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T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
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Administration | The Sanctuary | Bethania
Introduction
From Our Lady of Lebanon Sanctuary, you feel the sky embraces the Earth and places it into Mary’s heart. There, Mary radiates a glow around gloomy hearts and transforms a tiny spot like Harissa, into a haven for penitents, a consolation for sad people, a path for wanderers, and a guide and an oasis where tired souls can rest.
 
 
Meaning of “Harissa”
The word Harissa comes from the word Haras which means, in Arabic and Hebrew, a sharp blade, a knife, any cutting tool, or also, a sheer edge. And this corresponds to the nature of the hill on which stands the village, named by its inhabitants “Roueiss”. Therefore, some historians believe that the old Semitic word harissa means roueiss in Arabic, a steep-sided high hill.
Overlooking the bay of Jounieh, the Sanctuary is built on a 350 hectares piece of land, 650m high from sea level, and 26kms to the north of Beirut, in the Mohafazat of Mount Lebanon. As it neighbors the village of Daroun, it is part of the Kesrwan caza. It is also close to Bkerke, see of the Maronite Patriarchate. It is famous for its greenness, the multitude of its trees, the abundance and purity of its sources. It is the door to Paradise…
 
How it all started
On the fiftieth commemoration of the “Immaculate Conception” dogma declared by His Holiness Pope Pius IX in 1854, His Beatitude Maronite Patriarch Elias Hoayek and the Apostolic Nuncio Carlos Duval decided to erect a religious monument that would be a keepsake of this event.
According to Father Henri Jalabert sj, Lucien Cattin, Father Superior of the Jesuits in the Middle East at the time, suggested to raise a big statue of the Virgin that could be seen from far and that would illustrate the Honoring of and the attachment of the Lebanese people to Mary.
After the Patriarch and the Nuncio had sought advice from bishops, priests, monks and laics, the sanctuary was named “Our Lady of Lebanon”, and the project was launched.
 
Construction
After consulting with engineers who were authorities in the field, a place at the top of the Harissa hill called “the rock” was chosen to build the sanctuary, and the implementation phase got close. Committees began to raise funds in order to execute the project. The generosity of the Lebanese people conveyed their love for Mary.
After negotiations, Mr. Francis Yaacoub sold the land to the Patriarchate for the symbolic sum of fifty Ottoman Pounds.
The laying of the foundation-stone took place in October 1904, but work was interrupted for several reasons; one of them was the fear the land could not carry a monument of that size.
In 1907, Patriarch Hoayek and Msgr. Fridiano Giannini, the new Apostolic Nuncio, resumed the work and made some adjustments to the project such as enlarging the west side of the sanctuary.
To make sure the construction was carried out appropriately, a deed was signed in 1906 with a contracting company, as the first party and, as the second party, skilled master-artisan Ibrahim Makhlouf (from Ain el Rihaneh). The statue was built in 1907.
It is good to keep in mind that Father Chucrallah Khoury, Superior of the Lebanese Maronite Missionaries was from the beginning, the Patriarch’s right hand man in the management and the execution of the project. He was elected Father Superior of the Congregation, after the election of Father Youssef Moubarak as Bishop of the Saida Diocese.
With the help of the Apostolic Enunciator, and particularly Father Pere, Secretary of the Enunciator, and Cattin, Father Superior of the Jesuits, the Patriarch was able to overcome the financial problem – resulting from the volume and the cost of the project - by sending a letter to the Maronite “Wakfs” and charity organizations, asking them to pay a preset sum of money, to be collected by Father Chucrallah Khoury.
Building the Sanctuary and the statue cost approximately 50000 gold French francs, donated by believers; among them was a French lady who wished to remain anonymous and made a contribution of 16000 francs. The land was offered by the Maronite Patriarch and the Nuncio.
According to his last wishes, Bishop Duval’s body was transferred from Beirut to Our Lady of Lebanon Sanctuary. On the west wall of the shrine, is placed a commemorative marble plaque on which is engraved in the Latin language the history of the event, in appreciation of Duval’s love to the Virgin and his passion for her sanctuary in Lebanon.
 
Launching
To erect such a monument, a faraman (sultan’s decree) stating the approval of Ottoman authorities, ruling then, had to be issued. Mount Lebanon “Moutassaref”, Mouzher Bacha, sent a telegram asking for Istanbul consent and, almost miraculously, received a positive answer only a few hours later.
 At the beginning of 1908, the shrine and the statue’s pedestal were executed under the supervision of Father Chucrallah Khoury, officially assigned by the Patriarch to take the lead on the project. Shortly after, Our Mother Mary’s statue was built, and inauguration took place on May 3rd, the first Sunday of that month.
At 10.00 am, Msgr. Giannini started the inaugural ceremony with prayers and then blessed the sanctuary and the statue, thanking God for an achievement that would nurture and develop real faith. The devoted assembly was informed of His holiness Pope Pius X’s message for the showering of heavenly blessings on all those who had had contributed to the execution of the project, or those who were attending the launching ceremony.
Amid the guests, were Lebanese Brigadier Barbar Beik El Khazen, representing Mount Lebanon “Moutassaref” Youssef Franco Bacha, and His Excellency Habib Beik Bitar, “Ca’im-macam” of the Caza of Kesrwan, as well as large crowds of believers and visitors.
The ceremony was followed by the holly mass, celebrated by Patriarch Hoayek, bishops, general superiors, representatives of congregations from oriental and western churches and many priests.
During his sermon, the Patriarch highlighted the Lebanese people love and devotion to Mary, and asked for her protection and her unfailing intercession. At the end of the mass, he led a solemn procession around the sanctuary, carrying the icon of the Holy Virgin. He declared first Sunday of May as the feast of Our Lady of Lebanon.
 
The Management of the Sanctuary
Following the inaugural celebrations, as mentioned in Article 4 of the deed registered in Bkerke on January 18th, 1907, Maronite Patriarch and Apostolic Nuncio officially entrusted the management of Our Lady of Lebanon Sanctuary to the Lebanese Maronite Missionaries, through their general Superior, Father Youssef Moubarak, at the Enunciator’s  location in Harissa.
It wasn’t too late in time when more lots of land were purchased in order to improve the facilities dedicated to serve the believers and visitors, and gradually, the shrine became what it is today, an international place for worship.
  
Achievements of the Lebanese Maronite Missionaries
From the moment the foundation-stone was laid till the inaugural ceremony, attention was focused on the execution of that immense project. At the beginning of 1995, the emphasis started to be put on services and lively activities to assist visitors and help them in their payers and meditation:
1.     Inaugurating the Church of Forgiveness on Saint Anthony the Great’s feast, 17 January 1997. As its name indicates, this church is dedicated to welcoming penitents who would like to renew their faith; it is also the right place for praying and meditating during short collective spiritual retreats. Religious ceremonies such as masses, weddings and baptisms can be held. An icon illustrates Christ, the good Shepherd, carrying the straying lamb on his shoulders is crystal clear.
2.     Constructing two centers: the first one to accommodate priests and set up their offices for the management of the shrine, confessions and spiritual guidance. The second building serves as a residence for sisters and female employees in order to facilitate the shrine’s administration and the activation of the spiritual mission.
3.     Finishing paving the floor of the basilica with granite and marble as well as the sanctuary with a natural stone, improving acoustics by installing devices to reduce echoes and the appropriate size of speakers, decorating, drawing a plan for permanent maintenance, installing a new bell in the dome of the basilica, launching an official hall, building offices for management and services, data processing of all baptisms and weddings files to be available whenever needed; improving and modernizing the souvenir shop and the secretariat ; installing an electronic screen over the souvenir shop for better communication, information and broadcasting live some of the religious ceremonies to tourists; building the Bethania Center for spiritual retreats and guidance, and to serve as well as a resident for guests who enjoy staying between the arms of Our Lady of Lebanon.
 
Distinguished Celebrations
Considering the nationwide spiritual meaning of the basilica and its large seating capacity, grand religious celebrations took place, as of 1991. Most important events were:
- Pope John Paul II signature of the Apostolic Exhortation and meetings with the youth, Lebanon’s hope and future, on the 10th of October, 1997
- Reception of Saint Therese of Lisieux relics, in the night of 19-20 October and on Saturday 26 November 2002
- Annual mass celebrated by Maronite Patriarch on the first Sunday of May, and by the Apostolic Nuncio the last Sunday of May
- Ordination of 44 Maronite priests from all dioceses and congregations as well as Lebanese Maronite missionaries, on Saturday 22 July 1995
- Annual mass for the Voice of Charity radio and Télé Lumière anniversaries on Pentecost Day
- Renewal of annual vows for congregations and apostolic movements, mass, weddings, baptisms and several religious, musical and other celebrations.
 
Conclusion
Wherever man may go, he will come back to the loving heart of Mary who protectively carries him to Jesus’ heart. This is why at Our Lady of Lebanon, the Lebanon’s heart, Mary’s heart became a sought refuge in dangers and ordeals, consoling every broken heart, reviving every weak soul. It is every believer’s home, the link between Earth and Heaven, between Man and God.
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