LEBANON-HARDINI May-4-2004 

Catholic News Service

BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNS) - When Pope John Paul II canonizes Blessed Nimatullah Kassab al-Hardini at the Vatican May 16, church bells will ring throughout Lebanon.

"Blessed Hardini is a pillar of Lebanese monastic spirituality, which has a long tradition dating back to the fifth century," said U.S. Jesuit Father Martin McDermott, who has served in Lebanon for 32 years.

"The canonization of Blessed Nimatullah Hardini makes the Lebanese proud of their land and their religious values," said Father Miled Tarabay, superior of the Monastery of Sts. Justine and Cyprian in Kfifan, where the tomb of Blessed Hardini is located.

"Without a doubt, Lebanon needs more and more to show itself as a land of peace, tolerance and charity," he said.

Blessed Hardini, who died in 1858 at the age of 50, was born Youssef Kassab in 1808 in the town of Hardine. In those days in Lebanon, a person's last name typically was derived either from the birthplace or the father's profession.

At age 20, Blessed Hardini entered St. Anthony Monastery, adopting the name of Brother Nimatullah. He was ordained a priest in 1833 at the monastery in Kfifan; he chose to live in a monastery rather than in an isolated hermitage.

"The monk in his monastery is like a king in his palace: His kingdom is his order; his soldiers are his brethren; his glory is his virtue and sanctity; his crown is his love of God and his order; his scepter is his chastity and purity; his weapon is his poverty, obedience and prayers; his royal garment is his humility and gentleness," Blessed Hardini once said.

Father Nimatullah al-Kafri, who taught seminarians at the Kfifan monastery with Blessed Hardini and was with him when he died, wrote that Blessed Hardini "lived burning with God's love and virtue" and that he spent "numerous hours in adoration."

"His greatest love was for the holy sacrament of the Eucharist, where he spent numerous hours in adoration. When he celebrated Mass, he did it with a burning fever of love. He was so completely consumed by his love for God that he appeared to forget about himself, fixing his eyes to heaven with deep emotion," the priest said.

Blessed Hardini also had a special devotion to Mary and went to confession every day. A scholar, Blessed Hardini demonstrated his love for books as an accomplished bookbinder. He served as assistant superior of the Kfifan monastery three times.

Blessed Hardini had a high regard for the teaching of Syriac, the liturgical language of the Maronite Catholic Church, and urged all those who became priests to learn the language well to better appreciate the liturgy.

Blessed Hardini frequently fasted and slept on a blanket made of goat hair. Even with the harsh cold and winds of the mountain in Kfifan, he never wore extra clothing beyond sackcloth. In 1858, he developed pleurisy and never recovered.

Father Raphael al-Bizaouni, who was a spiritual director to Blessed Hardini and gave him the last rites, had said that he "saw brilliant shining rays fill the room when Hardini's soul left his body" and that "an aromatic scent engulfed the entire room for several days."

Blessed Hardini was known as "the saint of Kfifan." Immediately after his death, people began to visit his tomb to seek blessings and cures. The miracles attributed to him are numerous; they include raising a child from the dead, healing a blind person and healing a leukemia patient.

Blessed Hardini will be Lebanon's third saint and the second Lebanese to be canonized by Pope John Paul.

St. Charbel Makhlouf, canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1977, was one of Blessed Hardini's theology students.

"The will of the Almighty wanted Hardini to leave this earth in the presence of his student St. Charbel, who was fortunate to be blessed by the body of Hardini before it was placed in the tomb," said Father Paul Sfeir, dean of the theology faculty at Holy Spirit University in Kaslik.

"Thus was the torch of sanctity transferred from the hand of the teacher to that of the student," said Father Sfeir, author of the book, "Blessed Nimatullah al-Hardini: His Life, Words and Spirituality."

Father Tarabay said he expects "tens of thousands" of pilgrims to visit Blessed Hardini's tomb in Kfifan during the weekend of his canonization.

Pope John Paul also canonized St. Rafqa Pietra Choboq ar-Rayes, a Lebanese nun, in 2001.