Meet the Muslim Newscaster Who Loves St. Charbel

Deacon Greg Kandra - published on 04/20/16

Seriously?

Yes. From Aleteia’s Arabic edition: 

Saint Charbel Makhlouf is her patron saint. She loves him to the point of visiting the Annaya Monastery on the 22nd of each month, and whenever she feels the need to pray and talk with him.

She is a practicing Shiite but open to other religions and to humanity. She is Lebanese and has built her reputation by working as a reporter and presenter on both channels Douniya Al and Al Mayadin.

Roula Bahsoun unveils details of her relationship with the Saint of Lebanon, during a telephone call with Aleteia:

She said: “Saint Charbel is also the patron of the Muslims, he invites us on the 22nd of every month to help us and heal us. I see a lot in my dreams. He gave me the first time, a bracelet of his right hand, saying: “Keep it.” I dreamed again, I climbed to the Hermitage where I found it. I lit a candle and I heard him say, “Come here.”

I saw a man of great size, wearing his cassock. I immediately recognized how he closely resembled the portrait displayed at the monastery, and the picture I have of him at home. Saint Charbel knows how much I love him, and my heart rejoices every time I hear his name.”

Bahsoun likes visiting the Maronite monastery at Annaya as she likes to learn from the master of the convent, away from the din of the world. She reverences Charbel, kneeling, crying and talking with him. Bahsoun says, “I can feel it, I cannot describe this feeling, I speak with him as if he were in front of me and I feel a strange tranquility.”

Read the rest.

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