Today we celebrate St. Anthony Mary Claret, saint of the 19th
century, bishop and missionary. St.
Anthony Mary Claret was known for his zeal as a preacher; he would preach two
to three sermons a day, and founded the order of the Missionary Sons of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary, or the Claretians.
Pio Nono, Blessed Pope Pius IX became aware of Anthony
Claret’s apostolic dynamism and appointed him to the very difficult position of
Archbishop of Santiago, Cuba.
The first official act of the new Archbishop was to
consecrate his diocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He then began the
systematic reconstruction of the Diocese by personally conducting retreats for
all the Clergy, and his missions for the faithful of the extensive and
extremely difficult territory. He instituted a Seminary for native clergy and
founded an order of teaching Sisters. He published a simple illustrated
catechism and devised a system for teaching religion which was later approved
by the Vatican Council for the entire Church. He established cooperative Farms,
Parish Credit Unions, and Boys' Town and
Girls' Town.
He fought the injustices of wealthy European land owners, and
defended the rights of the working classes.
This made enemies, unleashing a host of bitter attacks upon the Holy
Archbishop and all he stood for. Every available means was used to discredit
his name, and render him inactive. His enemies rested only when they had
succeeded in having him banished from the country. And even then, their
relentless persecution followed him into exile.
From his exile in Paris, the Archbishop traveled to Rome for
the first Vatican Council. Soon after he
suffered a stroke, and died in a Cistercian Monastery.
Saint Anthony Claret described the ideal Claretian in these
words, "A son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a man on fire with love,
who spreads its flames wherever he goes. He desires mightily and strives by all
means possible to set everyone on fire with God's love. Nothing daunts him: he
delights in privations, welcomes work, embraces sacrifices, smiles at slander,
rejoices in all the torments and sorrows he suffers, and glories in the cross
of Jesus Christ. His only concern is how he may follow Christ and imitate him
in praying, working, enduring and striving constantly and solely for the
greater glory of God and the salvation of humankind." Beautiful directive we all do well to
emulate.
Through his intercession may we be set on fire with zeal for
spreading the Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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