MARCH
12
1865. Claret sends Mother Paris the booklet Tardes de verano [Summer Evenings], a small book of apologetics aimed at Protestants, which he had recently published.
1867. The Abbess of Las Huelgas (Burgos) has asked Claret to go preach to them, but the Queen, paying attention to the current circumstances of the times we are in, does not think he should leave Madrid.
THE CONSOLIDATION (1899-1906)
CREATION OF THE PROVINCE OF BETICAIn that General Chapter of 1904, the creation of the third Province of the Congregation was also determined, that of Betica. The resolution would be carried out on October 7, 1906, with Fr. Candido Catalan being named Provincial and Fr. Jose Bruned and Fr. Antonio Sanchez as Consultors. Fr. Agustin Arnal was appointed Secretary. The Local Superiors of the twelve houses that constituted it were also named and two General Consultors of the new Province: Fr. Lucio Nuns and Fr. Antonio Pueyo. All the superiors met in Ciudad Real with the new Provincial Government on October 8th, under the direction of Fr. Martin Alsina, for a few days of retreat, and to receive instructions, warnings and guidance. The Provincial Government established its residence in Zafra, where it would also establish the Novitiate. But soon the plans were changed and the Novitiate was inaugurated in Jerez de los Caballeros, along with the Postulancy and Philosophy studies, and the Provincial Government moved there.
JAIME SOLER RAGUER
Bishop of Teruel (1791-1851)San Juan de las Abadesas (Gerona, Spain). He entered the seminary in Vic in 1814. In 1823 he was appointed professor of Philosophy of the Seminary and in 1824 professor of Theology and Vice Rector. He received his doctorate at the University of Cervera, where he was a professor. He was magisterial canon of the Cathedral of Vic and Rector of the seminary in 1844. Appointed as Bishop of Teruel in 1850, he was consecrated along with Claret on October 6th of that year in the Cathedral of Vic by Bishop Luciano Casadevall, Bishop of Vic. When he was about to move to Valencia for treatment, he died during the trip in Gerica (Castello) on March 19th. He was buried in the Cathedral of Segorbe (Castello). In 1843 he was among those attending the first Spiritual Exercises that Claret gave for the clergy in Campdevanol (Girona). Bishop Jaime commented that the angels had visibly accompanied the path of Mons. Anthony Claret and that he considered him a saint.
Urged by Love of His Neighbor
I am also driven to preach without ceasing by the sight of the throngs of souls who are falling into hell—for it is a matter of faith that all who die in mortal sin are damned. It is estimated that about eighty thousand die each day, and how many of them die in mortal sin and hence are damned…“talis vita, finis ita—your death will be as your life has been.” (Aut 205)
I tell you quite frankly that whenever I see sinners, I grow restless, I cannot quiet down, I cannot be consoled, my heart goes out to them… (Aut 211)
Charity urges and impels me; it makes me run from town to town shouting, “My son, sinner, look where you’re heading; you’re about to fall into hell. Stop! Don’t take another step! … (Aut 212)
Another force that drives me to preach and hear confessions is my desire to make my neighbors happy. Oh, what great joy there is in healing the sick, freeing the prisoner, consoling the afflicted, and cheering the sad. All this and much more is done in bringing one’s neighbors to the glory of heaven… (Aut 213)
FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION
- What do you feel in the face of the throngs of people who live without the light of the Gospel?
- What relationship do you think there should be between tolerance as a value of social living and apostolic zeal?
- In a society of many cultures and religions, what should be understood as happiness for your neighbor?
and accustom itself to become enkindled with great love
for His sacred Humanity.”
(St. Teresa of Avila, Life, 12. 2)