Dec. 14: St. Nimatullah Al-Hardini (1808-1858)

Father Hardini was born Joseph Kassab in the year 1808. Joseph entered the school of the monks of St. Anthony at Houb from 1816 to 1822 and then entered the monastery of St. Anthony Ishaia and became a novice on November 1828. There he adopted the name Fr. Nimatullah Kassab Hardini, then he learned to bind books.

He professed his first vows on 14th of November 1830. After he finished his theological studies, he was ordained a priest under Bishop Seiman Zwain in the monastery at Kfifan on 25th of December 1833.

Father Nimatullah lived a very holy life. He was a man of prayer, totally "enraptured by God". He spent days and nights in meditation, prayer and adoration of the Eucharist. The Virgin Mary was his patron and Father Nimatullah prayed Her Rosary. He was also a very humble, sensitive and patient person who lived his monastic vows of "obedience, chastity and poverty" to perfection. His fellow brother Monks and the people who knew him called him "The Saint" while he was still alive. One of his students was Charbel Makhlouf (St. Charbel), 1853 to 1858.

Father Nimatullah Hardini died in the monastery of Kfifan on 14th December 1858. He passed away after struggling ten days with a high fever which he contracted from the cold winter wind characteristic of northern Lebanon. He was only then fifty years of age. He died holding a picture of the Virgin Mary, his last words being: "O Virgin Mary between your hands I submit my soul." People who were nearby at the moment of Father Nimatullah's death witnessed a heavenly light illuminating his room and an aromatic smell which remained in his room for a number of days afterwards.

Some time later, the Monks opened Father Nimatullah's tomb and to their surprise they found his body had remained incorrupt. He was then removed and placed in a coffin near the church.

He was declared a saint on May 16, 2004 under the auspices of John Paul II.
(Excerpted from the Saint Hardini website.)

O Lord Jesus Christ,

Who set the heart of Saint Nimatullah on fire with desire to contemplate and penetrate the mystery of your divine love.

You made him a teacher bowing to the truth of your incarnation and by his example a source of encouragement to Saint Sharbel and many others.

Grant us like him to go deep into your secrets, and give us by his intercession whatever we need according to the will of your Blessed Father and to the grace of your living Holy Spirit.

Amen.