SAINT NIMATULLAH KASSAB, PRIEST AND CONFESSOR - 14 DECEMBER

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN DECEMBER

Saints celebrated on the 14th of December

WELCOME!

SAINT NIMATULLAH KASSAB, PRIEST AND CONFESSOR 

Youssef Kassab was born in 1808 in Hardine, Lebanon. His parents, George Kassab and Marium Raad, had seven children altogether. As a boy, Youssef attended the school run by the monks of the Lebanese Maronite Order at the Monastery of St Anthony in the village of Houb. After he finished his studies there in 1822, he entered the Monastery of St Anthony in Qozhaya, entering the novitiate of the Order which had taught him. 

He took the monastic name of Nimatullah, which means "the grace of God". Kassab learned bookbinding to begin with. After the priestly training, Nimatullah was ordained in 1833. He was then assigned by the abbot to teach at the Order's seminary. Among his students was a famed member of the order, Charbel Makhlouf, now widely venerated by the entire Catholic Church.

Nimatullah spent his entire life in prayer and the service of his order. He served on its general council for most of the period 1845 -1858, also serving as Assistant Abbot General by appointment of the Holy See, in addition to his duties in the seminary.

Nimatullah was severe on himself but a model of patience and forbearance to his fellow monks. 

He fell ill in the winter of 1858, dying of fever. In 1864, his tomb was opened for re-burial; his body was found to be intact. 

Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimatullah_Kassab

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Nimatullah may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.