MARCH

01

1850. Claret is impatient for the book Las Hijas del Santisimo e Inmaculado Corazon de Maria [Daughters of the Most Holy and Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary] to be printed as soon as possible, which he composed three years earlier.

1851. Claret concludes the first Spiritual Exercises for the clergy of Santiago, Cuba and establishes the three weekly days of conferences, monthly retreat, etc.

1860. Claret sends Fr. Paladio Currius faculties to celebrate since he had traveled to Rome without them. Since he will not return until the end of September, they came in handy.

THE CONSOLIDATION (1899-1906)

THE CONGREGATION WITHOUT FR. Xifre
Following the death of Fr. Xifre (November 3, 1899), the VIII General Chapter was celebrated in Vic, from December 19 to 27, 1899. The work was based on a questionnaire with two sections: Constitution and Rules of the Institute and Religious Spirit and Regular Observance. Fr. Clement Serrat was elected as the new Superior General, who was accompanied in the Council by Fr. Martin Alsina, Fr. Domingo Sola, Fr. Jose Busquet and Fr. Francisco Naval. Fr. Ramon Fluvia and Fr. Jeronimo Batllo, were elected as Econome and Procurator, respectively. Although neither in this Chapter nor in the subsequent Provincial Chapters of Catalunya and Castilla much progress was made in the consolidation of the Provinces, their fruits did not take long, the decree of constitution of a Novitiate for each Province arrived in 1901: Vic (Catalunya) and Segovia (Castilla). During this period, the Congregation continued its journey towards greater consolidation without ceasing to create new foundations. We can say that history became more complex as the paths of the two Provinces were distinct.

Maria Claret Clara

Claret’s Sister (1815-1894)

Sallent (Barcelona, Spain). She accompanied her brother Anthony Claret during his time as a priest in Sallent from 1835 to 1839. In 1842 she entered the Institute of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity, taking the name of Maria de Santa Teresa. She was the superior of Borjas Blancas and Vic, and Novice Mistress. General Councilor from 1876 to 1886. Because of her many illnesses that prevented her from continuing to hold such positions, she lived the rest of her days in the Mother House. She was very devoted to her holy brother. In 1888 she had the pleasure of testifying in the Informative Process for his beatification, where she affirmed: I have been envied as the sister of a saint; I have found myself confused many times at seeing my imperfections before the innumerable congratulations granted me for simply being the sister of a Servant of God (…) He had told me many times that he envied me for having the name Maria. She died on March 2nd. She was tall, with brown eyes, a regular nose, a long face and healthy color.

A Son of Mary

Since during our recreations we talked of nothing but virtues, devotion to Mary, and means for winning souls for heaven, the flame of zeal for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls took fire in my heart and totally consumed me. I offered my all to God without reserve. I was continuously thinking and planning what I could do for the good of my neighbor, and since the time had not yet come for me to set out on my work, I busied myself with prayer. Among others, I composed the following two prayers. (Aut. 153)

 

O my mother, how much I love and esteem you, and firmly trust that you will grant me perseverance in your holy service and grace until death. (Aut 154)

FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION

 

Claret remembers the conversations held during his novitiate with the Jesuits.

  • How do you judge the communication among the members of your community?
  • Is there someone from the community with whom you need to improve your level of communication?
  • What values do your brothers contribute to the edification of the community?
  • Write a prayer for your community.

 

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

(Confucius)

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