Today the Universal Church commemorates Saint Anthony Mary Claret (1807-1870). Anthony was born in Spain in 1807. It was the same year that Napoleon invaded that country. Perhaps that was a hint of the exciting events that would follow Anthony throughout his life. He became a priest in 1835 and was assigned to his home parish. For the next ten years, he preached missions and retreats in Catalonia. Later he went to the Canary Islands and worked in the missions for about a year.

In 1849, Anthony started a new religious Order called the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They are known as Claretians. This Order is dedicated to the work of preaching missions in parishes.

Queen Isabella II of Spain thought highly of St. Anthony. She suggested that he was the best person to become archbishop of Santiago, Cuba. His apostolate in Cuba turned out to be an exciting seven years. Archbishop Anthony visited parishes, speaking out against social evils, especially slavery. He blessed marriages and baptized children. He was a reformer who had enemies who opposed the changes he introduced. He received death threats often, and was wounded in an assassination attempt, but he did not stop his wonderful work until he was recalled to Spain in 1857.

During Anthony’s priesthood he was head of a seminary in Madrid. He established the school of St. Michael to foster the study of arts and literature, and he even tried to start a school of agriculture. Father Anthony was convinced of the power of the printed word. He wrote 144 books and pamphlets, and preached over 25,000 sermons! His best-known book, The Right Way, has reached millions of people. He went to Rome to attend Vatican Council I in 1869, and he died in 1870. St. Anthony Mary Claret was declared a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1950. (iMissal, Saint a Day)

St. Anthony Claret shows us how to have a missionary heart. We can pray for people all over the world, especially those who are suffering and poor. We can also help bring the light of the Gospel to other lands by giving some of our spending money to the missions. Let us also reflect on his wisdom and try to imitate him:

❦  Christian perfection consists in three things: praying heroically, working heroically, and suffering heroically.”

❦  Although the sinner does not believe in Hell, he shall nevertheless go there, if he has the misfortune to die in mortal sin.”

❦  The Christian who desires to follow Jesus carrying His cross must bear in mind,

that the name “Christian” means “learner or imitator of Christ” and that if he wishes to bear that noble title worthily, he must above all do as Christ charges us in the Gospel –we must oppose or deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Him.

❦  When I am before the Blessed Sacrament. I feel such a lively faith that I can’t describe it. Christ in the Eucharist is almost tangible to me… When it is time for me to leave, I have to tear myself away from His sacred presence.

❦  A son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary…is a man who unceasingly expends himself to light the fire of divine love in the world. Nothing stops him.

❦  The rosary should be said daily...We should meditate on the mysteries, applying them to the circumstances of our own lives.

❦  To labor and to suffer for the one we love is the greatest proof of our love.

❦  Lord, by the words of consecration, the substance of the bread and wine is converted into the substance of your Body and Blood.  All powerful Lord, say over me the word which will change me into You.

Which statement strikes you the most?

Hail Mary full of grace…

St. Anthony Claret, pray for us.

Peace in Christ,

Father Vincent-Vuong Nguyen

P.S.

I invite you to join us at St. Clare’s Eucharistic celebration:

1) Sat 4:30 PM (in person and livestream via facebook and our website)

2) Sunday 9:00 AM (in person and livestream via facebook and our website) and 11:00 AM

3) My deepest gratitude to you for your financial support during this difficult time, without your generosity, we won’t be able to sustain our various ministries at St. Clare. THANK YOU!

I am looking forward to welcoming y’all. Have a blessed weekend!

Air hug >-(^_^)-< , Fr. Vincent