his brothers, who had also entered the monastery and had become a hermit, advised him to seek a similar solitude. Kassab declined, saying that community life was the true challenge for a monk. Death Kassab fell ill in the winter of 1858, dying after suffering nearly two weeks of high fever on 14 December. In 1864, his tomb was opened for re-burial and, to the surprise of the monks, his body was found to be intact. Such was the reverence with which he was held during his life, that his body was exposed to the veneration of the public until 1927, when a Committee of Inquiry into his possible canonization had completed its work. His body was then buried in a small chapel. Miracles Kassab is believed to have performed many miracles during his life due to his deep spirituality and his high virtues. He is commended for having a radiant soul, and it was said that he was deeply united to his creator. "The Saint of Kfifan" was stated to have the gift of prophesy and hence became known as "a man of vision." According to some sources, on one occasion when he was teaching his students and facing a large wall outside the monastery of Kfifan, he had a sense that the wall was suddenly going to fall. Thereupon, he asked his students to move away just before the wall fell down, sparing all present from injury. On another occasion, according to Maronite folklore, Kassab was divinely made aware that the barn where the cows of the monastery of Kfifan were kept was going to collapse on them (cows were then considered to be vital assets of the monastery). Kassab asked the monk in charge to change the place of the cows. At first the monk hesitated, but Kassab insisted and urged him to do so. After the cows were removed the roof of the barn collapsed while none of the cows were lost. Healing of the Altar Boy On another occasion, it is believed Kassab wanted to celebrate his daily Mass but his usual altar boy did not arrive at church on time. Kassab then went to the boy's room and asked him to get up and serve mass. The altar boy was not able to because he had a high fever. Kassab then requested the boy to stand up, whereupon he ordered the malady to "Leave