A Reflection of visiting the Relics of St. Sharbel

This past Sunday, I had the honor of visiting the relics of St. Sharbel. For those who do not know the story of St. Sharbel here is a brief history. He was born in what is now Lebanon in 1828 to a Christian family and had a passion from a young age to prayer. He left in 1851 he left to the monastery and was ordained priest in 1859. He lived at the monastery for 16 years where he then went in hermitage for 23 years. He was your typical hermit of not leaving the hermitage and spending most of his time praying and fasting. He was struck with illness during the holy mass in 1898 on December 16 and died 8 days later on the 24th. He was beatified in 1965 and canonized in 1977. His body was examined with permissions from the Church, they dug up the coffin and opened it only to find that the body of St. Sharbel was incorrupt. That shows the holy life he lived and how we should take his example so we too can become holy. I went to go see his relics at St. Joseph Maronite church and had the opportunity to venerate the relics. I felt a warm feeling, an incredible feeling that came over me, and the thoughts of "Wow... I am touching the relics of this holy man." It is an experience I will not forget because it is not everyday on has the chance to venerate the relics of a saint. If you ever have the chance, please go because you will feel much better and more connected to the faith.

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