MARCH

03

1844. Claret preaches the Sermon on Light in Manresa (Barcelona), in Spanish.

1851. Claret visits the Sanctuary of the Virgen del Cobre, which he will consider the Prelate of his diocese.

1861. In Madrid, Claret concludes a mission in the Church of the Comendadoras and begins another in San Cayetano, which ends on the 10th.

THE CONSOLIDATION (1899-1906)

THE FIRST PARISH, ANDACOLLO (CHILE)

In the year 1900 the house in Andacollo was founded, at the request of the Bishop of La Serena. The first contract was provisional in order to see how the foundation would develop since it was so unsuited to the ministry the Missionaries had done up until then, as it was permanently attending to the Marian Shrine and a large rural area. Soon the effectiveness of their work was seen and the need for not depending on the pastor of La Serena. They requested the creation of the first parish of the Congregation, which was effectively achieved in October 1902. A new form of apostolate emerged in the Congregation: the first parish.

With regard to the topic of parishes, we look ahead considering that the second parish was going to be in Texas (1902): Corpus Christi and San Antonio. The growth was very rapid: in 1949 we already had 127 parishes (out of 241 communities); in 1973, we served in 218 parishes.

The IX General Chapter (1904) accepted them under certain conditions. The XII General Chapter (1922) again discussed whether we were obligated to accept parishes. The answer was that the canons did not forbid it.

Julian BUTRON CMF

Missionary Preacher (1874-1901)

Errigoiti (Biscay, Spain). At age 12 he entered the Claretian Congregation. Once ordained priest in 1899, he was sent to Portugal. He devoted himself to ministry with great zeal, especially to confessions and popular missions. In June 1900, the year after his priestly ordination, he arrived in Aldeia da Ponte (Portugal). Barely half a year after his arrival, he had mastered the Portuguese language enough to give missions to the people. The first mission he gave was in Cimbres, where he was remembered for his holiness. From there he traveled to Vila Cha de Cangueiros. It was February 24, 1901. On March 3rd pleurisy ended his young life. He was 27 years old. He was buried in Vila Cha de Beira. He soon began to be venerated as a saint throughout the region. In 1922 his corpse was found incorrupt. Even today he is venerated privately in a chapel, his grave is a place of pilgrimage.

Discerning the Lord’s Will

I was very happy in the novitiate where I was always occupied with our classes in catechizing, preaching, and hearing confessions… (Aut 165).

I was making great progress when suddenly one day I felt such a stabbing pain in my right leg that I couldn’t walk. I had to go to the infirmary. Appropriate remedies relieved the pain somewhat but not totally, and it was feared that I might be permanently lame. When the rector saw my condition, he said: What is happening to you is not natural…It makes me think that the Lord wants you for something else. He added: If it’s all right with you, the General should be consulted because he is so good and has so much godly knowledge. We shall consult him. I replied that the plan seemed very good and so I went to see the General. He listened to me attentively, and after he had heard my account of the whole matter he told me, without any hesitation, It is God’s will that you go quickly to Spain. Have no fear. Courage! (Aut 166)

 

In time I came to see that the Father General had been inspired when he spoke to me… (Aut 167)

FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION

 

  • Do occasional health problems or other negative experiences influence your discernment of God’s will?
  • Do you try to see the hand of God in human mediations?
  • Have you had the sensation of recognizing in the long run that an assignment that seemed difficult to you was positive in your life?
  • Where have your discernment of the Lord’s will led you? What fruits have they born? When have you carried them out?

 

“What we need is a conversion that will lead us to recognize and accept,
amid the challenges of our era, the gift of God, which is life,
which becomes personal and community history, which is a gift for others.”

(MCT 131)

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