Traveling relics of St. Charbel Makhlouf and Our Lady of Guadalupe will tour the Philippines this spring, offering a powerful prayer opportunity.
St. Charbel Makhlouf is beloved around the world, known for interceding for countless miracles both during his life and after his death. Now a first-class bone relic is touring the Philippines, a remarkable opportunity to ask for his prayers and intercession.
The relic — a “pilgrim” or traveling relic — is visiting various churches in the Philippines from March 1 to April 26. After the tour, the relic will remain permanently in the Philippines.
This relic comes from the Lebanese Maronite monk, whose hidden life of prayer, fasting and solitude bore fruit in remarkable answered prayers: The Monastery of St. Maron at Annaya has officially registered more than 33,000 medically verified healings attributed to his intercession.
Fr. Hans Magdurulang, Spiritual Director of The Family of St. Sharbel - Philippines, brought the relic to the region. The Family of St. Charbel is an international organization promoting devotion to this miracle-working saint.
St. Charbel’s relic arrived in the Philippines with a welcome ceremony and Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Malate, Manila. On the Solemnity of the Annunciation, His Eminence Jose Cardinal Advincula presided over a special Mass while the relic visited the cathedral. The faithful had the opportunity to venerate it, and after Mass, a blessing with the oil of St. Charbel was offered to the public.
Cardinal Advincula gave a homily linking the day's celebration of Mary’s “yes” to God with St. Charbel’s life of silent, radical surrender:
The relic of St. Charbel is not just a reminder of a holy man. It is a living invitation for all of us to imitate a life totally given to God. In St. Charbel, we see how that same surrender can be lived out daily, quietly and faithfully. Both Mama Mary and St. Charbel show us the same path: not control, but trust; not clarity, but faithfulness; not visibility, but hidden holiness.
For more information about the tour, you can visit the Family of St. Sharbel - Philippines Facebook page.
Our Lady of Guadalupe to visit next
After the relic of St. Charbel, an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe will arrive in June and tour the nation until December 2026. The tour was announced the same day that St. Charbel’s relic was welcomed at the Manila Cathedral.
The image, a cloth replica of St. Juan Diego’s famous tilma, has touched the original image enshrined at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, making it a second-class relic. Mexico is also sending a commemorative statue marking the 500th anniversary of the apparition (in 2031) and an official portrait of St. Juan Diego. The three items will be displayed together.
The images will visit at least 54 churches nationwide, starting at the Manila Cathedral from June 13 to 19, before traveling to 16 churches in Mindanao, 10 in the Visayas, 27 in Luzon, and ending at the Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus from December 2 to 4.
The visits come at a time when the nation sorely needs them, say local leaders, as the nation faces hardship brought on by soaring inflation, especially as the Middle East conflict affects fuel prices. The BBC noted on March 24, "The Philippines, which imports 98% of its oil from the gulf, became the first country to declare an energy emergency after local diesel and petrol prices more than doubled in the country since the war broke out on 28 February."
The relics offer an opportunity for prayer and devotion for local people, bringing both answered prayers and the peace that only Christ can give.
