The 22nd of the Month

The tradition traces to Nohad El Shami, a Lebanese mother of twelve. She suffered a stroke on January 9, 1993, and was left partially paralyzed. Her eldest son Saad went to the hermitage at Annaya, appealed to Saint Charbel, and brought back blessed oil and soil from the tomb.

Her account of the words Saint Charbel spoke to her is retold, clearly labeled as her testimony, on our Saint Charbel quotes page.

In the night of January 22, 1993, Nohad dreamed that Saint Charbel, accompanied by another monk, performed surgery on her. He told her: "I performed the surgery to help people regain their faith. I ask you to visit my hermitage in Annaya on the 22nd of every month and attend Mass regularly for the rest of your life."

She awoke healed, bearing two small scars on her neck - and she kept that monthly pilgrimage for the rest of her life, until her death in May 2025. Others healed through Saint Charbel's intercession have reported similar dreams of "surgery" in the night.

What began as one woman's promise has become a recognized day of devotion. On the 22nd of each month the monastery holds Mass and, weather permitting, a Eucharistic procession, and pilgrims gather in large numbers - Father Louis Matar of the Lebanese Maronite Order, who records the miracles attributed to Saint Charbel, puts the monthly pilgrimage at up to 30,000 people, sometimes 75,000: Christians, Druze, Hindus, and Muslims alike.

Expect crowds, candles, and incense, and a slower line to reach the tomb. For a quieter visit, choose an ordinary weekday; to stand inside the living tradition, choose the 22nd. Practical details are in the pilgrim's guide to visiting Annaya.

The 22nd can be kept anywhere. A few simple ways:

• Attend Mass on the 22nd, as Saint Charbel asked of Nohad - many Maronite parishes worldwide now hold a special Mass that day.
• Pray the Rosary for your intention - today's mystery meditation loads the right mystery with guided audio.
• Anoint with the holy oil of Saint Charbel, if your family keeps a vial from Annaya: a small cross on the forehead with a short prayer.
• Light a candle before his image and leave your intention in his hands.
• Read one recorded miracle aloud from the testimonies page - Nohad's own story is there, in her words.

Is the 22nd of the month an official feast of the Church?

No. The liturgical feasts are July 24 in the universal calendar and the third Sunday of July in the Maronite Church - see the feast day page. The 22nd is a devotional custom that grew from Nohad El Shami's healing in 1993 and the monthly pilgrimage she kept afterward. It is loved and widely observed, but it is a tradition of the faithful, not a decree.

Do I have to be at Annaya to keep the 22nd?

No. Saint Charbel's reported words to Nohad asked her to visit the hermitage monthly - that was her call, and pilgrims who can go, go. But the day is kept just as fully at home: Mass, the Rosary, a candle, the holy oil, a prayer for your intention. Maronite parishes on every continent now hold 22nd-of-the-month Masses - see Saint Charbel around the world.

What actually happens at Annaya on the 22nd?

Mass, and weather permitting a Eucharistic procession, with crowds that Father Louis Matar of the Lebanese Maronite Order puts at up to 30,000, sometimes 75,000. Expect a slower line to the tomb. If you want quiet prayer instead, an ordinary weekday is the better choice - the pilgrim's guide has the practical details.

Can I ask Saint Charbel for healing on the 22nd?

Yes - that is what the day is for. The prayer for healing page has words for a sick loved one and for yourself. One honest note, as always on this site: prayer asks, and God remains free - no date or formula guarantees an outcome.

• CNEWA: Lebanon's Beloved Saint - Nohad El Shami's account and family interviews, the dream quote, her death in May 2025, and Father Matar's crowd figures
• Charbel App: Visiting Annaya - Mass and Eucharistic procession on the 22nd, and what pilgrims can expect
• Charbel App: Saint Charbel Feast Day - the 22nd-of-the-month custom and its spread to parishes worldwide