St Charbel was born on May 8th, 1828, in Bekaa Kafra, North Lebanon, and was baptised as a Catholic Maronite on May 16th, 1828. He began his religious journey in 1851 with his first year of noviciate at Our Lady of Mayfouk Monastery, Mount Lebanon, followed by his second year at St Maroun's Monastery in Annaya, Mount Lebanon, in 1852.

He took his first vows in 1853 at St Maroun's Monastery and went on to study theology at St Cyprian and St Justina Monastery in Kfifan, North Lebanon, from 1853 to 1859. He was ordained as a Catholic Maronite Priest in Bkerke, Mount Lebanon, in 1859 and served at St Maroun's Monastery in Annaya, Mount Lebanon, until 1875.

He then became a hermit and entered the Hermitage of St Peter and St Paul in Annaya, Mount Lebanon, where he lived until his death on December 24th, 1898. He was buried at St Maroun's Monastery in Annaya, Mount Lebanon, on December 25th, 1898.

In 1899, his tomb was opened due to a bright light emanating from it, and his body was later transferred to a third grave in 1927. His grave was opened again in 1950, and his body was exposed to visitors, leading to a year of numerous miracles.

He was beatified on December 5th, 1965, and canonized as a saint on October 9th, 1977, at the Vatican in Rome. .