Béchara Abou-Mourad
The Vatican record
- 21 February 2026 — Miracle through their intercession approved (decree list, 2026)
Who they were
Selim Abou Mrad was born in Zahle, Lebanon, on 19 May 1853. He entered the Basilian monastery of the Most Holy Saviour near Sidon, of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, took the name Béchara, and was ordained a priest on 26 December 1883.
He died on 22 February 1930. Healings were attributed to him in his lifetime.
The miracles
a woman — Lebanon — 2009
A woman had been in a wheelchair with a severe degenerative knee disease diagnosed in 1983. In 2009, after reading a short life of Fr Béchara, she prayed for his help through an especially painful night. The next day she walked without help and without pain, and went on to live a fully healthy life.
The Pope has approved the miracle, so the way to beatification is open. We have not yet confirmed a date for the ceremony; until then the Church's title is Venerable.
Why that counted as sanctity
On 2009 the Church declared that this life showed the Christian virtues to a heroic degree, and gave the title Venerable. The case of a woman was examined by the Church's doctors and theologians and approved as a miracle on 21 February 2026, opening the way to beatification.
The cause
The cause continues. No postulation address is published here yet. Favours received through this person’s intercession, and offers of help, are best sent to the religious order or congregation they belonged to, or to the diocese where the cause was opened; either will pass them to the postulation.
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - decree of 21 Feb 2026
- Vatican News, Feb 2026 - two new blesseds: a Lebanese monk and a French Franciscan
- Aleteia, Feb 2026 - miracle attributed to intercession of Lebanese monk
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints — promulgated decrees (causesanti.va), summarised in our own words
- Not yet in Wikidata. Name as the Vatican spells it.
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.