Relying on the Providence
His confidence in divine Providence Marks his personality, so he was called “the man of Providence”. It is more anchored through the events to which he has been exposed in his life.
Love of the Cross
The Cross was indeed the sweetness of his heart and the breath of his soul. Abouna Yaacoub used to hold the Cross very willingly until it became his dear companion. He constantly urged not to fear her, repeating: “My destiny for me is the Cross”. His dearest prayer was: “Oh Cross of the Lord, so dear to the heart”.
Love and honor of the Host
He used to begin his day with meditation kneeling in front of the Host that he considered to be the source of his strength and his success. He was aspiring to honor it and he always addresses Him saying: “How I would prefer to take you in procession throughout the streets rather than closing up on you in the tabernacle”. Very sad about the indifference of people towards the Host, he said: “The worst crime of our time is this moving away from the Host. Without the Host, our Church would be empty, cold and sad…”
Love of the Virgin Mary
Abouna Yaacoub is a Marian apostle. With special love, he loved the Virgin Mary, whose motherhood accompanied all his life. He used to say: “Worshipping Mary, no matter how sacred, is only the door leading to Jesus. Mary is the means, Jesus is the end. Mary is the road, Jesus is the destination”. He used to crown his daily glorification of his pure Mother by saying the whole rosary every day.
Love of God and neighbor
From this faith in the Cross, the Host and the Mother of the Crucified, Abouna Yaacoub was filled with the love for God and for the neighbor: “He who loves God loves his image on earth, and the image of God is the neighbor”. He followed the road of the mission and revealed great talents in the fields of preaching and mission. He was a pragmatic preacher speaking the right, targeting the souls, only using easy and simple words. After preaching, he used to spend many consecutive hours in the confessional to wash the souls and ease the consciences.
His love for his homeland Lebanon
Abouna Yaacoub is known as the missionary of Lebanon of which he said: “Lebanon is the land of fathers and ancestors, a piece of heaven on earth where Jesus’ feet rested. This is why Christ blessed Lebanon, the day he visited Tire and Sidon. Lebanon thus became the true rock of faith and the pure source of love”. It also aims to strengthen faith in the hearts of fellow citizens.
Its universal mission
Its mission has proven to be universal, free and generous, without distinction of nationalities, ethnicities, affiliations or religions: “Let us be like the spring that does not ask the thirsty: tell me what country you are from, before I give you to drink”. Like Pentecost, it blows the Spirit to uplift suffering humanity, to spread an effective educational mission, establish the foundations of social justice, and work to help the creature meet their Creator.
