St. Charbel Tote Bag (Damask Mahogany)

These custom made-on-demand Tote Bags ship world-wide directly from our exceptional craftsmen in Quanzhou, China. Destination tracking is available for most countries. A tracking number will be emailed to you once your order has shipped.

Production Time: 5-7 working days
Ship Time: 6-12 days

Please Note: During peak shopping seasons, production and ship time may take a little longer than normal. If you are buying this item as a gift, please order as early as possible. We don't want to disappoint you or the gift recipient with a potentially delayed order.

For countries where tracking numbers are not available, this item should arrive by regular post within 2-4 weeks. Orders that have not arrived within 45 days of order processing are eligible for a free reshipment or a refund.

MATERIALS
These Tote Bags are made with a premium quality, textured imitation leather with a Saffiano Finish created by the luxury designer brand Prada. This material is made with split leather (that’s the fibrous part of the hide left over from making genuine leather) which has been bonded with polyurethane. This material is extremely durable and the image will not fade, peel or flake. The interior lining is a soft, brushed polyester. These Tote Bags are vegan and eco friendly.

CARE
Your freshly made bag might arrive with a "new bag smell" (similar to a new car smell) that some people love and others do not. When you receive your bag, please unwrap it and allow the bag breathe for 24-48 hours to absorb the natural scents of its surroundings. To clean your tote bag, use a soft, damp towel to wipe away any dust or dirt. You can use a mild soap or gentle cleaning spray if needed. Please do not put this tote bag in the washing machine.

ST. CHARBEL MAKHLOUF

1828 — 1898
Feast Day July 24
Patron Saint of Lebanon, those who suffer in body and soul, healing, miracles, and is a protector for families and farmers.

Youssef Antoun Makhlouf was born in 1828, one of five children, in the mountain village of Bekaa Kafra in Lebanon. His father, Antoun Zaarour Makhlouf, was a mule driver who died in 1831 while returning from work for the Turkish army, leaving his wife Brigitta a widow to care for their children. She remarried a man who went on to Holy Orders and became the parish priest of Bekaa Kafra.

Being raised in a pious home, Youssef became drawn to the lives of the saints and the eremitical life practiced by two of his uncles. As a young boy, he was responsible for the family's small herd of cows. He would take the herd to a nearby grotto, where he had enshrined an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There he would spend the day in prayer.

In 1851, Youssef left his family to begin training as a monk of the Lebanese Maronite Order at the Monastery of Our Lady in Mayfouq. He later transferred to the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya. There, he received his habit and took the religious name Charbel, after the Christian martyr Saint Maroun. He made his final religious profession in 1853.

Following the example of Saint Maroun, Charbel led a life of monastic simplicity, service to others, and, above all, great devotion to God. Charbel spent most of his life in seclusion and prayer and was known for his miraculous healings, prophecies, and asceticism. His reputation for holiness prompted people to seek him to receive a blessing and to be remembered in his prayers. He followed a strict fast and was devoted to the Blessed Sacrament. When his superiors occasionally asked him to administer the sacraments to nearby villages, Charbel did so gladly.

Father Charbel died at the age of 70 on Christmas Eve in 1898. He was beatified in 1965 and canonized in 1977 by Pope Paul VI.

Some of the most remarkable stories surrounding Charbel are related to the miracles he has performed since his death in 1898. Thousands of people have reported experiencing healings and various other supernatural events following an appeal to Charbel, and there have been over 26,000 miracles attributed to his intercession. His tomb in Annaya, Lebanon has become a place of pilgrimage for many of those seeking his aid.