“How can we live today what was essential OFFICIAL PRAYER OF THE for Claret? In summary, it was discovered Evangelization BICENTENARY OF THE BIRTH OF that he lived during a difficult time but SAINT ANTHONY MARY CLARET knew how to enlighten it with his faith; he and the Lives of was sensitive to his world but maintained a Our Father, you anointed critical relationship with it; he encountered St. Anthony Mary Claret the Saints: strenuous challenges but he never lost his with your Spirit and made him an ardent listener bearings; he was a man with limitations but St. Anthony Mary and faithful servant of your Word. also one convinced that he could do some- In this second centenary of his birth thing; he had weaknesses but he always Claret we give you thanks for the gift of his life had hope in the principles passed on to and the fruitfulness of his mission. him and in the practice of the virtues; Raise in the Church many evangelizers who, driven by the love of Christ, temptation was present in his life but he spread its flames wherever they pass knew how to oppose it with strength and and succeed by all means possible to set grace. He was a man who, like the Master, the whole world ablaze desired that everyone have life, who was of with the fire of your love. a particular era, but whose spirit has the Grant to us, O Lord, with the help of St. force to inspire men and women of every Anthony Mary Claret and the intercession of the time and place.” Antonio Bellella Cardiel, CMF. Heart of Mary, our Mother, to grow in faith, hope and total dedication to you and to all our brothers and sisters so that one day we can enjoy together the holy dwelling place of your Kingdom. Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

October 24

Secretariat for the New Evangelization Resources for this Pamphlet: P.O. Box 9023 Rockville Centre, NY 11571 Tel: (516) 678-5800 x516 • L’Osservatore Romano, 2 January 2008 Fax: (516) 594-0064 • www.bible.claret.org Office of New Evangelization • www.americancatholic.org P.O. Box 9023 • www.claretians.org Evangelization and the Lives of the Rockville Centre, NY 11571 Saints: Tel: (516) 678-5800 x516 St. Anthony Mary Claret Fax: (516) 594-0064 Volume 2, Issue 2

(today known as the Claretians). have access to the Good News of Christ. While we are not all preach- By now his fame was spreading, and he ers, we all have the opportunity to was next named Archbishop of Santiago evangelize through our actions, de Cuba. He found the Cuban people in through our conversation, and desperate need, and he reacted quickly. through the day-to-day interactions He set up trade schools and credit unions of our life. To spread “the fragrance for the poor, worked closely with the of Christ” wherever we go with a kind agricultural community and continued to word and an understanding heart is write and publish evangelical materials. to show others the hope we have in St. Anthony Mary Claret was born He was making great progress, even our faith. Let us endeavor to make in the town of Sallent, Spain, as an though he was often opposed by the each day an offering to God and early “Christmas present” to his family “powers that be”, when he was asked to neighbor. on Dec. 23, 1807. He grew up work- return to Spain to be the confessor to ing in the small textile factory located Queen Isabella II. He remained there for • When St. Anthony was asked by within the family home, and became eleven years, probably the unhappiest of Queen Isabella what favor he would an accomplished weaver. But even his life, as he was continually slandered request from her, he replied: “that as a child he came to truly believe and ridiculed for his beliefs. Still, he you let me resign”! But although he that he was called to prayer and to the preached throughout Spain whenever he was very unhappy in his present salvation of souls. After some family could, and always walked with God. When situation, he continued to be obedi- setbacks, he was ordained a diocesan the Queen was dethroned he went into ent to God. In our own lives, there priest when he was 27. Fr. Anthony exile in France with his missionaries; there are times when we question why we was an enthusiastic young priest who he died in 1870 at 62. The words on his are in a certain situation, and we loved preaching the Gospel. He tombstone read: “I have loved justice and want our own way. But God asks for would travel on foot throughout Spain, hated iniquity; therefore I die in exile.” our obedience, and it is only through loving trust in Him that we will find preaching sermons and hearing Some thoughts on his spirituality are: confessions for hours at a time. He peace. God’s ways are higher than understood that many people were • St. Anthony Claret suffered much from ours, and what He asks us to accept hungry for the Word of God: “If persecution and personal attacks; still is always for our good and the good (God’s Word) is spoken by someone he maintained his integrity and did not of those around us. who is filled with the fire of charity — return evil for evil. He truly lived the Today the Claretians are a “religious the fire of love of God and neighbor — beatitude: “Blessed are you when they community of priests, brothers and it will work wonders.” (Autobiography insult you and persecute you and utter sisters dedicated to the mission of living #438-439). every kind of evil against you falsely and spreading the Gospel of Jesus in because of me….” When others mis- But St. Anthony longed to travel to more than sixty countries on five understand us or slander us without other mission countries; soon his wish continents. Their ministries are devoted just cause, let us remember, as St. was granted and he was sent to min- to social concerns and issues of justice Anthony did, that our reward for our ister in the Canary Islands. It was and peace in parishes, foreign missions, faithfulness lies with Christ. here that he also began publishing and publishing. The Claretians are dedicated to seeing the world through books and pamphlets as a way of • Evangelization was always in the fore- the eyes of the poor. They strive to evangelizing. He then went on to front of St. Anthony’s mind. He used respond to the most urgent and timely found a religious institute of mission- every opportunity to preach about the needs, trying to care for the spiritual and aries, the Congregation of Missionary love of God, and wrote and published material needs of others.” From: Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary books and pamphlets so others could www.claretians.org).