Humility, The Path of Saint Sharbel

Homily of His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle

Pro-Prefect for the Dicastery for Evangelization

Solemn Pilgrim Mass on the Feast of Saint Sharbel Makhlūf

July 24, 2026 | The Manila Cathedral, Intramuros, Manila

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

We thank and praise and thank the Lord, who has brought us together, has formed us as one family of faith, as we celebrate the Feast of Saint Sharbel. Thank you for your presence, pilgrims; and we are honored by the presence of the Consul of Lebanon to the country. Thank you very much, sir, for your presence.

I am wondering what Saint Sharbel is feeling right now. (Ano kaya ang pakiramdam ni Saint Sharbel ngayon?) I asked this question because, for so many years he lived as a hermit, a hidden life. He devoted his life in silence, personal prayer, fasting, not to be seen by many people.

Siya na sa matagaal na panahon ay nasa hermitage (ermitanyo), sa maliit na community, tahimik, hindi lumalabas. Sanay siya sa nakatago na buhay. Ano kaya ang iniisip niya ngayon, na siya ay dinarayo? Siguro kinikilabutan siya. Maybe he's the ones who say, “What are you doing? This is not what I had planned in my life.” Well, it is not any more in his hands, but in the hands of God.

You know? If you have the chance, and we hope the situation really becomes more stable and peaceful, please visit Lebanon. It is one of the most beautiful countries that I have visited. I've been there three times, and my last visit was in 2021 to attend the meeting. That was the month of August. Part of the meeting was a pilgrimage to Aannaya, where the tomb of Saint Sharbel is found. So, we were all excited. (Let us include that trip and that pilgrimage.)

When I arrived in Aannaya, it snowed. Is it typical in August, that there is snow? No, [but] it snowed, and we were not prepared. So, the monks ran into the monastery to take winter coats for us to wear, and they were very very happy. They said, “Photo, photo, photo, picture. Snow in Aannaya in August.” Eh, hindi naman po ako mahinig sa mga selfie, selfie, kaya parang dalawa lang yung picture na nasa akin, pinadala ng mga monks. That was for us the welcome of someone who had led a hidden life, and in many parts of the world, he is still unknown. He remains hidden.

It's only now that people are getting to know who he is. In fact, people got to know him after his death. It was after his death when his sanctity became more widespread—news of his sanctity; and from his tomb, oil was coming out. They found his body after many years, still not stiff, but very pliant. Parang hindi patay ng maraming taon. Malambot pa, at yung langis na lumalabas ay “serum” (a watery fluid), galing talaga sa katawan.

You see the power of hiddenness, the power of hiddenness, communion with God, not making a show. How that could transform death into life? The mission of Saint Sharbel became more pronounced after his death. Thanks to his many years of humble hiddenness.

That's what the readings for today remind us of. In the Book of Sirach, the first reading (Sirach 3:17-25), we are all told to conduct our affairs with humility. You will be loved by God and by neighbor when you are humble. Palagay ko totoo naman iyon eh. ‘Di ba iniiwasan natin ‘yung hambog? Iniiwasan natin ‘yung mayabang. Iniiwasan natin ‘yung wala nang [ibang] pinag-uusapan kung ‘di ang kanyang sarili, ang kanyang achievements. Alam sa puso natin, alam natin hindi iyan ang gusto ng Diyos. It's already in the Book of Sirach.

Humble yourself. The more the world considers you great, the more you should humble yourself. Kapag ikaw ay tinuturing ng mundo na dakila, ikaw na ang magbaba sa sarili mo. The more you humble yourselves, the more you will find grace in God, who is the greatest of all.

Kapag hindi tayo nag-ingat, baka akala natin nahihigatan pa natin ang Diyos; at mas gusto natin na tayo ang maalaala kaysa ang Diyos.

We saw this in Saint Sharbel. In his humility, it was God who manifested his greatness. Let us not promote ourselves. Do your best humbly, and let God do great things through you. Sabi nga ni Sirach “Don't aspire for things that are beyond your capacities.” Kung hindi ka marunong kumanta, huwag kang mag-choir. Hayaan mo iyong marunong kumanta ang mag-choir. Eh ‘yung iba, kahit hindi nila kaya, pinipilit ang sarili eh. Hindi. Baka magaling ka tumula. Poetry siguro, hindi na pagkanta. We need poets. We don’t only need singers. We need poets. Kaya ang sabi dito, “With what is too much for you, meddle not…” Hindi ka naman engineer, huwag mong pakialaman ang construction na mga tulay. Kaya bumabagsak eh.  Be humble. Sabihin mo, “Hindi ko alam iyan.” If you promote yourself, look at the disaster that happens.

Saint Sharbel is a good intercessor because he was humble. Through his humility, God is able to do miracles, great things. With proud people, no miracles happen; only disasters.

In the gospel, Peter told Jesus, “We have left everything to follow you.” So, some will say, “Kawawa naman, no? Kawawa naman?”, but Jesus promised that anyone who has given up houses, brothers, sisters, families, ambitions for my sake will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. So, it is not in your possessions. It is not in clinging to what you have that you will preserve your life. It is when you give up everything for the sake of Jesus, then great things will happen, and you will have eternal life.

Saint Sharbel, like many other saints, led an austere, poor life. Even if probably, they could have pursued a life of extravagance, but for the sake of Christ, they gave up.

O baka naman yung iba sa inyo pag-uwi sasabihin niyo sa asawa n’yo, “I give you up. Iiwan na kita. Sabi sa gospel,” kasi naiinis ka na, galit ka na. Hindi ‘yun ang sinabi ni Jesus.

You don't give up because you are angry, because you are fed up. No. Jesus said, “For my sake.” Dapat spiritual ang motivation; and it is not leaving them literally. It is being detached, and you serve everyone not for your gain, but for the sake of Christ. Then miracles will happen.

So mga kapatid, I know many of us, and I am a witness to it. Through the prayers of Saint Sharbel, many great things are accomplished by God. I hope you will make many people know of Saint Sharbel. Pero, hindi lamang po tayo lalapit sa kanya to help us pray to God for healing, miracles, for employment, or whatever things we need in life. Maganda po iyon, but that is not enough.

The Church proposes saints to us so that we could imitate their virtues.

Nakakahiya na nagradasal tayo kay Saint Sharbel pero mayabang naman. Sasabihin ni Saint Sharbel, “Hindi ka tunay na deboto kasi hindi mo ginagaya ang aking humility.” “Deboto nga ako ni San Sharbel pero accumulate naman ako nang accumulate; hindi naman ako generous.” Sabihin ni Saint Sharbel, “Parang ibang tao yata yang deboto mo ah? Hindi yata ako yan eh? Parang hindi ako iyan.”

So, as we believe in the power of God through the humble, poor, holy, and prayerful hermit monk Saint Sharbel, let us also ask the Lord to create that basic miracle, which is to transform all of us into humble, prayerful, quiet servants of the Lord.

‘Yan po ang isang miracle na hingin natin: [na] dumami pa ang mga Saint Sharbel sa lipunan, sa pamilya, sa simbahan; at maraming milagrong mangyayari. Kapag kaunti ang mga katulad ni Saint Sharbel, kumakaunti rin ang milagro, dumarami ang peligro.

So, let us, as pilgrims, attain Jesus, and we have one path, the path of Saint Sharbel. Let us humbly take that path.

Transcribed by Joel V. Ocampo

Photos from Manila Cathedral Facebook page