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Libanonci imaju dugu tradiciju kršćanstva.Zaštitnica Libanona je Blažena Djevica Marija.Zovu je “As-Saidy”-Plemenita Gospa.
Postoji slika pod nazivom “Our Lady of Lebanon” (Gospa Libanonska).



Postavljena je bila u jedno svetište i nakon deset godina,9.prosinca 1932.g. izbio je požar.Izgorjelo je sve osim slike.Nakon požara,Gospa se pojavila u snu lokalnom biskupu i svećeniku s porukom,da sliku stave iznad glavnog oltara,kada se obnovi crkva.

Kršćani u Libanonu,zovu se maroniti po sv.Maronu,svećeniku i pustinjaku,koji je obratio tamošnje pogane na kršćanstvo.

U novije vrijeme,papa Pavao VI.,1977.g.proglasio je svetim sv.Sharbela (Yusuf Antoun Makhluf (1828. – 1898.),rodjenog u sjevernom Libanonu.



Bio je katolički svećenik i pustinjak.Njegov život,bio je pun molitve,odricanja i svetosti.Nekoliko mjeseci nakon njegove smrti,iznad njegova groba,pojavila se svjetlost.Dolazili su hodačasnici i dogodila su se ozdravljenja bolesnika.Godine 1950.g. otvorili su njegov grob,u prisutnosti liječnika,koji su ustvrdili da je tijelo ostalo u početnom stanju,nije bilo znakova raspadanja (to je često znak svetosti).Tada je njegov grob pohodilo mnogo vjernika i dogodilo se na tisuće ozdravljenja i čuda.



Papa Ivan Pavao II.proglasio je svetom,2001.g. sv.Rafku (Rafqa Shabaq ar-Rayes (1832.-1914.),redovnicu poznatu i pod nazivom “Little Flower of Lebanon” (Mali Cvijet Libanona).Kada je imala 53.g.molila je Isusa da može sudjelovati u Njegovoj patnji.Uskoro se to ostvarilo,osjećala je veliku bol slijedećih trideset godina.postepeno je oslijepila i postala paralizirana,no usprkos toga,molila se,prela vunu i plela.Voljela je Boga do kraja.Kao nagradu,primila je mnoge znakove s neba,imala je viziju raja.Ostvarila je slavu i trijumf sudjelujući u Isusovoj patnji.Dogodila su se brojna čuda,nakon njene smrti.Zaštitnica je bolesnika.



Papa Ivan Pavao II.proglasio je blaženim,1998.g. Josepha Kassaba Hardinija (1808.-1858.).Bio je svećenik,mnogo se molio,meditirao i iskazivao veliko poštovanje prema Euharistiji.Bio je jako skroman,osjećajan i pažljiv.Još dok je bio živ,govorili su da je svetac.Umro je u pedesetoj godini,držeći u ruci Marijinu sliku i govoreći:”Djevice Marijo u Tvoje ruke,predajem svoju dušu.”

Vodi se postupak za proglašenje blaženima i svetima,još nekoliko libanonskih katoličkih duhovnih velikana : Estfan al-Dwayhi, Edouard Billotet i 4 suradnika, Launard Melki, Bsharah Abu Mrad, Estfan Nehme i Ya‘qub Haddad.

Evo još jedne libanonske svetice – male djevojčice Aquiline – iz 3. stoljeća.
Dakako, tada u Libanonu nije bilo Maronita (nazvani po svetom Maronu koji je živio u drugoj polovici 4. stoljeća).

Tko engleski zna – taj zna, tko ne zna - dva . (A na kraju i veličanstveni link za sve libanonske svece – da, da, o da !)

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Aquilina was born in Byblos in 281. Her father's name was Eutolmius. She received her catechism from Evthalios, Bishop of Byblos. Her heart was inflamed with the love of Christ; hence her faith and fervor radiated like the sun in Byblos and its surroundings. At the age of twelve, Aquilina began an endeavor to spread Christianity among her compatriots. That was done through her example and teachings driven by the zeal of apostles and the innocence of children. Due to her preaching, many of the pagans were baptized, especially young lads and maidens. She was reported to the authorities and brought before Magistrate Volusian during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, and, when questioned about her activities she replied "I am Christian". The Magistrate said, "You are leading your friends and comrades away from the religion of our gods to the belief in Christ, the Crucified. Don't you know that our kings condemn this Christ and sentence to death those who worship him? Leave this error and offer oblation to the gods and you shall live. If you refuse, you shall undergo the most atrocious sufferings." Aquilina answered "I am not afraid of suffering at all; rather, I aspire to it because with it I emulate my God, Jesus Christ, and die like Him, so that I am resurrected and glorified with Him."
Upon her response, Volusian ordered that she be flogged. She was then tied and flogged mercilessly. The Magistrate tried again to shake her determination, but she answered with courage: "Neither you nor Satan will be able to impose on me sufferings stronger than my strength to sustain, with the power of my God, Jesus."
Volusian, the Magistrate, tried to forget the matter of this maiden, counting on time to change her position, saying to her: "You are going to change your opinion in a few days, so contemplate the matter." Aquilina answered, "I shall never change my mind. I am determined and I shall not budge. I lived a Christian since my childhood and Christian I shall die." Upon her answer, the Magistrate ordered that her body be lacerated by a sharp rake. This lasted until she fainted and fell on the floor, then her eardrums were punctured with flaming iron rods forcing the brain to discharge through her nose. Volusian thought that she had died so he ordered that she be thrown outside the walls of the city.
Later, it is said with the help of an angel, Aquilina regained consciousness and went before the Magistrate. Upon seeing her, he was astonished and thought that he was dreaming. He ordered that she be imprisoned and decapitated in the morning. The next day, 13th June 293 A.D, she was found dead in her cell. The Christians buried her body outside the city where her tomb became a site for pilgrimage and cures.
Later her holy relics were transported to Constantinople where a great basilica was built in her honor near the Forum of Constantine in the Philoxene quarter. This basilica was later destroyed in a fire.

Obećani link za štovano čitateljstvo: http://www.cedarland.org/saints.html

Puno hvala na ovom tekstu o sv.Aquilini!

Neka Bog da mir Libanonu iz kojeg izviru ovi divni sveci!!

Molim, dragi brate u Kristu ...