Where God Weeps - the suffering church in focus

Lebanon: A testimony of faith

Recently, during a visit to the Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Father Raymond Abdo, Provincial of the Discalced Carmelite Fathers in Lebanon, expressed the great importance of helping to halt the emigration of Near-East Christians; pointing out the first missionaries who proclaimed the Gospel, he suggests the people of the East should “bear witness to the Faith in the East.” It is in the nature of Christianity, he said, “that we proclaim the Gospel by our very own lives.” Aware that various western countries benefitting from what may be a source of cheap labour may rejoice to see people leaving their homeland, Father Abdo specified that this was detrimental to the Gospel.

Though he sympathizes with those, who at present, see no real future prospects in this climate where people’s very lives are threatened on a continual basis, he hopes to witness for them the potential there is in remaining, by staying and living there himself.

Creating employment

While Lebanese Christians might be tempted by money coming in for property sales from Iran and the Gulf States, the bishop insists upon the importance of not selling. In order to convince them to stay, the order of Carmelites is doing all it can to obtain good prospects for the future in terms of employment for those who are often discriminated against in their search for work.

The bishop cites as an example the case of a Lebanese Christian who founded an international software firm, and for which the Carmelite Monastery in Kobayat has provided him with locales. This initiative allowed for the creation of 45 jobs in a village situated in proximity to the Syrian border. The firm which began operating a year ago is already in a position to produce more than one hundred employment opportunities for men and women in the coming year.

Refusing to be discouraged by an artificial analysis which suggests that there are many problems at hand, the bishop remains optimistic because, “we might suffer, we might have difficulties, but when we are united with Christ then we are bearing witness to him and giving hope to others. We are also giving hope to the Muslims and the other communities, since without us they would not have the opportunity to come to know Christ.”

Signs which carry hope

Moreover, the bishop recognizes many signs which carry hope. In a moderate society like Lebanon, Muslims and Christians are able to dialogue where education is concerned. For that matter, there are as many Muslims as Christians attending Catholic schools and Catholic universities.

That means that each day, there are many opportunities for Christians and Muslims to meet. There are even courses offered to Muslim children by Christian teachers. Even with regard to politics, “good dialogue” exists even though it is “not always founded on the right principles.”

He continues by saying that in Lebanon, the order of Carmelites has 6 monasteries and 31 monks, half of which are under the age of 35. This province of the Carmelite order established 40 years ago in Lebanon has been growing since its inception in 1643.

Considering the unfavourable climate for vocations, he analyzes the problem: First, it is only Christian families who give great importance to education and who are ready to make large financial sacrifices in order to send their sons to private universities. Moreover, the youth is connected to the world through the internet; however, he believes that they will become aware of the existence of “the same problems as everywhere in today’s world.” Finally, thinking of the young men who are always questioning themselves about their vocations, he says: “When Jesus Christ enters into a person’s heart, he does not ask permission of the mind or the culture, but simply says, ‘Come!’...”

Very recently it seems, the Carmelite Fathers were able to rejoice as a monk took his final vows and in the previous year, three ordinations have taken place, and, many Lebanese priest are working as missionaries in other parts of the world.

He also speaks of the importance of the Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague in the monastery of Saint Elias, found in Maaysrah Kesrwan. Not only does it hold importance for the Carmelites, but also for the faithful. Since 2006, a replica of the statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague has been venerated in the shrine received by the fathers from their fellow priests in the Czech Republic. The Child Jesus of Prague is highly revered in Lebanon. Moreover, increasing numbers of faithful are visiting the sanctuary, where they often receive great Graces in answer to their prayers.

In conclusion, Father Raymond insists: “The most important thing is that we feel ourselves close to God and loved by him. Then we also feel that it is not so hard to love him and to touch him, for he is a Child!”

Continual support from ACN

Forty years ago, Lebanon was the only country in the Near-East where the Christian majority represented almost 70 percent of the population. Today, Muslims are in the majority and Christians account for barely 45 percent of the population. ACN provides the Carmelite Fathers with help to continue with the formation of religious vocations for their youth, as well as with renovations for their monasteries. It also supports priests with the help of Mass Stipends.