MARCH

11

1854. Claret begins a mission in the Church of San Francisco, in Santiago, Cuba.

1856. Claret travels from Holguin to Santiago, after the attack, passing through Naranjo (Cuba).

1863. Claret is preaching the novena to Saint Joseph in the Church of Montserrat, (Madrid) which began the day before.

THE CONSOLIDATION (1899-1906)

IX EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL CHAPTER

From April 24 to May 18, 1904, the IX Extraordinary General Chapter was held in La Selva del Camp, where it was decided to transfer the General Government to Aranda de Duero, and it was brought about so that the Provinces could have their own Scholasticate, creating the Colegio Central (called the Aranda Year) for those who finished their studies. Three independent General Vicariates were created: Mexico, Chile and Argentina-Brazil, separating them from the Provinces of Spain, in addition to Fernando Poo, which would be elevated to Vicariate shortly after, with Fr. Armengol Coll, first Bishop of the Congregation after Father Claret, being named Apostolic Vicar. There were six Major Organisms at this time with their respective Major Superiors: two Provinces in Spain (Catalunya and Castilla, which in their day would have lacked members to form a third) and four General Vicariates or Quasi-Provinces: that of Fernando Poo with Fr. Armengol Coll, those of Mexico and North America with Fr. Ramon Prat, that of Chile with Fr. Tomas Sese and that of Argentina-Brazil with Fr. Zacarias Iglesias.

Atilio Parussini, CMF

Witness of Martyrs (1913-1938)

Rosario de Santa Fe (Argentina). He entered the postulancy in Rosario after he had almost organized his admission to the Franciscan novitiate. According to the report of his Novice Master, he was obedient, submissive, rooted in his vocation, pious, formal, with an excellent memory, talented, skilled for manual and artistic works, frank, charitable and diligent. In 1931 he professed and in 1936 he was sent to Spain, where he was caught by the revolution while in the school in Barbastro. There he had to suffer persecution with his brother martyrs, his life being saved after 23 days thanks to his condition as a foreigner, along with his fellow countryman Pablo Hall. In Barbastro he witnessed, and later testified about, the admirable example of his companions: My eyes wept bitterly and my lips deposited a kiss on the forehead of those Martyrs and my hands shook theirs and we said goodbye. He wrote many letters to Claretians and relatives about the martyrs where he showed their desire for martyrdom.

Anointed by the Love of the Father

No, I repeat, I have no mere earthly aim but a far nobler one. My aim is to make God better known, loved, and served by everyone. If only I had all human hearts, with which to love God! My God, people do not know you! If they did, you would be loved far more than you are… (Aut 202)

Another of my aims is to prevent all the sins and offenses that are being committed against God—that same God who is loved by seraphim, served by angels, feared by powers, adored by principalities—that God who is offended by a vile earthworm, man. Be astonished at this, you heavens! … (Aut 203)

 

If you saw your father being beaten and stabbed, wouldn’t you run to defend him? Wouldn’t it be a crime for you to look on indifferently at your father in such a plight? Well then, wouldn’t I be the greatest criminal in the world if I didn’t try to prevent the outrages that men are perpetrating against God, who is my Father? My Father, I shall defend you, although it should cost me my life… (Aut 204).

FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION

 

  • Like Claret, is the purpose of your life to make God known, loved and served?
  • Are you aware that with your evangelizing work you collaborate with others so that the plan of God the Father is realized in humanity?
  • Read and pray with the Gospel Lk 4:14-19.
  • Write a prayer for evangelizers.

 

“Faith is not a light which scatters all our darkness,
but a lamp which guides our steps in the night
and suffices for the journey.”

(Francis, Lumen Fidei, 57)

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