Lebanon: ‘Divine grace in difficult times’ at other-worldly beatification (Photos)

Catholics in Lebanon rejoiced on August 2, 2024, as the Church officially declared as blessed Estephan El Douaihy, a 17th-century patriarch of the Maronite Church, in a liturgy that seemed other-worldly, especially considering the heightened tensions in the country.

Pope Francis recognized a miracle attributed to Blessed Stephen's intercession on March 14, opening the way to his beatification. 

Patriarch El Douaihy lived from 1630 to 1704 and had a large impact on the history and development of the Maronite Church, an Eastern Catholic Church based in Lebanon and in communion with the pope.

He was patriarch of the Maronite Church for over 30 years, from 1670 until his death, and was known to be extremely intelligent; he wrote important texts on the Church’s history, liturgy, and more. He is thus seen as a beacon of Church unity, as well as a model of the faith-science alliance, considered "unique in his era in knowledge and holiness," noted the postulator of his cause, Father Paul Azzi.

He suffered great persecution during his time as patriarch, but worked to reconcile warring sects, "fostering a spirit of harmony among them, and promoting the concept of coexistence among Lebanon's components, being the pioneer in his vision for the future of Lebanon," the priest said.

The liturgy and beatification ceremony took place some 30 minutes north of Beirut, in Bkerké, the Patriarchal Seat of the Maronites. It was celebrated by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, with Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi.

A crowd including political, diplomatic, and spiritual leaders, as well as the faithful, gathered in Bkerke, carrying pictures of the blessed patriarch and praying for Lebanon by the light of candles.

Father Azzi spoke of the beatification as an "extraordinary celebration."

Estephan Douaihy was born in Ehden on the feast of Pope St. Stephen on August 2, 1630, to Deacon Michael Douaihy and Mary Douaihy. He was named Estephan in honor of St. Stephen; and now, 394 years after his birth, it is this date that was chosen for his recognition as Blessed.

A mass of grace is scheduled for August 3 in Ehden, the birthplace of the Patriarch, some 50 miles to the north.

"Indeed, it is true that 'where God passes, there are the saints.' Yes, it is as if God passed through Ehden and chose Estephan Douaihy, who lost his father at the age of three, to grow up as an orphan and to become the one we celebrate today: August 2, 2024, a heavenly gift that we have awaited for more than 394 years, which comes to us as divine grace in difficult times," said Father Azzi.

In the Catholic Church in order for an individual to be beatified, a miracle needs to be attributed to his intercession. If a second miracle is then recognized, the blessed can be canonized as a saint.

The miracle that was examined by the Vatican for Patriarch El Douaihy happened in 2013, when a woman (Rosette Douaihy, pictured below) was miraculously healed of a serious condition. She had a disease that causes pain and swelling in the joints called seronegative polyarthritis and was told that there was no cure.

She went with her family to Ehden, the Patriarch’s birthplace, to pray for her healing. There she drank a cofee with a bit of soil from underneath his statue, which is a common custom in Lebanon in places where saints have been, and was miraculously cured of her condition.

Pope Francis approved a decree by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints on March 14 recognizing this miracle, thus allowing for the patriarch to be officially beatified. Now that the ceremony has taken place, he has been given his name-day as a feast day, August 2, and the faithful can continue to pray for his intercession. 

Blessed Patriarch El Douaihy joins a group of important Maronite holy men and women, such as St. Charbel, St. Maron, St. Rafqa, and Blessed Brother Estfan Nehmé.