The Virgin gave him back his perfect eyesight

The Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Estephan Doueyhi (1630-1704) will soon be beatified, Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Béchara Raï announced on December 16, 2020, after he officially signed the medical record of a miraculous healing due to his intercession.

Born on August 9, 1630, in Ehden, Estephan Doueyhi is a major figure of the Maronite tradition whose reputation for holiness began during his lifetime. Schooled as a teenager at the Maronite College in Rome, he lost his eyesight almost completely during his studies, because of his extensive reading. But he recovered it miraculously, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, to whom he made a life-long vow that he never revealed to anyone. After his recovery he regained perfect eyesight, which never decreased again. A gifted preacher, he was also a prolific writer. His literary, historical, and theological work is all dedicated to the Maronite Church. Because of this, he received the title of "Father of Maronite History" and "Pioneer of Lebanese National Sentiment."

Elected patriarch at the early age of 40 years old, he was forced by the Mamelukes to flee his See, finding temporary refuge in Kesrouan and Chouf (two regions of Lebanon). He held this position from 1670 to 1704, when he died in Qannoubine, in the Lebanese Holy Valley, where he is buried in the cave of Saint Marina. In addition to his brilliant intellectual qualities, many miracles were attributed to him during his lifetime. Pope Benedict XVI awarded him the title of Venerable, the first step towards his beatification. The beatification ceremony will be held in Lebanon.

Adapted from an article published in L'orient-Le Jour, December 17, 2020