“Abuna Yaacoub” Waiting for the Beatification

2. The Pontifical action
It was opened on November, 28, 1979 and it reexamined the first demand and heard new witnesses with additional documents. This stage ended with the declaration of virtues.
The tomb of “Abuna Yaacoub” was transferred, upon a demand made by the Holy See, on October, 30, 1982, to Our Lady of the Sea Church, the cradle of the Congregation. This church has become a sanctuary visited by believers for praying, asking for benediction, in the hope of his beatification, then his canonization.

3. The Pontifical declaration
On December, 21, 1992, His Holiness, Pope John Paul II declared “Abuna Yaacoub” Venerable and a new miracle that will be examined by a new court, is eagerly expected.

Lebanon - Khalil (Venerable “Abouna Yaacoub”) was born on February, 1, 1875 in the village of Ghazir from a father named Boutros Saleh El-Haddad and a mother called Shams Yoakim El-Haddad, both very pious and attached to Christian virtues. “Abuna Yaacoub” says: My mother taught me: "Do everything and bear everything for the love of God"; "My son, in tough times, pray with your mother’s rosary"; "My faith is that of Peter". My father taught me to have: Realism, integrity of opinion, along with a sense of humor and some determination.

His Childhood

Khalil was baptized at the Church of Our Lady of Habshieh on February, 21, 1875. He grew up in his village Ghazir and went to the parish school Saint Francis. Then he moved to the Saint Louis School known as the “Mzar” School. Afterwards, he joined the “La Sagesse” School in Beirut from which he graduated in 1891. He was a very brilliant pupil who was known for his piety and love for the Virgin Mary.

He traveled to Alexandria in 1892 where he worked as a teacher in order to assist his parents in raising his brothers and sisters. He was an excellent instructor teaching his students virtues and knowledge, and a pious young man who worshiped and meditated on the life of Jesus Christ. There, he heard a voice telling him to leave the world, hold the cross and follow the Christ. So he said: "I shall be a priest".
When he came back to Ghazir, he prayed and strived to convince his father of his Capuchin monastic call when his wish was answered and he entered the Saint Anthony Convent of the Capuchin Fathers in Khashbau on August, 25, 1893. There, he was quoted as saying: "I came in alive and I will only come out dead".
He remained in the Capuchin Seminary eight months during which he worked in the garden of the monastery, taking Jesus of Nazareth as an example, showing a tendency to monastic life with the related virtues of poverty, chastity and obedience, showing proof of a pure call for monasticism, filled with the love of service and prayer.

The Novitiate

He entered the stage of monastic novitiate while he was still at the Khashbau Monastery to learn the track of monastic life and its requirements of striving towards perfection and virtues. On March, 26, 1894, he was given the robe of novitiate and the name of Brother Jacob.

Brother Jacob the Capuchin lived the novitiate with great conviction and idealism. He became a good example in all his attitudes, surrendering to the Providence and responding to the will of his superiors with much obedience, joy, patience and morality, always taking as an example "Anyone who put his hand to the plough and then keeps looking back is of no use to the Kingdom of God" (Lk 9/62). Each time he felt difficulty or pain, he took refuge in the Cross, taking the sanctity of his father Saint Francis of Assisi as an example, using the virtues of the latter to add to his joy in the monastic life, the life of the Cross and the sanctity.

The monks voted unanimously for the qualification of Brother Jacob for receiving the vows. On April, 14, 1895, he took the simple vow; three years later, he took the permanent vows on April, 24, 1898.

His Priesthood

Brother Jacob was transferred to the Krey Monastery to continue his priestly studies that he had started at the Saint Anthony Convent in Khashbau. He was looking forward to reaching the day when he would be celebrating the mass for the first time: "Lord, Please allow me to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice only once and then afterwards, if You decide to take me, I will accept with consolation and happiness".

He was ordained apostolic deacon (1899), and evangelical deacon (1900) and on November, 1, 1901, he was ordained priest by the Apostolic Nuncio in Lebanon and Syria, Monsignor Duval, the French Dominican friar. He had his first mass at the Saint Louis Church in Beirut (Bab Idriss).
He came to his village Ghazir to celebrate his second mass at the Saint Francis altar, as a rewarding gesture for his parents, brothers and sisters and the people of his village.

Apostle of the People

“Abouna Yaacoub” lived at the Beirut Monastery (Bab Idriss) where he worked with seriousness, dynamism and enthusiastic zeal. He got the appreciation of his superior for his efforts in serving God, so the latter oriented him towards missionary work. Then “Abouna Yaacoub” went on building primary schools for boys and girls in the villages of Lebanon for which he chose good teachers worthy of such a noble mission.

“Abouna Yaacoub” used to look after his schools himself; he used to visit them on foot to check their affairs indifferent to pain and tiredness. Moved by his fatherly apostolic love, he took care of the preparation for the first communion and taught the children personally how to be prepared to receive the Eucharist. His contemporaries testify that he used to hold spiritual festivals and sacred processions of the Host or the Virgin Mary’s icon. He used to take his students and the Tertiaries on pilgrimage visits to the Virgin Mary’s sanctuaries especially that of Our Lady of Lebanon.
Besides the school projects, “Abouna Yaacoub” established the Third Order for men and women just like his father Saint Francis. He spread its principles and rules in cities and villages in 1906. He trained its members with spiritual retreats, preaching and guidance; visiting them on foot from one village to another, in order to meet the members and incite them to be the good example through behavior, attitude and prayer. This is what ensured the spread, permanence and continuity of the Third Order. He wanted them to be new apostles of the Church of Christ and leaven in the Lebanese communities.

Today this Third Order is still spreading in our villages and cities, well protected by the sanctity and prayers of its Founder, managed by an elite group of lay people known for their piety, prayers and faithfulness and taken care of by the Capuchin friars.

“Abouna Yaacoub’s” missionary concern was not restricted to his country but it was also about Palestine, Syria and Baghdad. In addition, he was always looking forward to visiting holy places in France and Italy, so his superiors helped him go to France, then to Rome where he had the chance to meet His Holiness, Pope Pius X in 1910.

In 1914, World War I started and his friends, the French priests, had to leave Lebanon so he was entrusted by his superior Father Jerome with the spiritual and material affairs of the mission, including those of the convents of the European nuns. During that fierce war, “Abouna Yaacoub” was subjected to many dangers to his life but God was always there protecting him from any danger and delivering him from every evil.

Apostle of Mercy in the Kingdom of the Cross

“Abouna Yaacoub” had the dream of raising a giant Cross on one of the hills of Lebanon, because he had seen the disasters and tragedies that had affected Lebanon during the war when thousands died of hunger, were hung or exiled without a Cross being raised on their tombs. He wanted that place to become an assembly place for the Tertiaries to pray for the souls of those who died during the war and for the emigrants.

As he was looking for a place to raise the Cross, he was attracted by a hill in Jall-Eddib that used to be called “hill of the djinns”. So he bought that hill, not without difficulties, on August, 25, 1919 and he went on realizing the project relying on the Providence and “widow’s cent”. “Abouna Yaacoub” waited for the visit of the Superior General of the Capuchin Order, Father Joseph Persisto, to erect the corner stone and bless the project; it was on January, 19, 1921. And the edifice grew, the Church was finished first, so it was given the name of Our Lady of the Sea and was inaugurated on May, 3, 1923 in presence of a big number of Tertiaries. In it they put a statue of the Virgin Mary holding little Jesus and a passengers’ boat at her feet. Finally, on the west side of the Church a big Cross was raised and the dream was realized, the dream of “Abouna Yaacoub”.

He believed that the priest is God’s ambassador or minister on Earth. Therefore, and after the inauguration, he received on October, 4, 1926, the first priest he found abandoned and left alone in one of those hospitals to give him the opportunity to finish his life with dignity in prayer and sanctity. That priest was followed afterwards by other priests, patients and disabled persons from different religions and confessions. The place became too small so he opened other centers for them. At that time, “Abouna Yaacoub” really felt, deep in his heart, the dire need to establish a monastic order that would take care of those sick priests. So he initiated his big project relying on the Providence with a small group of tertiary girls whom he entrusted to the Franciscan Nuns of “Lons le Saunier” to teach. They would later on become the Congregation of the Lebanese Franciscan Sisters of the Cross.

“Abouna Yaacoub” and the Personalities of Lebanon

Due to his so many building activities and projects, he had to be acquainted with the consecutive governments and the personalities of Lebanon. The Convent of the Cross was visited by many personalities and officials, including the following:
President Emile Eddeh who granted him the palm medal of Lebanese merit (on January, 5, 1938); President Beshara El- Khoury who awarded him the golden medal of Lebanese merit (on June, 2, 1949) then the Lebanese cedars medal - officer degree (on November, 26, 1951); President Camille Chamoun who offered him, upon his death, the Lebanese golden cedars medal (in June 1954). While he always used to say: "My medal is the Cross".

Just as he was appreciated and honored by the presidents of the republic, as well as helped and supported by senior Lebanese personalities, including for instance Prime Minister Sami Es Solh, Minister Hikmat Joumblat, the Emir Majeed Arslane, Prime Minister Omar Daouk, he was appreciated worldwide; newspapers in Italy and Spain wrote about him praising the founding Father and his generous humanitarian projects.

“Abouna Yaacoub” and the Golden Jubilee of Priesthood

In 1951, “Abouna Yaacoub” celebrated fifty years of priestly life (1901). That year, the Convent of the Cross was transformed from an asylum to a hospital for mental and psychological diseases, after official recognition by the Lebanese government. The celebration was thus double and “Abouna Yaacoub” was given the Lebanese cedars medal.


“Abouna Yaacoub’s” Death

After a life full of continuous struggle, “Abouna Yaacoub” was finally struck by disease and sight shortage. When his friend Father Dupré Latour told him about his true health condition, he was happy because he was going to meet his father in heaven. When his condition deteriorated more, he said to the Superior General Mary of the Cross Zougheib who was tending him and taking care of him: "It is no longer necessary that you work much for me, my daughter, you did your best, let me now go and meet my Lord". He saw his death as going from one room to another, he said: "I will be in heaven and I will still help you … do not be afraid … I just ask you to take care of the Sisters". Then he gave the nuns his blessing and recommended to them love and obedience.

On Saturday morning, June 26, 1954, he said: "This is my last day". And he passed away holding the Cross of the Lord, the beloved, among the tears of the Sisters and prayers addressed to Jesus, Mary and Joseph. It was three o’clock in the afternoon.

“Abouna Yaacoub” lived eighty years of harvest, struggle and virtues, and he died with the calm and peace of the Saints.

His Funeral

The news of the death of “Abouna Yaacoub”, the Capuchin friar spread in Lebanon and the world. Everybody missed him and thousands went to the Convent of the Cross to take a blessing from him or to see him for the last time. On Sunday morning, June 27, mass was celebrated in presence of the representative of the Holy See, the Apostolic Nuncio Monsignor Beltrami. The funeral was attended by a mass of bishops, priests, monks and nuns, as well as delegations from the Third Order and believers. Prime minister, Speaker of the House, ministers, deputies, notables, holders of official and social positions. After the Gospel was read, Monsignor Boulos Akl, “Abouna Yaacoub’s” old friend and class companion made an oration that was appropriate to the personality of the deceased and that described all his qualities, values, kind acts and projects.

Moreover, the Superior General, Mother Mary of the Cross Zougheib received dozens of messages of condolences from those in Lebanon and abroad, all revealing the high position of the deceased, his sanctity, his virtues and the spread of his projects, including the letter by His Holiness, Pope Pius XII, the letter by Patriarch Antoine Arida, and words from President Beshara El-Khoury and General Fouad Shehab Commander in Chief of the Army. Also, newspapers and magazines displayed his actions and his personality with much loyalty and appreciation.

“Abouna Yaacoub” was buried near the altar at the new Church; where he had said: "This hole will cause problems to you". In fact, six months later, the Church authorities ordered that his body be transferred to a place away from the altar so that only the altar and the Host will be honored.
On April, 28, 1957, and in the presence of many spiritual and non spiritual personalities and masses of people who loved “Abouna Yaacoub”, a statue of him was raised in the middle of the kingdom of love, the city that was built on a mountain, so that he will remain its beacon. Then, in 1979, it was transferred to the entry of Jall-Eddib upon a demand made by the municipality.

Publications by “Abouna Yaacoub”

“Abouna Yaacoub” was interested in the written apostolic aspect of his mission; he believed in the effect of the word. In spite of his many occupations and the requirements of his multiple and urgent projects, he gave writing and publishing an important part of his precious time.
Among his publications
- The Friend of the Family magazine: He founded it in 1913 and continued publishing it till 1939. He collected twenty-six volumes of this magazine. He included in it research documents and valuable articles in which he treated the issues of the family, the society, the Church and the nation, in addition to original stories full of lessons and morals.
- The Life of Saint Francis of Assisi (translation into Arabic by one of the Capuchin missionaries – 1922).
- The Book of the Canticles for the Christians (fourth edition - 1954, fifth edition - 1992). He says in the introduction "…therefore, loyal to God and serving His faithful children, we wanted to put these canticles for every religious occasion, so that the believers can express their faith and their living feeling by chanting them in churches, while going for a walk, or when they are lonely".
- A play entitled: Mysteries of Christmas (1909).
- A booklet containing two spiritual exercises for the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday (25/3/1950).
- The story of the Raising of the Cross (1951).
- Also there are about 8000 handwritten pages that have not yet been collected in a book.

The Spirituality of “Abouna Yaacoub”

“Abouna Yaacoub’s” personality was much marked by relying on the Providence; he was even called "the man of Providence". His trust in Providence increased when he started the project of the Convent of the Cross and all that he received from his superior was his blessing; in fact, he contented himself with it considering it as an expression of God’s blessing. Hadn’t he been insistently pushed by his colleagues, he would not have written to a benefactress in France. When he received a letter from her containing one franc, he was really astonished and he said to himself: "I deserve it. God wanted to show me that He is the one and only benefactor for this project. Since then, I have put in Him alone my hope. To You God I ask and I am never disappointed… As for the famous franc, I have just kept it as a souvenir and as an unforgettable lesson". He often repeated: "The Providence helped me… God took care of me… God blessed my project… God’s Providence has no limit… How strange it is that everything grows at the foot of the Cross".

The Cross was indeed the sweetness of his heart and the breath of his soul. He was always calling for clearly making the sign of the Cross to get protection. He used to practice the exercise of the Stations of the Cross every day and he made it one of the Sisters’ regular prayers. On Good Friday, the believers gathered in the courtyard of the Convent of the Cross to participate with “Abouna Yaacoub” and the Sisters in the Stations of the Cross.

“Abouna Yaacoub” used to hold the Cross very willingly until it became his dear companion; he also implored his daughters the nuns not to fear it. He often repeated: "I myself have the Cross as a destiny", "one ounce of a Cross is much better than a ton of books of prayer", and maybe the dearest prayer to his heart was: "O Cross of the Lord, so dear to the heart".

He used to begin his day with meditation kneeling in front of the Host that he considered to be the source of his strength and his success. He was aspiring to honor it with the masses, and he so often addressed it saying: "How I would prefer to take you in procession throughout the streets rather than closing up on you in the tabernacle". This is why he was always using any feast or religious occasion in order to organize processions and adorations.
Very sad about the indifference of people towards the Host, he said: "The worst crime of our time is this moving away from the Host. Without the Host, our Church would be empty, cold and sad".

“Abouna Yaacoub” is a Marian apostle; he had for the Virgin Mary a very special love that marked all his life. He used to say: "Worshipping Mary, no matter how sacred, is only the door leading to Jesus. Mary is the means, Jesus is the end. Mary is the road, Jesus is the destination". He also says: "…the best way to guide women is through the example of Virgin Mary: she is a virgin and a mother". He used to crown his glorification of his pure Mother by saying the whole rosary every day.

From this faith in the Cross, the Host and the Mother of the Crucified, “Abouna Yaacoub” was filled with the love for God and for the neighbor. He followed the road of the mission and revealed great talents in the fields of preaching and mission. He was a pragmatic preacher speaking the right, targeting the souls, only using easy and simple words. We have so many examples of his preaching, in his handwriting. They all witness the care he gave and the serious interest he had in preparing each of his homilies, even if they contained repetition of subjects and ideas according to the frequent audience. Each homily contains something that astonishes the reader, even more so the listener, i.e. three other constant elements that he never could do without: verses, events and parables of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments; sayings and examples from the Fathers of the Church, the scholars of the spiritual and consecrated life, the saints; and stories, lessons and practical experiences of men of history or events from the contemporary daily life. We can assert that those three constant elements are contained in all his preaching and really constitute the major sources from which “Abouna Yaacoub” drew the essence of his special spirituality. After preaching, he used to spend many consecutive hours in the confessional to wash the souls and ease the consciences.

As for his mission, he was known as the Apostle of Lebanon of which he said: "Lebanon, the land of the fathers and ancestors, is a piece of heaven that fell from the sky to be a land for the Christ to walk on upon his advent. Therefore, the Christ blessed Lebanon the day he visited Tyre and Sidon and Lebanon became the real rock of faith and the pure source of love". “Abouna Yaacoub” aimed at strengthening faith in the hearts of his citizens, so he tried to achieve this with much determination through three major goals:
- The necessity to save the threatened faith: "Lebanon that now is planted with thousands of castles is growing more and more beautiful in appearance, while in the souls of its people, the faith of their ancestors is waning more and more".
- The need to save faith through the family: "Any awareness and educational action should include three main elements: the children, the mothers and the fathers".
- The necessity to create a group of Gospel witnesses: "This is the objective of spreading and consolidating the Third Order in Lebanon: to find lay witnesses for faith through a committed living of the Gospel".

“Abouna Yaacoub's” Legacy to his Daughters the Sisters of the Cross

Before his Death, at a Meeting with the Superior Generals and their Council
On May, 23, 1954, at the Convent of Our Lady of the Well:

How shall I leave you, my daughters? But never fear, God is with you.
My daughters , let your deeds always be worthy of your congregation;
Draw strength from your father's spirit and share it with your sisters.
My daughters, you and your quest for holiness are my only concern.
I wish you achieved perfection so I can rejoice for you.
Love one another; such is my legacy to you, and such is indeed the key
to your success and perseverance; if you love one another
and are at peace with one another, you shall not be defeated;
Each one of you must be ready to give up her life for her sister.

The Congregation of the Lebanese Franciscan Sisters of the Cross achieves its objective through charity actions, including:
1. Providing refuge to the priests who are no longer able to pursue their mission because of sickness or old age;
2. Taking care of the miserable, the blind, the disabled, the mentally ill, the elderly and even the people suffering from chronic diseases who were abandoned by their families and by the hospitals;
3. Taking care of the orphans, boys and girls and educating them;
4. And finally, if need be, accomplishing the mission in schools in the places where the nuns live and where there is no other congregation providing education (Constitutions of the Congregation, art.5).

A Sister of the Cross serves the person of the Christ in every miserable person, in application of the recommendation of her Father who said: "Jesus came to Earth, and He is still hungry through the miserable; they tied Him to earth and He remained tied up in the prisoners and detainees; He suffered on earth and is still suffering every day in the sick".

Educational Projects

It is the oldest of all the schools established by “Abuna Yaacoub”. It opened in 1919 and moved from the house of "Abou Ameen" in Jall-Eddib, to Dar El Mir, to the house of "Sleiman Nassar", to the house of "Gerges Khalil", until it finally settled down in the house of "Bou Semaan" where the founding Father bought the land and built a school named "Saint Francis School". This school had first been run by the Franciscan nuns for ten years and a half, with the help of the parish priest and some of the intellectuals in the village. It prospered after World War II and another section was added to it. Then it was transformed into a secondary school and after the death of “Abuna Yaacoub”, another school, holding his name "The Saint Jacob School", which was free to all students, was established in the neighborhood.

Val Père Jacques School-Bkennaya| Sisters of the Cross School-Hrajel | Saint Francis High School-Ghazir

In 1979, the school was transferred to the vicinity of Our Lady of the Well Convent and it was called "Val Père Jacques" after its Founder and because of its geographical situation. It is one of the major Catholic schools that is proud of its official exams results and the educational goals based on the orientations of the Church and the principles of “Abuna Yaacoub” in terms of education, as well as the curricula of the Lebanese State. The school is committed to the teachings of the Founder. It hosts two thousand pupils from kindergarten to the baccalaureate classes and 134 teachers devoted to providing education with the best possible means. It also ensures all kinds of activities, spiritual, national, technical, sport, scientific, cultural, extracurricular, scout, as well as an annual cultural and artistic festival. The parents’ committees, students, Alumni and teachers play an efficient role at school.
 

In 1950, “Abuna Yaacoub” bought a new land in Brummana with an old house in the middle that was the property of an English association run by the English minister Reverend Daniel Oliver.

This property was not to be sold but Reverend Oliver used to appreciate “Abuna Yaacoub” as it is proven by the letter he addressed to “Abuna Yaacoub” who visited him on his death bed: "Your visit was so dear to my heart, not because you crossed a long distance to come and visit me – and I thank you for this gesture – but for the spirit I felt in you and the actions you are striving to achieve for this spirit… I ask you, my dear friend, to pray for me".
“Abuna Yaacoub” consecrated the Brummana House to Saint Elias and transformed the house into a school and the concierge room into a chapel. Why not, since Saint Elias saved his life twice: once in a car accident on the Antelias road in 1892, when he survived miraculously, and once when he asked Saint Elias to save him from hanging in 1915 and he did in fact.
The school was founded in view of improving the physical, mental and spiritual situation of the Lebanese girls especially the ones who were deprived of the love of parents, whether dead or "alive" according to the words used by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. The school includes 150 girls who study at the Brummana public school for official hours and then come back to their mother school to live with the care of the Sisters who help them in their studies and culture, providing them with physical and spiritual education, with knowledge and practice, in view of preparing them for a prosperous, reassuring and dignified future.

The Congregation was present in Bsheele prior to the year 1977, when the currently existing Home was established. It is a gift from the parents of Sister Lilia Marie El-Achi who gave the house along with all their properties. The Sisters served this village in the field of education when the private free school was under the Maronite Patriarchate Authority. When this school was transformed into a public school, the nuns stayed in charge only of the kindergarten upon a demand made by the “waqf” Committee. Women and girls benefited from many training sessions on embroidery, dressmaking and flower arrangement.
The Sisters are currently teaching catechism and taking care of the preparation for the first communion as well as other spiritual activities in the villages of: Deirbella, Beit Shlala, Tannourine Et-Tahta Douma and others. In Bsheele, the main concern is about spiritual activities in the parish and the spiritual accompaniment of the nuns: the Knights of Mary, the Mary’s Brotherhood for the youth. In addition to that, the Sisters run the church affairs in the parish.

Upon a demand made by the Apostolic Nuncio Monsignor Leprêtre, representative of His Holiness Pope Pius XII, and as an execution of the wish of the Founder to provide direct service to the Church and to the priest, three Sisters started working at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lebanon in 1943.
When the war broke out, the Apostolic Nunciature was transferred in 1976 from its headquarters in Georges Picot Street – Beirut to other safer places in Beirut, until it settled in 1983 in the summer seat in Harissa where the daughters of “Abuna Yaacoub” remain attached to his promise in constant work with unbeatable vigor.

This center is a girls’ orphanage of the Franciscan order in Jerusalem, and it was just an act of the Providence. The Founder wished that the Congregation would have a place in the Holy Land for pilgrimage and religious visits. The Regional Superior of the Franciscans Father Giuseppe Nazarro proposed in 1993 that they take charge of this orphanage situated in the center of the city of Jerusalem and next to the sacred tomb. The Sisters are in charge of the management of the Home and take care of the girls, humanely and educationally, in addition to prayers, processions and canticles in the Resurrection and Gethsemane churches, indifferent to the risks they might face, accomplishing their mission with much love, loyalty and objectivity, getting inspiration from the Franciscan friars for the spirituality of protecting the Holy Land and from “Abuna Yaacoub” they inherited the love of taking care of the orphans and the needy.

Jubilee Celebrations

Saturday evening, June 26, 2004, is a great date in the Convent of the Cross. In the shade of the church of Our lady of the Sea, the seat of its foundation, His Eminence Cardinal Mar Narallah Boutros Sfeir, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, celebrated the Mass in the presence of the President of the Republic of Lebanon, President Emile Lahoud, and the First Lady as well as several religious, political, official and military personalities from all over the country.
This event took place in a quiet and highly spiritual atmosphere. The Patriarch celebrated the Mass on the same altar that was used by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II when he visited Lebanon. The hymns were sung by the Sisters of the Cross. Different Sacramental symbols were explained; the offerings were trusted to a Sister from the founders helped by one from the last generation as a token of the eternal service of the Cross; a capuchin priest testified by his presence that “Abuna Yaacoub” belonged to the Capuchin Order; a brother was there from the Third Order attesting the devotion of the Franciscan believers; the Mass was also attended by “Abuna Yaacoub’s” nephew, representing the El-Haddad family in Ghazir.

The Mass started with the singing of introductory hymns, and the speech of Superior General Mother Marie Makhlouf:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind; to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people" .
Mr. President Emile Lahoud,
Your Eminence Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East,
Our honourable audience,
I welcome you in my name and in the name of all my Sisters of the Congregation of the Lebanese Franciscan Sisters of the Cross, in love and joy, to this blessed Convent, on this blessed occasion of the diamond Jubilee, of the foundation of our Congregation and the fiftieth anniversary of the death of “Abuna Yaacoub” El-Haddad the Capuchin friar, on which we receive the blessings of Heaven in your presence.

The Holy Spirit that descended upon Jesus Christ for his mission of salvation, descended on “Abuna Yaacoub” and the Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross, wherever and whenever they set up their work.
It is that same Holy Spirit that is with us and inspires us on this blessed Jubilee, so that we abide by the Holy Will of God, true to the spirit of “Abuna Yaacoub”, and our patron Saint Francis.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, “Abuna Yaacoub” did what only a Saint could do.
These are his words: "Everybody is awed by what God has achieved through me, the government itself is stunned. Still, I am tormented by this one question: Do I love God with all my soul, all my being? Did I give Him what I owe Him? I know no answer to this question".

“Abuna Yaacoub” always prayed for God's help, kneeling before the Cross in fervent prayer, lifting his arms before the Virgin. He walked the Path of the prophets and the Apostles and founded this Congregation to make sure that his work continues. Thus the Congregation of the Lebanese Franciscan Sisters of the Cross was born, and never foundered in its social and humanitarian mission, always taking care of the sick, the wretched and the disabled, of children and old people alike, turning pain into hope, and anxiety and anger into comfort and trust in Christ.

All the projects of “Abuna Yaacoub”, hospitals, old people's homes, orphanages and schools are meant to serve mankind, i.e. people of all religions, races and nationalities: “My lot is to help those who are without medical care or family. My duty is to welcome them without discrimination of any sort".

We, “Abuna Yaacoub’s” daughters, have taken on the mission, armed with his teachings based on the Gospel and his spirit and the spirit of Saint Francis. “Abuna Yaacoub” taught us that the earth could no longer contain all that pain and weariness. We put all our efforts in fighting these burdens of the soul and we try to pray and forgive and tend to wounded bodies and souls, to make life easier for many. Our role model is a man who was known as “Providence Man”, because he relied so much on Divine Providence. One day he confided in Mother Marie Zougheib, the first Superior General and co-founder of the Congregation: "This Congregation was created by God alone, and He shall provide for it. Without God's help, we cannot even put two stones together. And if this project is God's project, then it will survive against all odds".

Therefore, on this Jubilee, we give our thanks and praises to the Lord. It is a great event in our lives, that will deepen our loyalty to the Spirit of this Congregation, and enhance the nun’s commitment, their love and dedication to those who are in need, so they can repeat in thanks giving and joy Jesus’ quote of the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind; to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people”.

The Papal Blessing “His Holiness, Pope John Paul II heartily gives his Blessing to the Superior General Mother Marie Makhlouf and to all the Lebanese Franciscan Sisters of the Cross on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Congregation and the 50th anniversary of the death of its Founder, the Venerable “Abuna Yaacoub” El-Haddad”.

Finally, we thank you, your Excellency Mr. President Emile Lahoud, for celebrating this event with us in person; your presence with us today shows how deeply you appreciate the human and spiritual values that are embodied by “Abuna Yaacoub’s” projects.
And we thank you, your Eminence, Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, for celebrating this Holy Mass, which is indeed an honour to us and an event in our lives and a tribute to the success of our mission.
We thank the Apostolic Nuncio, His Excellency Monsignor Luigi Gatti for representing His Holiness, Pope John Paul II among us.
We thank you, your Excellency Mr. Ex-President, your Eminences, Ministers and Members of Parliament and Superior Generals and military officials, managers, municipal councils and gentlemen of the media, and all our Fathers, Brothers and Sisters, here with us today.

Thanks to God's guidance and under the aegis of the Cross and the protection of Virgin Mary and our Father Saint Francis, and in the spirit of our Founder “Abuna Yaacoub”, for whose canonization we pray, we commit ourselves again before you to serving God and the Church and Lebanon. “O Cross of the Lord, so dear to the heart”: Such is our motto.

Long live the Cross! Long live the Church! Long live Lebanon and the people of Lebanon!

After the speech of the Superior General, his Eminence the Patriach Sfeir started the Pontifical Mass. After the reading of the Gospel the Apostolic Nuncio, Monsignor Luigi Gatti, read the Blessing of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, which translation is as follows:

Then His Eminence Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir's said the following homily:

Mr. President,

Your presence here at the head of all who are celebrating these two important events; the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Congregation and the 50th anniversary of the death of “Abuna Yaacoub”, makes us very happy. We are here to join our voices in prayer to those of the good Sisters and to all those who are celebrating these events with us today. May God bestow His graces on them and bless their humanitarian work and grant us our joint prayer for “Abuna Yaacoub’s” canonization. There is no doubt that your presence with us today will reinforce the Sisters' motivation, and that of all those who dedicate themselves to social welfare in Lebanon, in your mandate and under your patronage.
"Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest” .

1-We have come on the Superior General Mother Marie Makhlouf's invitation, to celebrate the Mass and give thanks to God for everything He did for the Congregation, on the occasion of its 75th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the death of its Founder “Abuna Yaacoub”.
We congratulate the Sisters on these two holy occasions, and we pray to God through the intercession of the Virgin and the prayer of their Venerable Founder to support the Sisters' efforts at helping the orphans, the sick, the chronically ill and those who were rejected by their closest kins; for in so doing, they serve the Lord, who said: "Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest”.

2- Jesus Christ did not only welcome in words those who were in need, but also healed the sick in Galilee:
“Large crowds came to him”, wrote Matthew, “bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the dumb, and many other sick people, whom they placed at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them”.
From its first days, the Church has helped the weary and the burdened, true to the Christian spirit. In the Acts, it is stated that “All the believers continued together in close fellowship and shared their belongings with one another. They would sell their property and possessions, and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed”.

Everybody knows that the Church has always taken under its wings life’s handicapped. Aren't they the sons and daughters of God? And didn't our Lord die on the Cross for their sake? There may be other associations that see to these people's needs; still, they are not built on the principle that we are all the sons and daughters of God. The Church has always fought discrimination against the sick and the handicapped, a social phenomenon best illustrated by the Nazis not long ago.

3- Unfortunately, this social phenomenon still exists, albeit in an underhand sort of way; for in many cases, the rich alone can afford medication. The others are sentenced to die slowly. Here, it must be said that, in spite of great difficulties, the Lebanese Government is supporting the poor who cannot afford medical care. Still, they remain in need, and those who suffer from chronic diseases or permanent handicaps find solace in this Convent, regardless of their religion. It is no secret that some of them are abandoned by their kins at night at the gate.
Such associations, which help the State to do its duty by its disadvantaged citizens, are entitled to your support. A society that refuses to help its weaker members such as the disabled and the marginalized is not humane, much less Christian.
The Second Council of the Vatican reminded us clearly of our duty:
"Christianity must whole-heartedly contribute to a world system based on the respect of freedom and a spirit of brotherhood. Christians around the world must do this gladly and with no hesitation, for a great part of humanity still wallows in misery. Christ is alive in the poor and is calling upon us to help".

The Apostolic Guide, “A New Hope for Lebanon”, also says: “Christians must give their support to the poor to abide by God's law, for the poor represent the Lord Christ and are his beloved children. Christians must renew the spirit of brotherhood by helping their brothers in need. They must pray to God to make this spirit, the Church's spirit, whole again”.

4- It is in this same spirit that “Abuna Yaacoub” founded the Congregation of the Lebanese Franciscan Sisters of the Cross. “Abuna Yaacoub’s” prayers were answered, for he cared for those in need and trusted in God. Whenever he needed money, God sent him a benefactor out of nowhere. Once, he found himself unable to feed the sick in his convent. He knelt before the altar and prayed, and help was soon on the way. He was much like Father Cottolengo in this way, who had the same infallible trust in God, and who used to throw out the window whatever was left of the money he spent during the day, and the next day, God unfailingly saw to his needs. Praised be the Lord, Who feeds the birds and dresses the lilies of the field.
We pray to God for “Abuna Yaacoub’s” beatification and canonization, and thank Him for blessing us with a new Saint Nemetallah Kassab Al Hardini, and we trust that Providence alone will end our pain and suffering.

Finally we congratulate our daughters on these two blessed occasions, and pray to God through the intercession of Virgin Mary and “Abuna Yaacoub”, to reward them and give them His blessing.

A reception crowned the celebration.