Saint Anthony Mary Claret

632. There is a popular saying that contains a great lesson: The little doggy wags his tail, not for thee, but for thy meal.¹¹²⁰ Every day I see ladies and gentlemen feting, fawning, and doing who knows what else for the king and queen, not so much for Their Majesties themselves as for what they hope to gain by their efforts. Well, I have no wish or pretension, except to get out of the court. Someone may say, "Yes, but you have been decorated with the two Great Crosses." True, indeed, but how did I get them? I didn't ask for the Great Cross of Isabel the Catholic, and I didn't want to take it when it was offered me. But I was told that, as I was going to Cuba, I would have to have the title of Excellency because I was to be primate of that Church and act as possible substitute for the General of the island.¹¹²¹

633. As for the Cross of Charles III, I neither sought it nor wanted it; it was conferred upon me against my will, as I shall relate. After the birth of the Prince of Asturias, on the very day Their Majesties were leaving for Atocha, I was summoned to the palace. As soon as I arrived, the queen and king came out of the room in which they had been waiting, and without a word of warning both of them pinned the cross and ribbon on me.¹¹²² Because the two of them were there and I did not have the same confidence in the king that I now have¹¹²³--we are now good friends--I held my peace and said nothing, although inwardly it caused me a great deal of suffering. At a later date, when I was alone with the queen, I told her that the least I could do was to thank her for her good intentions in bestowing the Cross of Charles III on me but that it had caused me great pain and suffering. To prove my point, I refused to wear any decorations whatsoever for a long time. Even now I wear them only on occasions when court etiquette dictates that full dress is de rigueur.¹¹²⁴

634. As far as anything else is concerned, I have nothing. There is no other bishop in the whole of Spain who has not received a pectoral cross, a chalice, or something else from Her Majesty on the occasion of a baptism, a visit to their cathedral, etc., but I neither have nor want anything. When I baptized the Infanta Concepción,¹¹²⁵ they were obliged by custom to offer me something, but I begged and beseeched them not to, and to spare my feelings they did as I asked. When I retired from the palace, I had the great satisfaction of being able to say that I had nothing from Her Majesty, not even a pin.

635. Their Majesties are surrounded by self-serving men who are always hunting and grasping after titles, honors, greater salaries, and sums of money; but I, as I have said, have gained nothing; rather, I have lost much. Her Majesty wanted me by all means to accept the office of Guardian of Montserrat—the church, hospital, etc.—but I declined. Both she and the Commissioner General asked me many times to take the post, and when I learned that the buildings had already been advertised for sale in the Official Bulletin, I finally accepted, just to save them from being sold. And what did I gain by it all? I had to pay 5,000 duros out of my own pocket for repairs on the church and the hospital.¹¹²⁶

636. I can say much the same of the royal monastery of the Escorial, which neither is nor has ever been a source of profit to me; rather, it has brought me nothing but troubles and pains, and it has been the occasion of persecutions, slanders, and bills. Three times I tried to resign from its presidency, but failed.¹¹²⁷ Well, God be praised for it all: if the Lord wants me to carry this cross, all I can do is submit to his will.¹¹²⁸ My God, I want nothing of this world, nothing but your grace, your holy love and heavenly glory.

Chapter XIV

Ordinary and Extraordinary Occupations

637. Every day in winter I ordinarily rise at 3:00, sometimes earlier, because I always get up when I can't go to sleep and am never in bed unless sleeping.¹¹²⁹ Then I begin the Divine Office reciting Matins and Lauds, after which I say the Trisagion, read Scripture, prepare for Mass, celebrate Mass, make my thanksgiving,¹¹³⁰ and remain in the confessional until 11:00, when I go to hold audience for anyone who wishes to speak with me. The hour from 11:00 to 12:00 is the most burdensome of my day, since it is then that I receive all those requests that I can't grant, such as petitions for jobs, appointments, and things of that sort. From 12:00 to 12:15 I make my particular examen. At 12:15 we eat, after which I say the Minor Hours, Vespers, and Compline. Later in the evening or at night, I visit the sick, prisoners, or other charitable institutions, preach to nuns and sisters, study, or write books and pamphlets.

638. Besides these ordinary daily occupations, there have been other extra ordinary ones, such as giving retreats to the clergy, to the men and women of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, to nuns and sisters, not to mention missions to the laity.¹¹³¹ But this is not enough work to satisfy me; what I would really like to do would be to walk through towns and villages,¹¹³² giving missions. This is my great dream. I have a holy envy¹¹³³ of those missionaries who are lucky enough to be able to go from town to town preaching the Holy Gospel.¹¹³⁴

639. I have had some consolation in the midst of my sufferings. When I go on tour¹¹³⁵ with Their Majesties and Highnesses, I get to preach to the people in the morning, before Their Majesties leave the house.¹¹³⁶ Afterward I go around preaching in convents to nuns, sisters, priests, seminarians, members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, etc., so that my whole day is spent in preaching, except for the exact period of time I have to spend in the palace with the royal family.

640. One of the things that has kept me most occupied since I've been in Madrid has been writing books and pamphlets, having them printed, and buying these and other books for circulation by the Academy of St. Michael: in confessionals, institutions, schools, and on the streets.¹¹³⁷

641. My God, I wish that I could prevent anyone from offending you! rather, I wish that I could make you known, loved, and served by all creation. This is my only desire; the rest is not worth bothering about. My God, how good you are! I love you with all the strength of my heart.

Chapter XV

The Plan of Life and Resolutions I will Strive to Keep with God’s Help¹¹³⁸

642. 1. Jesus and Mary are my only support and guide, the models I propose to follow and imitate. Furthermore, I take the glorious St. Francis de Sales, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Thomas of Villanova, and St. Martin as my patrons and exemplars.¹¹³⁹

643. 2. I will bear in mind the Apostle's words to Timothy (1 Tim. 4:16): Attende tibe et doctrinae. As Cornelius says, Haec duo munia sunt Episcopi… qui aliter faciunt… nec sibi nec aliis prosunt.¹¹⁴⁰

644. 3. Every year I will make the Spiritual Exercises.

4. Every month I will make a day of recollection.

5. Every week I will go to confession at least once.

6. Three days a week I will take the discipline, and on the other days I will wear the cilice or do some equivalent penance.

7. Every Friday of the year and on the vigils of feasts of our Lord and the Blessed Virgin, I will fast.

645. 8. Every day I will get up at 3:00 or earlier, if I can't sleep. I shall go to bed at 10:00 p.m. After rising I will recite Matins and Lauds and read the Holy Bible until time for meditation.

9. I will meditate for an hour.

10. I will celebrate Holy Mass and afterwards spend a half hour in thanksgiving and in asking graces for myself and others.

646. 11. Then I will go to the confessional until 8:00, when I will go and take a cup of chocolate, after which I will return to the confessional. If there is no one there, I will do something else until 11:00, when I hold audience for an hour. At 12:00 I will recite the Angelus and make my examen.

12. At 12:15 I will have lunch with spiritual reading.

13. I will rest until 1:30.

14. I will work until 8:30, when I will recite the rosary and my other devotions.

15. At 9:00 I will have dinner and at 10:00 I will retire.

647. 16. I resolve never to lose a moment's time, and hence I will always keep busy by studying, praying, preaching, conferring the sacraments, etc.

648. 17. I resolve always to walk in God's presence, referring all things to Him,¹¹⁴¹ never seeking my own praise, but only greater grace to imitate Jesus.¹¹⁴² I will always try to ask myself how Jesus would have acted under similar circumstances.¹¹⁴³

649. 18. I resolve to do well the ordinary things that I do. If there is a choice of two good things, I will try to select the better, even though it might cost me the sacrifice of my own will. I will likewise choose whatever is poorest, meanest, and most painful.¹¹⁴⁴

650. 19. I resolve to keep an even temper and disposition, never allowing myself to be carried away by anger, impatience, sadness, or exaggerated joy, always remembering the example of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, who also had their trials, and far greater ones than mine.¹¹⁴⁵ I will think that God has arranged things this way for my own good, and so I will not complain. Rather, I will say, Thy will be done.¹¹⁴⁶ I will remember what Augustine says, Aut facies quod Deus vult, aut patieris quod tu non vis.¹¹⁴⁷ I will also recall what God told Mary Magdalen de Pazzi: to maintain the same unchanging pleasant mood with every sort of person, yet never let slip one word of flattery.¹¹⁴⁸ Of St. Martin we read that he seemed never to be upset or sad or laughing, but always in an even mood of heavenly joy. So great was his patience that although they knew he was their prelate, even the least of his clergy could rest assured that if they offended him, he would not chastise them.¹¹⁴⁹

Selected Documents

651. Perfection consists in loving God very much and despising oneself (St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi).¹¹⁵⁰

Spernere se, spernere nullum, spernere mundum. et spernere sperni. (St. Louis Bertrand).¹¹⁵¹

Do your duty and let come what may.

It is a thing of great courage to suffer without complaining and a thing of great wisdom to listen with patience.

In silentio et spe erit fortitudo vestra. (Isa. 30:15).¹¹⁵²

652. The strong man should fear nothing, not even death, when it comes to doing his duty.

We should hold the post God has assigned us, fighting to the death without fear of the consequences. The only thing we should fear is acting unjustly.

653. If you want to achieve high virtue, do not be lifted up in self-esteem. Believe that you are doing nothing and you will do all (St. John Chrysostom).

Abstine et sústine.

Abstine from gluttony, luxury, and every pleasure, even if it be licit.

Sústine work, illness, persecution, and slander.¹¹⁵³

Spiritus Sanctus docet: Pauca loqui cum discretione; multa operari cum fervore, ac jugiter laudare Deum.¹¹⁵⁴

Chapter XVI

Some Particular Devotions

654. Litanías¹¹⁵⁵

Sta. Maria.

S. Joseph.

S. Joachim.

Sta. Anna.

S. Antoni.

Ss. Seraphim.

Ss. Querubim.

Ss. Throni.

Ss. Dominationes.

Ss. Virtutes.

Ss. Potestates.

Ss. Principatus.

Ss. Archangeli.

Ss. Angeli.

Ss. Patriarchae et Prophetae.

S. Joannes B[aptista].

S. Petre.

S. Paule.

S. Jacobe.

S. Joannes.

Omnes Ss. Apost. et Evan.

S. Francisce de S[ales].

S. Carole B[orromee].

S. Thoma de Vi[llanova].

S. Antonine.

S. Joannes Cris[ostome].

S. Ambrosi.

S. Augustine.

S. Gregori.

S. Athanasi.

S. Hieronyme.

S. Pauline.

S. Martine.

S. Juliane.

S. Laurenti Jus[tiniani].

S. Ildefonse.

S. Alfonse Lig[ori].

S. Bernarde Cal[vó]. ¹¹⁵⁶

S. Bernarde D[octor].

S. Francisce X[averi].

S. Francisce de A[ssisi].

S. Francisce de B[orja].

S. Francisce de P[aoli].

S. Thomas D[octor].

S. Dominice.

S. Stephane.

S. Laurenti.

S. Vincenti.

S. Sebastiane M[artir].

S. Sebastiane B[alfré].¹¹⁵⁷

S. Filipe N[eri].

S. Ignati M[artir].

S. Ignati.

S. Aloisi. ¹¹⁵⁸

Sta. Theresia.

Sta. Catharina M[artir].

Sta. Catharina V[irgo].

Sta. María Mag[dalena].

Sta. María Magdalena de Pazzi.

Sta. Eulalia.

Sta. Tecla.

Sta. Agnes.

Sta. Philomena.

Omnes Sancti et Sanctae Dei.

Petitiones pro me¹¹⁵⁹

655. Credo, Domine, sed credam firmius.

Spero, Domine, sed sperem securius.

Amo, Domine, sed amem ardentius.

Doleo, Domine, sed doleam vehementius.¹¹⁶⁰

656. O, Domine, quia ego servus tuus, et filius ancillae tuae.

Ecce servus tuus, fiat mihi secundum volantatem tuam.

Domine, quid me vis facere?

Doce me facere voluntatem tuam, quia Deus meus es tu.

Dabis ergo servo tuo cor docile, ut populum judicare possit et discernere inter bonum

et malum (3 Reg 3,7).

657. 
     Pater, da mihi humilitatem, mansuetudinem, castitatem, patientiam et charitatem.
     

Pater, bonitatem, et disciplinam et scientiam doce me.

Pater da mihi amorem tuum cum gratia tua et dives sum satis.

Deus meus, Jesus meus et omnia

657. 
     In cruce vivo, et in cruce cupio mori; et non a meis manibus, sed ab alienis spero
     

descendere a cruce, postquam consummatum fuerit sacrificium.

Absit mihi gloriari nisi in cruce Domini mei Jesuchristi, per quem mihi mundus crucifixus est et ego mundo.¹¹⁶¹

Petitiones pro Pópulo¹¹⁶²

657. 
     Pater, respice in faciem Christi tui.
     

Pater, respice in faciem Ancillae tuae.

Pater, respice in me, et miserere mei quia unicus et pauper sum ego.

Respice in me et miserere mei, da imperium tuum puero tuo, et salvum fac filium

ancillae tuae (Ps 85 ).

O Domine, quía ego servus tuus, ego servus tuus et filius ancillae tuae (Ps 115).

Parce Domine, parce populo tuo, per humilitatem, et patientiam J. C. D. N. et Beatae

V. M.

660. Parce Domine, parce populo tuo per amorem et merita J. C. D. N. et Beatae V. M.

Parce, Domine, Jesu fili David, miserere nostri.

661. Te ergo quaesumus tuis famulis subveni, quos pretioso sanguine redemisti.

Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae.

Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum.

Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire.

Miserere nostri, Domine, miserere nostri.

Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos quemadmodum speravimus in te.

In te, Domine, speravi, non confundar in aeternum.

662. My God, I would never want you to say of me what you said of the priests of Israel: You did not step into the breach, nor did you build a wall of prayer about the house of Israel that would stand firm against attack on the day of the Lord (Ezek 13:5).

You have said, my God: I have searched among them for someone who would build a wall or stand in the breach to keep me by his prayers from destroying the land; but I found no one (Ezek. 22:30).

663. I am nothing, Lord, yet like Moses I want to pray: Dimitte, obsecro, peccatum populi hujus, secundam multitudinem misericordiae tuae (Num 14:19).¹¹⁶³

Father, I ask you this through the merits of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Redeemer, and through the merits of Blessed Mary, the Mother of your most holy Son and our Mother. Yes, I, the first and foremost sinner of all,¹¹⁶⁴ ask you this in the name of all you wish us to ask and know that we need the most.

Chapter XVII

Some Homely Animals That Have Served Me As Examples Of Virtue¹¹⁶⁵

664. The Holy Spirit tells me, "Go to the ant, O sluggard, study her ways and learn wisdom.''¹¹⁶⁶ And learn I shall, not only from the ant, but from the cock, the donkey, and the dog as well.

Quis dedit gallo intelligentiam? (Job 38:36).¹¹⁶⁷

Gallus cantavit.¹¹⁶⁸

1. The cock crows for me, and I, like Peter, should recall my sins and weep.¹¹⁶⁹

2. The cock crows out the hours of day and night. I, too, should praise God every hour of the day and night, and urge others to do so.

3. Day and night the cock watches over his brood; day and night I, too, should watch over the souls that the Lord has entrusted to my care.

4. At the slightest sound or sense of danger the cock crows out an alarm; I, too, should do the same, by warning souls of the slightest danger of sin.

655. 5.The cock defends his brood against the attacks of hawks and other birds of prey; I, too, should defend the souls the Lord has entrusted to my care against the hawks of error, sin, and vice.

6. The cock is very generous; as soon as he sees a bit of food, he fasts himself, but calls the hens to eat. I should forego pleasures and conveniences so that I may be generous and charitable toward the poor and needy.

7. Before he crows, the cock first beats his wings; I, before preaching, should move and beat the wings of study and prayer.

8. The cock is most prolific; so must I be spiritually, so that I can say with the Apostle, Per evangelium ego vos genui.¹¹⁷⁰

The Donkey¹¹⁷¹

666. Ut jumentum factus sum apud te, et ego semper tecum.¹¹⁷²

1. The donkey is by nature the humblest of beasts. His name is an insult; his place is the lowest in the yard; his food is poor and so are his trappings. I, too should see to it that my room, food, and clothing are poor, so as to win for myself humiliation and the scorn of men. This will help me to acquire the virtue of humility because in my fallen nature I am vain and proud.¹¹⁷³

667. 2. The donkey is a very patient beast; he carries men and their burdens and suffers beatings without complaint. I, too, must be very patient in bearing the burden of my duties and in suffering meekly all the pains, trials, persecutions, and slanders I am subject to.

668. 3. The Blessed Virgin Mary rode upon a donkey, both when she went to Bethlehem to give birth to Jesus, her Son, and when she fled with Him into Egypt to deliver Him from Herod. I, too, offer myself to Mary, to be the joyful bearer of devotion to her, to preach about her glories, joys, and sorrows, and to meditate day and night upon these holy and adorable mysteries.

669. 4. Jesus rode upon a donkey when He entered Jerusalem in triumph.¹¹⁷⁴ I, too, gladly offer myself to Jesus to make use of me in his triumphant march over his enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil, as He makes his way into the souls and towns of those who are converted to Him. I will, of course, know that the honors and praises I hear will not be for me, the donkey, but for Jesus, whose dignity I bear for Jesus, though unworthy, bear.¹¹⁷⁵

The Dog

670. Canes muti qui non valuerunt latrare.¹¹⁷⁶

1. The dog is so faithful an animal and so constant a companion to his master that neither misery, poverty, hardship, nor anything else can separate them. I should be the same: so faithful and constant in serving and loving God that I might say with the Apostle that neither death nor life nor anything else can ever separate me from Him.¹¹⁷⁷

671. 2. The dog is more loyal than a son, more obedient than a servant, and more docile than a child. Not only does he willingly do what his master orders, but he scans his master's face to tell from his looks what he wants, so that he can do it without being told to, with the greatest alacrity and joy. He even shares his master's affections, becoming a friend of his friends and an enemy of his enemies. I should practice all these beautiful traits in serving God, my beloved Master. Yes, I shall gladly do what He commands me, and I shall study to know and do his will without waiting for a command. I shall promptly and gladly do all that He disposes through his representatives, my superiors. I shall be a friend of the friends of God, and I shall treat his enemies as He tells me, barking out against their wickedness to make them leave it.

672. 3. The dog watches by day and redoubles his vigilance by night. He guards the person and the property of his master. He barks at and bites all those he knows or suspects are planning to harm his master or his master's interests. I should strive to be always vigilant, and denounce vices, faults, and sins, and cry out against the enemies of the soul.

673. 4. The dog's greatest joy is to be in his master's presence and walk along beside him. I shall strive always to walk joyfully in the presence of God, my dear Master. Thus I will never sin¹¹⁷⁸ and will become perfect, according to his word: Ambula coram me, et esto perfectus.¹¹⁷⁹

Chapter XVIII

Some Noteworthy Things that God and the Blessed Virgin Mary have made me understand

674. 1855. On July 12, 1855 at 5:30 in the afternoon, after I had just finished my pastoral letter on the Immaculate Conception, I knelt down before a picture of Mary to thank her for helping me write the letter.¹¹⁸⁰ Suddenly I was surprised to hear a clear and distinct voice issuing from the picture, saying: Bene scripsisti.¹¹⁸¹ These words made a deep impression on me and filled me with a strong desire to be perfect.

675. 1857. On January 15, 1857, at 5:00 in the afternoon, while I was meditating on Jesus, I said, What do you want me to do, Lord? Jesus answered, You'll have work to do, Anthony; your hour has not yet come.

For several days since this happened I have been feeling many spiritual consolations, especially during Mass and meditation.