29. BITESIZE CATECHISM: ST. CHARBEL MAKHLOUF: ONE CHURCH, MANY BRANCHES

SAINT OF THE WEEK: Youssef Antoun Makhlouf was born in 1828, in Bekaa Kafra (North Lebanon). In 1851, he left his family village and became a monk at St Maron Monastery in Annaya, Lebanon.  To symbolize his new life as a monk he received a new name: Charbel, (sometimes spelled Sharbel) in honor of a martyr-saint.  He was ordained a priest of the Maronite Catholic Church on July 23rd, 1859. 

He lived 16 years in the St Maron's Monastery and then transferred to Sts. Peter & Paul Hermitage, which belonged to the monastery. St Charbel lived in the hermitage for 23 years and was a very popular spiritual director and pastoral counselor.  He was a typical saint and hermit, who spent his time praying, studying and worshipping. 

He became an extremely much sought after spiritual counselor and guide. his holiness was apparent to all who knew him. He is often portrayed in art with the two great pillars of his spiritual life: the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother.  On December 16th, 1898 he was struck with an illness while celebrating Mass. He died on Christmas' Eve, December 24th, 1898, and was buried in the St Maron Monastery cemetery in Annaya. 

A few months later, dazzling lights were seen around his grave and even coming up from the ground.Due to this phenomenon, his tomb was opened, and the corpse was seen to be mysteriously and miraculously secreting sweat and blood. Crowds of pilgrims started swarming to the monastery seeking Charbel’s prayers. Through this intercession, God blessed many people with physical and emotional healing as well as spiritual graces. The miracles were amazingly multiplied as time went on. 

On December 5, 1965, Pope Paul VI presided at the beatification of Father Charbel at the conclusion of Vatican Council II and 12 years later he canonized him as “St.Sharbel” in October or 1977. His feast day is July 24.   To learn more about St. Charbel, his miracles and powerful intercession go to: https://saintscatholic.blogspot.com/2014/03/saint-charbel-makhluf.html

APPETIZER: The Catholic Faith is “so unfathomably rich that it cannot be exhausted by its expression in any single liturgical tradition. The history of the blossoming and development of the various rites witnesses to a remarkable complementarity. When the Churches live their respective liturgical traditions…they enrich one another.” The diverse liturgical traditions…came to celebrate the mystery of Christ through particular expressions characterized by their culture: in liturgical symbolism, in the organization of communities, in the theological understanding of the mysteries, and in various forms of holiness…The Church is catholic (which means, universal or all-embracing) and is “capable of integrating into her unity…all the authentic riches of various cultures. The liturgical traditions (called rites) presently in use in the Church are the Latin (also called Roman) rite, the Byzantine, Alexandrian or Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Maronite and Chaldean rites…which are all of equal dignity.(CCC #1201-1203)

Main Course: What the Appetizer is telling us is that the Church established by Jesus of Nazareth upon the foundation of the Apostles, is ONE Church with MANY varied branches.  Most Catholics are surprised to learn that the Roman Catholic Church is just ONE of twenty-something other Catholic Churches such as the one St. Sharbel belonged to: the Maronite Catholic Church.  St. Sharbel (and other non-Roman Catholic saints) remind us that the Mystical Body of Christ is a multi-branched tree with many different and beautiful blossoms.

The reason why most of us do not know about the other Catholic Churches is because the New World of the Americas was explored and colonized by Europeans.  They were Roman Catholic and so this branch became the dominant form of the Catholic Church here. And because the Roman branch is the largest and most well-known of all the branches, many people think that “Catholic” and “Roman Catholic” mean the exact same thing. But this is incorrect. Again, “Roman” just refers to one branch of many on the Catholic Church family-tree. 

For example, there is also the Russian Catholic Church, the Greek Catholic Church, the Syro-Malabar (Indian) Catholic Church and many others. Each has its own prayers, rituals or ways of celebrating the sacraments as well as its own vestments, church art and architecture, music, etc. Each rite also has its own theological emphasis or way of explaining the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic faith.  But we are all UNITED in following the spiritual leadership of the Pope, believing the same Creed, celebrating the same sacraments, and living the same commandments of God and teachings of Christ.  The picture shows former Pope Benedict XVI with leaders of some other branches of the Catholic Church.

The way this diversity came about was the after Pentecost, the Apostles and other disciples went throughout the known world spreading the Good News about Jesus. While preaching the same Gospel as one another, they adapted Christian vocabulary and worship styles to suit the culture where they were living. Perhaps the most surprising difference between the Roman Catholic branch of the Church and the other branches is the issue of married clergy. Most of the twenty-something other branches have always had married priests and deacons. Only their bishops are celibate. This has been their tradition since the days of the Twelve Apostles (most of whom were also married men).

So, if there is diversity in prayers, art, theology, lifestyle and worship what makes us ONE? The unifying factor of the Catholic Church in all of its branches is the presence and ministry of the Pope as the successor of St. Peter the Apostle. If you think of the Church as a bicycle wheel, then the Poep would be the hub and the various diverse churches would be the spokes.  All who call themselves Catholic, no matter what their particular cultural or historical tradition might be, look to the Pope for guidance, teaching,and family unity. 

This is precisely why Jesus made St. Peter the primary spokesperson of the Apostles and the earthly leader of the Church.  The Bible and early Christian writings all support his Christ0given role and ministry of Peter ands successors.  For example, in the Gospels Peter is always listed as the first and in the Book of Acts even when people debate with him, they look to him for the final word. Jesus himself said direct words to Simon-Peter that declare and reveal his special place among the Apostles and int the Church.

Jesus changes Simon the fisherman's name to Peter (which means "rock") and he says to him: "And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven; what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” (Matthew 16;18-19)

At the Last Supper, knowing that his Passion will upset and disperse his followers, Jesus turns to Peter and reminds him o be a source of strength and unity to the disciples: "But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)

And after the Resurrection,  the Risen Lord reconfirms Peter in his role as shepherd of the Church on earth: After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my lambs.” A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” A third time Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter became sad because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” and so he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep". (John 20:15-17)

DOGGIE-BAG: Something to take with you for spiritual snacking...

Maronite Catholics, who are one of the many branches of the Eastern Catholic Church, have a very deep and strong devotion to Mary, Mother of God and our own Blessed Mother. Here are a couple of samples of their love for Mary.

Maronite Catholic Hymn to Mary. Here is an English translation of a hymn on honor of Mary under her title of Our Lady of Lebanon. It is called "Mother of God, Mother of Life".

Mother of God, Mother of Life, 
Come to our help, and pray for us, 
That we may follow Jesus, our Savior. 

Mother of God, O Mother of Life.
 Your only Son, upon the cross,
A precious gift, He gave for us; 
Making you Mother, of all His people. 

Mother of God, O Mother of Life.
“Listen to Him, to Christ my Son! He is the way, the truth, and life. 
I’ll lead you to him, guide you to Heaven.”

Mother of God, Mother of Life.
Come to our help, and pray for us, 
That we may follow Jesus, our Savior. 

Eastern Catholic Hail Mary Prayer.  The Hail Mary is top among prayers for all Catholics of every branch of the Church. Many non-Roman Catholics (called "Eastern Catholics") use this form of the Hail Mary which is very similar to ours but is of a more ancient origin.  If it appeals to you, you may use this form in your own devotions such as the Rosary.

Hail, Mother of God, Virgin Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb; for you gave birth to Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of our souls.

Scripture Verse to Memorize: "There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; there is one God and Father of all people, who is Lord of all, works through all, and is in all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)