thanksgiving after receiving Holy such a way that the Christian faithful, St. Anthony Mary Claret Communion. St. Philip Neri once observed a contemplating unceasingly the gift they have man habitually leaving the church received, may make their life a continual Patron Saint of Weavers and Savings Banks immediately after receiving the sacred Host. thanksgiving under the guidance of the Holy

In order to reprove him and put him to Spirit and may produce fruits of greater Victor R. Claveau, MJ shame, he called two acolytes, asked them to charity” (no.38). take two lighted candles and accompany the I urge you all, I beg you all to be St. Anthony Mary Claret (bishop and man to his home. The servers obeyed and intelligent, thoughtful, mentally alert during missionary) was born on December 23, everyone in the street stared at them as they Holy Mass. Enter into every Mass as it were 1807, at Sallent, Catalonia, Spain and died followed the man. Looking back and seeing your last. Serious as that may seem, it will in Cistercian monastery at Fontfroide in the acolytes the man asked them why they bring you the joy Christ promises. France, on October 24, 1870 at the age of were following him. They said that St. 63. He was a Spanish missionary priest and Philip had ordered them to do so. He © 2007 Victor R. Claveau, MJ bishop who became known as the “Spiritual therefore returned to the church and asked Father of Cuba.” He also founded the the saint what the meaning was of this The Evangelization Station Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of unwanted escort? Hudson, Florida, USA Mary (Claretians). He was beatified in 1934 The St. Philip replied: “It is to pay E-mail: [email protected] www.evangelizationstation.com and by the time of his canonization in 1950, proper respect to Our Lord, whom you are there were 4,000 Claretians living in 240 carrying away with you. Since you neglect Pamphlet 307 religious houses in 24 countries. to adore Him, I sent the servers to take your The well-liked Spanish priest Anthony place.” The man recognized his fault, knelt Claret was the fifth of eleven children. His before the altar and made his thanksgiving family was poor but hard working at the devoutly. He remained in prayer for fifteen family trade of weaving. Anthony's earliest minutes; the length of time the Blessed memories of home were the family's praying Sacrament is intact in the body. These the Rosary and going to church which fifteen minutes should be recognized as the imbued him with a deep love and devotion most precious of any day and should be to Jesus and Mary. spent in silent contemplation. As Scripture By age twenty-one Anthony had been states, “My house is to be called a house of educated and was in much demand for his prayer for all peoples” (Is. 56:7). skill as a weaver. At one time he suffered This is the kind of thanksgiving that the because of poor health, and during the days Church and our Lord desires of us, as of recovery he imagined himself as a referred to in the Instruction on the Carthusian monk. Anthony went to the Eucharistic Mystery: bishop for advice. The bishop suggested that “Union with Christ, to which the he first go to the diocesan seminary and Sacrament [of the Eucharist] is directed, is then, if he wished, leave and become a not to be limited to the duration of the monk. Anthony followed this advice and celebration of the Eucharist. It is to be enjoyed seminary life. He was ordained two prolonged into the entire Christian life, in years earlier than usual because of a civil would not live at the palace but come only days he shared with the Mother of God in a war in Spain. to hear her confession and instruct the special way the divine privilege preserving Anthony finally realized that his health children. This freed him to open a religious incorruptibly from Communion to would prevent him from being a monk or a publishing house and write more than two Communion the precious Body and Blood, Jesuit missionary. He was sent to a small hundred books and pamphlets. Soul and Divinity of Christ in his bosom. mountain village where he studied medicine In 1886 a revolution took place, and Now a human tabernacle of Our Lord, he and helped many of the sick. He discovered those associated with the court were accused reflected: “I now bear within me day and his power to read hearts and his ability to of treason. Anthony fled to Rome where night the adorable Eucharist. I must understand people. Vatican Council I was in session. There he therefore be always recollected and cultivate Anthony began a busy schedule of defended the infallibility of the pope. Then the interior life.” preaching throughout Spain. His gentle faith he retired to a Cistercian monastery in It must be granted that this was the and great courage in spreading devotion to France where he stayed in solitude until his greatest grace received by Saint Anthony the Immaculate Heart of Mary and in death. His Feast Day is October 24. Mary Claret: a grace of intimate and total reviving devotion to the Eucharist made him communion with Jesus, produced and a popular preacher. He also published a Living Tabernacles increased through the Eucharist. The risen catechism that led the bishop of the Canary Lord remained in him as in His temple, Islands to invite him to preach there for a On December 8, 1869, seven hundred transforming him and strengthening him for year, fulfilling Anthony's dream to be a bishops from all over the world gathered in the service of God. missionary. Rome for the First Vatican Council. St. We too receive this grace for a short When Anthony returned to Spain, he Anthony Claret was one of the Council time when we receive, in a worthy manner, founded a congregation called the Fathers. His presence became noticeable our Lord’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of when the subject of papal infallibility was in Holy Communion. We too, become living Mary [Claretians]. Then he was assigned as discussed, which Claret defended tabernacles. archbishop of Cuba. Not having had an vehemently. This teaching became a dogma This is the time to adore God, to thank archbishop for fourteen years, the island was of faith for all Catholics at this Council. God, to ask favors of God, and to beg God’s in need of renewal. Anthony reorganized the Cardinal James Gibbons of Baltimore forgiveness. To adore God means to tell seminary training, preached in all the came to know Archbishop Claret at the Him in thought, word and deed that He is churches, heard confessions, and guided Council and said of him, “There goes a true above everything and everyone, that He is people to Christ. He worked for updated saint.” Pope Pius IX was of the same Supreme. To thank God means to express farm methods and credit unions. He wanted opinion: “Archbishop Claret is a man of your gratitude for His countless blessings of the people to own their own farms, knowing God. He is a saint!” body and soul, especially for the Eucharist. that this would improve family life. He St. Anthony was given a singular grace As Mass is the best time to adore and thank made enemies by teaching black slaves. from our Lord as he was known to be a God, it is also the best time to ask for favors Fifteen times people tried to assassinate him. living tabernacle: “On August 26, 1861, and to beg pardon. We offer God the Gift Once a man stabbed him and was given a finding myself at prayer in the church of the most pleasing to Him, His own Divine Son, death sentence, but Anthony had this Holy Rosary, at La Granja, at seven o'clock asking Him for material and spiritual changed to a prison sentence. in the evening, the Lord granted me the blessings, and begging His pardon for After eight years, Anthony was called to grace of conserving the Sacramental Species failing to use His gifts properly in the past. Spain to be Queen Isabella II's confessor: he within my heart.” For the rest of his earthly The Christian is bound to make an act of