Saint Charbel (or Sharbel) was a Maronite monk from Lebanon. He was born May 8, 1828, and died December 24, 1898. He was beatified December 5, 1965 and canonized October 9, 1977.
In the first centuries of Christianity, the Middle East was populated by monks and religious. The Maronite order in particular is know nor its love of the monastic life. Out of this tradition God raised up the humble monk Charbel as a light to the whole Church. Charbel is known for his fidelity to his vows, his love for the Eucharist, and his devotion to Our Blessed Mother.
Saint Charbel suffered a stroke while saying Mass the day before Christmas. He was reciting the prayer from the Maronite Mass, "Father of Truth". He continued to recite this prayer and to repeat over and over Jesus and Mary until he died several hours later.
After the death of Charbel, a light began to shine from his tomb attracting the local villagers. Miracles of healing began to take place. Four months after his death his body was exhumed and found to be incorrupt and floating in water. His body remained incorrupt, perspiring blood and liquid until the day of his beatification. Miracles are occurring through the intercession of Saint Charbel to this day.
THE CHAPLET
The chaplet is made up of five sets of beads, three red, one white and one blue. Five black beads, divide the sets. A medal of the saint connects the beads, with a single white bead following the medal and preceding the five sets.
The red beads are for the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, the virtues by which religious share in the Passion of Christ.
The white beads represent the Holy Eucharist, and the blue beads love and devotion to Our Blessed Mother.
ORDER OF RECITATION
On the first white bead after the medal say the "Father of Truth" prayer. On each black bead recite an "Our Father".
On the first three red beads say the "Hail Mary" in honor of Saint Charbel's fidelity to the vow of poverty.
On the second set of red beads say the "Hail Mary" in honor of Saint Charbel's fidelity to the vow of chastity.
On the third set of red beads say the "Hail Mary" in honor of Saint Charbel's fidelity to the vow of obedience.
On the three white beads say the "Hail Mary" in honor of Saint Charbel's love for the Eucharist.
On the three blue beads say the "Hail Mary" in honor of Saint Charbel's devotion to Our Blessed Mother. Conclude with the prayer to obtain graces on the medal.
Father of Truth Prayer
Father of Truth, behold Your Son, a sacrifice pleasing to You. Accept this offering of Him who died for me; behold His blood shed on Golgotha for my salvation. It pleads for me. For His sake, accept my offering. Many are my sins, but greater is Your mercy. When placed on a scale, Your mercy prevails over the weight of the mountains known only to You. Consider the sin and consider the atonement; the atonement is greater and exceeds the sin. Your beloved Son sustained the nails and the lance because of my sins so in His sufferings You are satisfied and I live.
Prayer to Obtain Graces
Lord, infinitely holy and glorified in Your saints, You have inspired Charbel, the saint monk, to lead the perfect life of a hermit. We thank You for granting him the blessing and the strength to detach himself from the world so that the heroism of the monastic virtues of poverty, chastity, and obedience might triumph in his hermitage. We beseech You to grant us the grace of loving and serving You, following his example. Almighty God, who have manifested the power of Saint Charbel's intercession through his countless miracles and favors, grant us this grace (here mention your intention) which we request from You through his intercession. Amen.