|
The Life of the Saint Nimatullah Kassab HARDINI
His Origin
He is Youssef son of Gerjes KASSAB & Mariyam RAAD, from Hardin – Batroun heights, and he is the fourth in a row of five boys: Assaf, Elias (Hermit Elishaa), Tanios, Youssef (Saint Nimatullah ) & Jacob, also two girls: Msihiet & Mariam. He was born in March 1808. He grew up in an agricultural mountain neighborhood and matured in “The town of thirty monasteries and churches”, in this atmosphere saturated with devoutness, virtue, righteousness and piousness. He studied in the school of the village then he moved to his grandfather’s house, priest Youssef RAAD in Tannourin, in the year 1816 until 1822. He was taught his elementary lessons, in the St. Antonios HOUB School – Tannourin, a school pertaining to the Lebanese Maronite Order.
He then returned to his village to help his father in agriculture and pasturing, persevering in praying in churches and hermitages, until he reached his twenties. He heard the voice of God from his deep soul calling him to join the monastery.
Joining the Lebanese Maronite Order
Youssef entered the novitiate of the LMO, in the monastery of Saint Anthony the Great- Kouzhaya, on the 1st of November 1828. It was the Abbot Father Makarious El-Shahroury who dressed him the novitiate cassock, taking on the name: Brother Nimatullah, and there he apprenticed book binding and tailoring. Meanwhile his brother, Father Elishaa was experiencing his vocation for hermit in one of the monastery hermitages. Br. Nimatullah took his monastic vows on November 14, 1830.
Father Nimatullah continued his Philosophic and Theological studies in the LMO school of St. Cyprian & Justine monastery – KFIFAN between the years 1830 and 1835.
During the period of his theology studies, he spent a recreation period in St. Moussa monastery- Douwar. Bishop Simon Zouein ordained him a priest in Kfifan Monastery on the 25th of December 1835.
His Service in the Order
Between the year 1835 and 1838, Father Nimatullah was a monk in Kfifan Monastery providing teaching to children, and assisting in the service of the neighborhood parishioners.
Between 1838 and 1845, he was appointed pastor of the scholastic brothers in Kfifan Monastery. He was appointed General Assistant of the Order by his Holy See for three periods: 1845-1847; 1850-1853; 1856-1858). During that period of time the Abbotship was located in the Monastery of Our Lady of Tamish.
In 1848 he was appointed assistant superior of St Maroun monastery- Annaya. In 1849 we find him a teacher in St Michael BHERSAF. Between 1853 and 1856 Father Nimatullah was in Kfifan monastery, continuing his teachings in Moral Theology to the scholastics, one of whom was Brother Charbel Makhlouf (Saint Charbel) from BKAAKAFRA.
On December 4, 1858, he caught the pleurisy disease, caused by the north wind. He was in the monastery of Kfifan. On the 14th of December 1858 he died and was buried in the monastery.
The Spirituality of Saint Nimatullah
“That’s how the Order is, that’s how it was, and that’s how it will always be. The wise person is the one who can save his soul.” (St. Nimatullah)
Father Nimatullah sanctified himself through the life of monastic communitarian, so that he was called “Lawful Monk” moreover; he was “the Living monastic constitution”.
In addition to his continuous vigil and long adoration before the Blessed Eucharist in Church, his permanent friends were the Holy Bible and Saint Alfonse Di Lecury book “The Glories of Mary”. He was known for his friendly nature, he does not accept special treatment nor does he accept jobs except as an order of obeying. He even evaded the post of General Superior, and he preferred to be submitting to a ministry rather than becoming a General Superior himself, by his saying: “I ask of God not to die while I am on a Ministry”. He lived in asceticism, eremitic and abstained from food, clothes and sleep. He also abstained from all tendencies and desires. He spent his time in continuous prayers, while carrying the qualities of patience and humbleness. He carried the burden of managerial responsibility, perseverance in education and teaching, breaking of will and bearing the weakness of the weak. Through all of this his heart was directed towards the Heavenly treasure, in the light of the face of Jesus Christ and His glory.
His Admiration for the Mother of Our Lord
He had a filial love for the Blessed Virgin Mary; even more he was a wanderer in this love, struck by it. Her Blessed Name was always on his lips, calling for her intercession day and night, and admiring at her holy icons. He used to take deep breath as though he wanted to get out of the prison of the body to enjoy seeing her in eternity. Whenever he entered his cell or went out of it, he would kneel before her icon, and salute her by angelic salutations. He glorified specifically the Immaculate Conception; even before the church confirmed this doctrine in the year 1854.” (Father Nimatullah El Kafry, 1908).
His Sanctification
His contemporaries used to call him “Saint of Kfifan”, regarding his eminent virtues, so if they wanted to pinpoint the virtuousness of anyone, they would say: “He is just like the Hardini” or “so and so has Hardined” indicating that he is following the steps of Saint Hardini. He taught for many years and always preached by being the good example to be followed rather than just by his words. He continued working on the art of book binding and tailoring all his life.
On the night that he was buried a bright shining light radiated out from the grave. Believers from all around headed to his grave seeking blessings and benedictions.
A request for his sanctification was applied to the Holy See in Rome on May 14, 1926. On September 7, 1989, Pope John Paul II confirmed his heroic virtues, so he declared him blessed. He was beatified on May 10, 1998, by Pope John Paul II, after the confirmation of a healing miracle for the young man Andre NAJM from his cancer disease. He was then declared a saint for the Universal Church on May 16, 2004, after confirming the miracle of healing from blindness of Mrs. Rose SAAD. The Maronite Church celebrates the feast day of St. Nimatullah Hardini on December the 14th.
The House of the Saint Nimatullah Kassab El Hardini- HARDINE
The monks of Kfifan Monastery provide the spiritual service in the house of Saint Nimatullah – Hardine. The order purchased it in the year 1973 and they worked on its restoration, until it was transformed to a place of pilgrimage on May 10, 1998, on the same day when Father Nimatullah was beatified. In this house, Saint Nimatullah was born and grew up in body, in grace and in wisdom. He was brought up with the love of God and his fellow human beings, taking the example of two devout, venerable parents.
Through this house, which became the lighthouse and lantern that shines the sacred mountain of Hardine, the believer is introduced to an atmosphere of holiness and purity which prevails in this town. It holds veteran history for civilizations, rites and people that passed by it. The village also embraces in its space thirty monasteries and churches, and it is famous for its large rocky tiles which contains thousands of maritime animals that turned into stone.
|
