MARCH

17

1841. During this month, during his stay in the parish in Pruit (Barcelona), Claret gives philosophy conferences to two seminarians, the Serra-Mias brothers.

1849. Claret continues the mission in Santa Brigida (Canary Islands), where people come from all around. The next day it will end with general communion.

1853. Claret continues his pastoral visit to the parish in Mayari (Holguin, Cuba), with which he will end his first pastoral visit to his archdiocese.

EXPANSION (1906-1922)

THE VICE-PROVINCES OF CHILE AND ARGENTINA-BRAZIL

From 1905 to 1912 Chile was a Vice-Province ad experimentum. It had two Major Superiors in this period: Fr. Thomas Sese until 1909 and Fr. Anselm Santesteban until 1912. During the first term the new foundation of Ovalle was made (1907). During the second, the direction was changed and there was a fundamental focus on the consolidation of the communities. With Fr. Zacarias Iglesias at the head, the Vice-Province of Argentina-Brazil, created in 1904, continued until 1908, when it was divided in two, during a climate of expansion. In Argentina, houses were founded in Cordoba (1906), Transito (1907) and in Bahia Blanca y Rioja (1908). In Brazil, foundations were made in Curitiba (1906), Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre (1907).

The Vice-Province of Argentina-Brazil created the first foundation in Uruguay in 1908, specifically in Peñarol, a suburb of Montevideo. The General Government accepted the offer of the Archbishop by sending a mixed group of six Fathers and four Brothers to the new community. Fr. Luis Lusilla, a famous preacher, went as Superior.

Joaquín Bestué, CMF

First Provincial of Italy (1872-1959)

Palo (Huesca, Spain). Ordained in 1895, he was sent to the new foundation of San Felice di Giano, in Italy. Shortly after his return to Spain, he went to several communities, among them Aldeia da Ponte, the first community in Portugal, in 1904, later founding the one in Lisbon the following year. From there he went to Campinas (Brazil) in 1907. The following year he was elected Quasi-Provincial Superior of Brazil. He founded the communities of Bahia, Belo Horizonte, Livramento and Rio de Janeiro. He went to the General Chapter of 1912, from which he did not return, staying in the house in Madrid. He organized this house, which in 1913 would be the new headquarters of the General Government. He continued working there until he was assigned to Rome in 1919 as Superior of the house of Via Giulia. When the Province of Italy was created in 1930, he was named its first Provincial Superior. He founded the communities of Naples, Catania, and Palermo. Once the crypt of the Church del Corazon de Maria was opened for worship, he remained at its service until his death.

The Example of Two Missionary Saints

Before ending this chapter, I would like to present two models of truly apostolic zeal… The first is the Venerable Joseph Diego of Cadiz; the second, the Venerable Master Avila. Of the former, we read in his Life: “The servant of God, moved by the zeal to win souls for Jesus Christ, consecrated his whole life his whole life tirelessly in the apostolic ministry. He continually undertook long, tiresome journeys, always on foot, without regard for the inclemencies of the season as he went from place to place to announce God’s Word and attain the results he longed for… (Aut 228)

From the Life of the Venerable Avila. His baggage train was a little burro. On it, he and his companions piled their cloaks and saddlebags. The latter contained a supply of hosts for celebrating Mass at hermitages, as well as cilices, rosaries, medals, holy cards, and some wire and pliers for making rosaries. He never carried food but trusted in God’s providence. It was a rare day when he ate meat; most of the time he ate only bread and fruit. (Aut 229)

FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION

 

  • Who do you consider to be your main models of missionary life?
  • What aspects of their lives encourage you most?

 

“When we fail to acknowledge as part of reality the worth of a poor person, a human embryo, a person with disabilities – to offer just a few examples –
it becomes difficult to hear the cry of nature itself; everything is connected.”

(Francis, Laudato Si’, 117)

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