yaakoub Al-Shediak from Becharre. He had two brothers: Hanna and Beshara, and two sisters: Kaoneh and Wardeh, he was the youngest. The origin name of Fr. Sharbel was Youssef; he changed itwhen he entered the Order. His father was a simple farmer like the majority people in his village; he was living from the cultivation of his properties, while his mother took care of the house chores.His parents were pious and righteous; they were interested in raising their children due the true Christian education.
2 - The death of the father during forced labor
At that time, the army of the prince of Lebanon Emir Beshir Shehab was making use of the owners of pack animals, to transfer to Beit Eddin the crops of the prince, including all kinds of grains.
In the harvest season of the year 1832 Anton Zaarour had a beast for burden, he was working in the region of Mejdlaya (a town between Zgharta and Tripoli).There, he was restrained for forced labor. He carried on his donkey a crop from Mejdlaya to Jbeil to be sent after that to Beit Eddin. In his coming back from Jbeil to Bekaakafra, he reached Gharfine where he got ill then died and got buried. So on August 8, 1831, Antoun Zaarouz gave up his last breath in Gharfine located in the region of Jbeil due to forced labor. His widow took care of the children with the help of his brother Tannous Zaarouz.
3 – The birth and the Baptism ofSharbel
The House of St Sharbel's maternal grandfather, where he was born, is still in Khaldiyeh; it was renovated and converted into a church.
They said that Brigitte used to come to Khaldiyeh in winter with her familyand their cattle, to escape the cold and poverty. She helped her parents during the olive harvest and stayed there for four months. Youssef (St. Sharbel) was born there in the winter of 1833, after few months of the death of his father (1). He got baptized in the ancient church of Our Lady of Khaldiheh, or in the church of Our Lady of Bkaakafra.
(.1--for three reasons:
- The mother stillyoung, she gave birth after her second marriage for two kids: Tannous on September 8, 1834 ... and Noahon July 3, 1837.
- Youssef is the last child, from her first marriage, and more likely that the mother waspregnant before the death of his father.
- The priest must have with him when he entered the Order, a certificate attesting to his birth, baptism, and confirmation... So the calendar of Annaya which recorded that he was 20 years old in 1853 is more logical. )
4-The remarriage of his mother
Brigitta married Lahoud Georges Ibrahim, in the month of October, 1833. Then she moved with him, to Shlifa and Btedii where he owned some lands. Around the year 1850, Lahoud ordained a priest, and called Fr. Abdel-Ahad. He did not serve in Bkaakafra, but in the region of Baalbek, and he died on the year 1853.
5 -An orphan under the uncle guardianship
Youssef lived as an orphan. His uncle Tannous raised him with his siblings. The children remained in the house after the remarriage of their mother. Brigitta was overlooking them from time to time. They looked after each other, under the supervision of their uncle Tannous, and their distant relatives.
6-The monastery school of St. Hawshab
Youssef learned to read and write, according to the custom of those days, by the priests of the village, in the monastery of St. Hawshab, the village school at that time. He was carrying a prayer book always in his hands. He had a good character and cared for his brothers. Youssef grew up with age, knowledge, piety and righteousness. He was a good example, in word and deed, among the children of his village. He prayed a lot, and often went to confession and Holy Communion.
7 - Joke among the disaster
Youssef was smart and intelligent; sometimes inclined to joke; he had manyjokes,of course in the context of politeness.
It was raining on Monday, October 12, 1842 [2]. Rain was abundant, followed by a torrent which rushed to Shaghoura in Becharre, close to the "Cedars of God".He described the scene in a popular poem, and recited it in the village school, where he was learning to read and write with other friends:
A small flood has started in "Toum Elmezrab"(3)
and then went down to Shaghoura
The Arabs in "Daher El-Qadib" said;
"The relief that comes from God is near"
This is a great opportunity for the wolf;
to attack a sheep or a lamb
The residents of Becharre first said: we could make a visit
This is a cloudthat does not last; a passing cloud;
When it reached Becharre the people got confused
Let's bring our shovels to close the gaps
This torrent raked the valley and left no standing wall
People were screaming and calling, what a wonderful scene!
When it arrived to Hadchitit took the greater fame and glory
The walls collapsed, the largest buildings were demolished
Then it reached Qanoubine , pouring right and pouring left
The residents got troubled, and hid themselves in the dens
In the Valley of Faradice it redoubled its efforts and became stronger
People carried the image of the Saint and said: deliver us O Saint!
The inhabitants of Bqarqacha, these gazelles, all lost Sleiman
Youssef Hanna, the crooked teeth, projected in the pit
In the pit he covered it and called his uncle Sarkis
He came to dust off his gown, instead he ripped it down
As for the inhabitants of Bqaakfratheir appearance turned pale
When they decided to move they used boats not beasts
The residents of Hasroun and Bazoun were afraid of the stream
They said, let's cut branchesand shrubs to fill the slots
Then it reached Hadad and Qnat, a farmer-member died
Hanging on a mulberry tree, in the garden of Hantoura
The owners of the mill,"Shahla ", fled in terror;
The miller took it slightly, and then of fear he filled the pit.
The owners of the mill, "Blatt "exclaimed
"Bring us the mud to coat, and clay the cracks.
When it arrived to Joura O God, what a scene!
the largest trees in that grounds, was carried to "AlKura".
At "Tourza" it came with force, allthe trees bent,
"O people! What can we do, we have never seen such a scene!"
At Raskifa, the inhabitants, were sick of life
The flood carried away the soil, and opened hundred graves.
At Kosba, it grew stronger and became more violent,
It uprooted all the trees with unimaginable force.
In Bsarma, a torrent, of overwhelming pride
Didn’t spare a hand-less jar, or strainer or small jar.
At Kfarquahel (5), the people were traitors and deserved it
The strongest walls collapsed and left no more traces.
When it arrived to "Dahr ElAain"it raked both sides
They said: "the bad luck strikes us, the sign is clear enough."
At "Abu Ali" the waves rose, higher and higher
Some people were killed, and others abandoned their houses.
When it reached El-Mina, it ragedand roared more
Flowing from right and left, the punishment of God was visible.
The sea water became muddy; the high tides exceeded any expectation
If it lasted a little longer, it would spare no boat.
(2- The eyewitness ,Salim Khairalah, described the flood: At 3:00pm the river of "Abu-Ali"overflowed and the water covered the bridge; devastated the iron gate (Bab Al Hadid), Al-Suwaïqa, the Slaughterhouse, the "Haraj" market, Al-Milaha, and attacked with rage the Christian quarter. Markets and shops had been swallowed up; the water reached the ceiling; the houses, by force of the waves, collapsed on its people ; cattle, horses, donkeys and camels fled away; the sycamore and poplars trees were uprooted; men, women and children drowned in the markets; approximately the third of the region, was devastated; the stores were completely damaged with their contents: furniture, copper items, mattresses, blankets, supplies, gold and silver; were estimated at 3,000 bags of gold (each bag 500 pound); damage also in gardens, in windmills and fruit trees surpassed the 2,000 bags of money. More than 100 women died because of terror ,which was so weird ! The waters rose, about 6 feet above the bridge. The whole event took place in half an hour, if God didn't take care of his creatures, more people would have drowned in the water. But at 4:00pm the River calmed down, the water was so muddy and dark like the clay, but God had mercy in his people. If the flood had lasted another quarter of an hour, two-thirds of the region might be affected, and if this had happened in the night, we would have suffered similar losses; if God didn't save us, we would have been died with the rest of the people. To Him be praise in all circumstances, now and forever. Amen. When the water flowed back , the Basha came with some divers, they collected all the treasures carried by the 'flood", and he won lot of money.
3-Toum Al Mezrab and Dahr al Qadib are two peaks of the mountain "Al Makmel" which is the highest mountain in Lebanon, at an altitude of 3080m
4- The word is not clear, it means he was at first mocking from the flood then he collapsed from fear.
5- At that time, its inhabitants were from the lineage of princes....they were oppressors and any bride should spend her first night of marriage among them. )
8-The "Rock of the Saint" and the cow
He used to plow his father's properties, isolated himself away from other children of his age, and avoided the frequent contact with people; seeking solitude and loneliness, not only to pray but also to avoid unpleasant conversations. He led his cow, which he inherited from his father, to pasture, while he sat aside in a place called "the rock of Bhaiss", a rock that resembled to a cave, a property of his family, and a prayer book in his hand. He visited this place quite often, that the people called it the "Rock of the Saint." When the cow had eaten enough, he let her rest, saying:" Rest now, "Zahra" it's my turnand not yours, I want to pray." So he prayed, even when his cow rested, then again, if the cow got up to eat, he told her:"Do not start now, wait till I finish my prayer because I cannot talk with you and God at the same time, God is my priority." There, he spent a long time absorbed in prayer, and we never heard that he left his cow ruined the property of others.
9 - "The Saint" and the cave.
Since his childhood, Sharbel felt a deep desire for prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. He was kneelingin the church, like a monument, without moving, prayed alone, and went to the grotto for prayer, the fact that aroused astonishment, and sometimes the scorn of his peers. This cave is called so far, "the Cave of the Saint." It's located south of Bkaakafra, and it belonged to his family.
There, he took refuge so often,carried a handful of incense that was burning before an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where he laid a bouquet of flowers. Because ofhis great devotion, his tendency to prayer, his attendance to the mass and the ritual liturgy, and his distinction by his good behavior; the people in the village called him "the Saint". At first, to make fun of him, but then, God accomplished their prediction by making him actually a saint.
10 - Miseries
His step-mother, the wife of his uncle Tannous who was his guardian, died on9/9/1839, when Sharbel was six years old.Also when he was seven, the civil war broke against the Egyptians and killed at least two people from Bkaakafra, by the soldiers of Ibrahim Basha, in the summer of 1840. At the age of 14, an outbreak of the contagious cholera widespread, and at least one person from Bkaakafra died and buried outside the village on 11/10/1847.