St Charbel Makhlouf

Although I usually see his feast day listed as the 24th of December, the day of his death, on at least one calendar, today is the feast of St Charbel Makhlouf, a 19th century hermit of the Maronite Rite and - appropriately enough at this time -- one of the principal patrons of the Lebanon.

There is a website dedicated to him here which contains two very large essays on his life. Since there are very few facts and stories to relate about a hermit, these are very largely studies of his spirituality. Shorter summaries of his life can be found here and here.

St Charbel, pray for the peace of your homeland.