MARCH

07

1840. Claret asks the Spanish ambassador in Rome for a pass to return to his homeland upon leaving the Jesuit novitiate.

1853. Claret leaves Baracoa (Cuba), by sea, towards the Bay of Tanamo, and from there to Sagua to start a mission and a pastoral visit.

1858. In Madrid, the mission started in San Cayetano continues in the church of the Caballero de Gracia.

THE CONSOLIDATION (1899-1906)

THE PROVINCES OF CATALUNYA AND CASTILLA

Soon after being reelected as Provincial of Catalunya in the Provincial Chapter of 1901, Fr. Felix A. Cepeda began to face difficulties that led him to resign his office in 1902. Fr. Francisco Cases was appointed to replace him. In this period the Province of Catalunya established only one foundation, in Cartagena (1906).

In Castilla, Segovia had been confirmed as the seat of the Provincial Government, a government that was re-elected in full in the Provincial Chapter of 1901, with Fr. Isaac Burgos at the helm, who led the Province decisively. In 1902 this Province founded the house of Zamora, fruit of some Spiritual Exercises given by Fr. Domingo Sola and Fr. Eduardo Gomez. One of the first assigned to this house was Fr. Nicolas Garcia, future Superior General of the Congregation. In 1904 the houses of Jerez de los Caballeros and Gibraltar were founded. In Portugal, where only the foundation of Aldeia da Ponte existed, Castilla founded communities in Fraga (1903) and Lisbon (1905).

LUCIANO CASADEVALL DURAN

Bishop of Vic (1785-1852)

Vic (Barcelona, Spain). He earned his doctorate in Theology in Cervera in 1814, obtained a benefice in the Cathedral of Vic and later was named canon. In 1837 he was named Vicar General of the Diocese, which he governed with unwavering firmness and remarkable prudence given the difficult circumstances, ensuring that the ecclesiastical ministry was not lacking in any parish, even in those occupied by defenders of Isabella II, and in those occupied by the troops of Don Carlos. In 1849 he was consecrated Bishop of Vic. The priest and writer Jaime Balmes, who was always at his side and was undoubtedly his promoter to the episcopacy, praised his governance of the diocese very much. Fr. Roothaan, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, in a letter addressed to Casadevall, told him that God had granted three champions to the Diocese of Vic: Claret for preaching, Balmes for science, and, without naming him, he insinuated that the third was Casadevall. This bishop always appreciated and admired Claret, with whom he had a unique friendship. He died on March 11th.

Biography

Word and Signs

During the summer several children became sick, and after I had given them only one application of a certain remedy they all got well. At one o’clock one morning, I visited a young man twenty-five years old who was unconscious and on the point of dying. I applied a simple remedy, and he recovered his senses and in two days was completely cured. (Aut 175)

It is my conviction that these people were cured through the faith and trust with which they came, and that our Lord rewarded their faith with both bodily and spiritual health, for I would also exhort them to make a good confession of all their sins, and they did. Furthermore, I believe that the Lord did all this not because of any merits of mine—I don’t have any—but to show the importance of the Word of God that I was preaching… (Aut 181)

FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION

 

Father Claret’s preaching, like that of the apostles, was confirmed by the signs that the Lord performed in the people (cf. Mk 16:20).

  • Does the witness of your life help the effectiveness of your apostolate?
  • Do you believe that your preaching awakens the faith and trust in God of the faithful?

In the exhortation Evangelii gaudium (156-159) Pope Francis speaks about the features that should accompany the homily.

  • Discuss them in your parish community.

 

“Everything you’ve ever wanted is sitting on the other side of fear.”

(George Addair).

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