HENDERSONVILLE — More than 4 million people flock to the tomb of St. Charbel Makhlouf in Lebanon each year, asking for the intercession of the saint who has 33,000 documented miracles attributed to his intercession. From Nov. 3-5, Immaculate Conception Church experienced its own version of people coming from all over the diocese and across the state line as the parish was one of three hosts of the first-class relics of St. Charbel.
Five veneration events took place at the church, in which either Father Andres Gutierrez or one of the custodians of the relics spoke about the life and miraculous intercession of St. Charbel.
Those present were able to be blessed by a priest with the blessed relic oil of St. Charbel and venerate the relics of the saint as well as relics from six others – including St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese of Lisieux and St. John of the Cross.
“The response has been overwhelming, and the visit of these precious relics has been an authentic moment of grace for the parish,” Father Gutierrez said. “Having several veneration events at different times has been key in attracting a great number of faithful, and the great participation reflects in some way the enthusiasm with which the faith is lived for so many people.”
The custodians surprised at the great response of the people in what they were told was a “smaller town of Hendersonville,” with about 300-500 people attending each of the five veneration times.
“I think people are in search of true heroes, real people they can look up to and learn from,” Father Gutierrez said. “The saints are the true heroes of our faith and, by extension, of how life should be lived here on Earth. They ‘made it,’ and this fills our life with real hope for us to reach our heavenly homeland with the help of their powerful intercession and the example of their incredible lives. St Charbel, for example, shows such a dedication and love of God above all things; there is an intensity there that is contagious, and it is obviously still at work in bringing people back to the faith, to the Church and to God.”
St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte and Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro also hosted the relic.
— Brittany Whitehead, Immaculate Conception Parish director of communications
