Saint Anthony Mary Claret
Observations on the Holy Exercises of the Year 1853
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- Bu səhifədəki naviqasiya:
- Resolutions for the Retreat of 1854
- Our Lady’s Teaching on How to Have Evenness of Mind. Resigning
- Resolutions at the Holy Exercises of 1855
- A Quick Way to Perfect Oneself
- Resolutions Made on Holy Retreat in the Year 1857. 10th Day of July
Observations on the Holy Exercises of the Year 1853 Day 1.
Day 2. – Indifference in all matters concerning my honor or dishonor, health or sickness, wealth or poverty, likes or dislikes.1868 I will ask to resign, but will remain indifferent, as content with the one thing as with the other.1869 In case I am given a choice, I will choose the poorest, most shameful and painful. And when some suffering, persecution or slander befalls me, I will shut my mouth, give thanks to God, and pray for those who slander me...
The Prelate who lives religiously, and liberally spends what he has on the poor, will win favor with God, with men and even with the world (Ven. Granada, vol. 6, p. 601).1871 He who avenges himself, places himself on the same level as his enemy, while he who overlooks injuries, makes himself superior to them (El Instructor, vol. 1, p. 184).
The more patient one is the more one enjoys the world (El Ins., vol. 4, p. 48). Do what you ought, and let come what may (El Ins., vol 4, p. 39). It shows great valor to suffer without murmuring, and great wisdom to listen with patience. Indifference 1873 God’s will Self-will Poverty Wealth Suffering Pleasure Dishonor Honor We should stay in the post or office God has assigned us, fighting to the death and fearless of the consequences. The only thing we should fear is to act unjustly (Plato).1874 The strong man should not fear anything, even death itself, when it is a matter of fulfilling his duty (El Inst., vol. 4, p. 142). If you wish to reach the heights of virtue, do not be lifted high in your own esteem; believe that you do nothing, and you will do everything. St. John Chrysostom. 1854 MSS Claret II, 49-56 Introductory Note This year, St. Anthony Mary Claret made his retreat from April 27th to May 6th, taking advantage of the Holy Week break in his second pastoral visit of the archdiocese. He again brought to this retreat his concerns about resigning. After the previous year’s retreat, he had written to Canon Joseph Caixal, the Bishop-elect of Urgell: “How does the idea of becoming a Bishop suit you? When will you be consecrated? May God give you more liking for it then I have, for I assure you that for me it is a heavy and bitter burden. During retreats, and every day at prayer, I resolve to conform myself to God’s will; but at every moment during the day I almost forget my resolution and am beset with desires to shake off the yoke and escape or flee. God give me strength to do His most holy will!”1875 During this retreat, the light finally dawned on Claret, so that during the years that followed, he no longer voiced this concern. But just now, he needed to steel his spirit with patience and fortitude. Besides the sufferings entailed in caring for his far-flung archdiocese, he also had to cope with the obstacles which the high court and lesser authorities placed in the way of his missionaries’ efforts at morally uplifting the people. Suffice it to cite the case of Fr. Francis Mirosa, who was fined and jailed because of his opposition to the scandalous liaison of the Lieutenant of Cobre.1876 To top it all off, the Saint himself was in poor health. Text
Resolutions for the Retreat of 1854
motives for meekness. 1. Being a rational creature. 2. Being a Christian. 3. Being a priest and an archbishop. Look at St. Martin,1885 Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, St. John Chrysostom,1886 St. Francis de Sales.1887 I will strive always to be the master of myself, my senses and my passions. Melior patiens viro forti, et qui dominatur animo suo expugnatore urbium (Prov 16:32)1888 Myrrh that dropped naturally and myrrh that is obtained by incision. Mortifications [are like myrrh]: some come naturally, while others are procured. [On Resigning:] The devil says: descende de Cruce.1889 St. Peter Damian resigned from the bishopric of Ostia, and the Supreme Pontiff imposed a hundred years’ penance on him, one discipline per day (See Calatayud, vol. I, p. 63).1890 “For my part, I would rather remain here (in heaven); but if I must attend to your glory, then I want to go back to work, uncertain of my salvation, even though but one soul were converted (Fr. Mateo Catalan) To pray to God for the conversion of sinners (See Calatayud, p.66).1891 The year 618. King Sisebut1892 deprived Bishop Eusebius of the bishopric of Barcelona for having allowed a pagan work to be performed in the theater. The same King Sisebut reproved and summoned Bishop Caelius of Montelo for becoming a religious. On his way to enter, he was taken prisoner by the imperial soldiers... 605. Sabinian, the successor and enemy of St. Gregory, would neither give alms nor have the lamps of St. Peter’s lit. One day while he was at prayer, someone struck him and he died shortly thereafter. 614. In England, St. Peter flogged Archbishop [St.] Laurence [of Canterbury] because through his neglect Catholicism had grown tepid. The king [Edbald] saw the marks... Before accepting the episcopacy, think it over carefully, and after accepting it, do not dwell on resigning from it, since this could have grace consequences. I deeply revere those Lord Bishops who have resigned. But the rule we should follow are the Holy Bishops canonized by the Church who did not resign, but fulfilled their ministry well, giving their lives for their sheep. St. Basil1893 strongly urged St. Gregory Nazianzen1894 not to resign his pastoral charge. The Venerable Palafox1895 resisted Archbishop Moscoso of Toledo when the latter wanted to resign. The Most Rev. Fr. Bartholomew of the Martyrs, Archbishop of Braga,1896 opposed the plans of St. Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, who was thinking of resigning his post in order to become a religious.1897 But he himself did not follow his own advice, since he renounced the see of Braga.1898 St. Athanasius fled many times, but never renounced the see of Alexandria.1899 St. John Chrysostom was exiled from Constantinople, but would never consent to resign, so as not to encourage his opponents.1900 Many times the desire to resign comes from the love of rest and the desire to be freed from afflictions or upsets, which are indeed not lacking. But one should be humble and have recourse to God, for He will uphold him. St. Augustine wished to flee to the desert, but was held back by this thought: “Christ died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them” (Conf., bk. 10, ch. 42).1901 Our Lady’s Teaching on How to Have Evenness of Mind. Resigning.1902 “You must strive to keep your heart disposed to accept prosperity and adversity, the sweet and the bitter, with equal mien. Oh, how narrow and mean the human heart is when it comes to accepting what is painful and contrary to its earthly inclinations! How upset it is with labors! How impatiently it bears them, deeming that everything opposed to its tastes is unbearable! And how forgetful it is of the fact that its Master and Lord first bore them himself and, in himself, approved and sanctified them!1903 “If creatures fail you, if temptation threatens you, if tribulation afflicts you and the pains of death draw near you, you must not let any of these things disturb you, nor should you show yourself to be a coward, because my Most Holy Son and I are greatly displeased when you hinder or make ill use of His powerful grace to defend you. “Besides this, you will be giving the devil a great triumph, for he delights in disturbing or overwhelming one who is a disciple of Christ and of me, and when you begin to flag in small matters, he will return to oppress you in greater matters. Trust, then, in the protection of the Most High, and you can count on mine. With this kind of faith, when tribulation befalls you, answer bravely: The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom should I fear?1904 ‘He is my protector; why am I wavering? I have a Mother, Teacher, Queen and Lady who will uphold me and care for me in my affliction.” 1855 MSS Claret II, 57-60 Introductory Note Claret returned to Santiago on March 14th, after finishing his third pastoral visit, which was of an eminently Marian character, since he had established the Confraternity of the Immaculate Heart wherever he went. Barely after his arrival, he organized celebrations for the Jubilee Year granted by Pius IX in connection with the definition of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 1854. Once Holy Week services were over, the Saint began his retreat. From the resolutions he made, it is clear that he was not so much seeking light (as in his former resolutions, when he was trying to decide whether or not to resign), as strength to attend to his duties. From earlier resolutions he retains the proposal to walk in God’s presence and to do the better thing. He stresses the virtue of patience, as well he might since, with General Espartero’s rise to power in Spain in 1854, General Gutiérrez de la Concha was reappointed Governor of Cuba. This meant that the Archbishop’s enemies would feel freer to act against him, as in fact they did. The Saint prepared himself for the struggle to come through patience and meekness, without neglecting humility, which is, so to speak, their foundation. We still have the outlines of the talks Claret gave at this retreat (MSS Claret X, 275-283). They throw considerable light on these resolutions.1905 Text
Resolutions at the Holy Exercises of 1855
If they (my enemies) speak lightly of me, I must pay them no heed. He, who does not know how to hide his feelings, does not know how to rule. Even if they speak out of malice, they should be forgiven.
Worldly people love riches, honors and pleasures for three reasons: 1) Because of corrupt nature, tamquam aqua dilabimur.1911 2) Because of bad upbringing, since that is all one hears in the world, where those who are rich are deemed happy. 3) Because of bad example, when we see that everyone around us loves riches, and that, like fops who pursue the latest fashions, worldlings pursue the three concupiscences.
If a street urchin were brought in and dressed in a king’s robe laced with silks and braid, the poor child would begin to cry...; therefore I... Regi saeculorum immortali et invisibili…1915
The 20th day of April, 1855 The Archbishop Criticism
A Quick Way to Perfect Oneself
Exaggeration, insult, slander and anonymity are the arms that make up the arsenal of weakness, and the sashes with which baseness bedecks itself. The best way to overcome them is to pay no attention to them. Their habits of lying, blasphemy and slander are the very air they breathe, their being and their life. 1856 MSS Claret II, 69-70 Introductory Note This year’s retreat began on June 19th. The reason for the long delay was the attempt made on the Saint’s life at Holguín on February 1st of this year.1919 Claret began this retreat with considerable uncertainty as to his own future and that of the members of his household. The persecutions had by no means ended with the attempt on his life. He had recourse to Pius IX in order to ascertain what he ought to do. He was now awaiting an answer from Rome, which he believed would be favorable to his resignation. For this and other reasons, various members of his household were making plans to go their several ways. In the talk he gave on the first day of the retreat, he remarked: “Perhaps this is the last time we will be together on retreat. Another year and we will probably be dispersed. Hence, let us take advantage of this gathering. May the fervent lend their fire to the cold and tepid. Quam bonum et jucundum habitare fratres in unum!1920 On the Feast of St. John the Baptist, as he was reading to the retreatants, Claret felt very ill. It was an attack of yellow fever, which obliged him to interrupt his retreat. Despite it all, faithful to his determination to write down his resolutions, he dashed them off in a few lines, renewing those of the preceding year. Text In his life, a Prelate needs the help of certain exercises of prayer and consideration, recollecting himself at set times, examining his conscience, ordering his life, healing his wounds, preparing himself for the perils of each day, and with ardent desires imploring the Lord’s favor and grace for all these things. Granada, vol. 2, p. 222.1921 Retreat of 1856. The same resolutions as last year. The Archbishop. 1. I will think on God. 2. I will think on the last Things.1922
1857 [Archbishop and Royal Confessor] MSS Claret II, 71-73 Introductory Note 1857 marked the beginning of a new era in the life of St. Anthony Mary Claret: that of Royal Confessor. Summoned to Spain by Isabella II, he arrived in Madrid on May 26th, and on June 6th received his official appointment. “I am not suited for this,” he wrote to Bishop Caixal of Urgell. “I have neither the bent nor humor of a court retainer.”1925 But others, among them the Papal Nuncio, Msgr. Lorenzo Barili, deemed the Saint’s arrival to be providential for the Spanish Church. To prepare himself for his new mission, he retired to the Vincentian house on Osuna Street on July 2nd, to make his yearly retreat. The retreat ended on July 11th, and the resolutions he formed are dated July 10th. They begin with a renewal of his previous resolutions and – not surprisingly, given the newness of his situation – they do not contain a plan of life properly so-called. But from the viewpoint of the Saint’s inner dispositions, they are very important, since they signal a new spiritual attitude. Now free of many of his former concerns and, for the moment, from persecution, he can deepen his spiritual life, though always in keeping with his apostolic calling. He had cherished Gisbert’s Life of St. Catherine of Siena since at least 1843, as we know from a letter to Sister Mary Dolores, in which he states: “I will omit nothing that I know might help you advance in virtue. In proof of this I am sending you the Life of St. Catherine of Siena, who is my teacher and director. She so moves me to fervor that whenever I am reading her life, I have to hold the book in one hand and a handkerchief in the other, to dry the tears it continually brings to my eyes... return it to me... because I cannot live without this book” (10/30/1843: EC I, p. 123). This Life (Valencia 1784) by Fray Lorenzo Gisbert, is alluded to several times in Claret’s Autobiography (nn. 212, 235-238, 654, 741 and 781), in his Retreat Resolutions (1853, 1857, 1860 and 1866), in his Correspondence (EC I, p. 123; II, pp. 1220, 1248 and 1402), and in his short work, The Temple and Palace of God (Barcelona 1866). From this work he derived the notion of the “interior cell” where he could dwell in the midst of his many activities. This attitude also corresponds to the Seventh Mansions of St. Teresa’s Interior Castle (especially VII, ch. 4, n. 12), where Mary is shown seated in rapt attention at the feet of Jesus, while Martha busily prepares a banquet of souls. But whereas the great Carmelite’s apostolic contribution consists of praying and suffering, Claret’s extends to manifold ministries and enterprises. He not only wants to see God in things, but also to preserve the sense of God’s inner presence in the midst of a dynamic and diversified apostolate. Another important point is Claret’s new way of considering Jesus. In previous resolutions he has regarded Him either as his model or as the driving-force behind his apostolate. Now he speaks of Union with Christ, the Victim offered up for the glory of the Trinity. The Saint’s approach to mortification is in keeping with this new attitude. Instead of seeing mortification mainly as an ascetical tool for self-discipline, he looks to the mortification of Christ, which must be carried out in our mortal body. In order to attain this, he strives to acquire a remembrance of Christ’s Passion as seen, so to speak, from the inside. Another noteworthy point is his plan of apostolic activities. In Madrid, he might have limited himself to his duties as palace chaplain, but the love of Christ impelled him to become involved in charitable works and in the ministry of sanctifying priests. One result of these resolutions was the inauguration, in the Italian Church, of spiritual conferences for the clergy, the rules for which he published at this time. He gave two clergy retreats this year, the first of which was attended by 500 priests, the second, by 150. He also kept up his retreats to the laity, his preaching and his writing. “The arrival of this outstanding archbishop,” wrote the Nuncio, “has been a real blessing for Madrid. Through him, the Catholic spirit has been revived; clergy who want to fulfill their ministry now have a master and guide; the word of God is bearing fruit, and the incredulous and the corrupt are being converted.”1926 Inwardly, the Saint was passing through a period of aridity or purification: “For some time now the Lord has been weaning me and treating me in Jesuit style, that is, taking from me what I like the most and denying me what I most desire... God has left me only spirit and bones, utterly fleshless bones, as dry as those Ezekiel saw.”1927 Text
Resolutions Made on Holy Retreat in the Year 1857. 10th Day of July Besides the resolutions I have already written, I make the following in particular:
Ah my Jesus! What would you have me do for love of you? I desire nothing but to know your will so that I may fulfill it, cost what it may. I love you, my God! Ah my Jesus! Out of love for you I renounce every liking, pleasure and delight there is in this world.1931 Absit mihi gloriari nisi in cruce D.N.J.C. per quem mihi mundus crucifixus est et ego mundo.1932 From dead to dead, nothing goes (St. J[ohn] Chrysostom). Semper mortificationem Jesu in corpore nostro circumferentes (2 Cor 4:10).1933 Fasciculus mirrae dilectus meus mihi, inter ubera mea commorabitur.1934 Jesus is this bundle of myrrh, made up of the pains and labors he bore from the crib to the cross. I should hang it not on my back, where I might forget it, but I should place and wear it on my bosom, where I can see it, and over my heart, that I may cherish it and be grateful. Oh Dominie, quia servus tuus, ego servus tuus et flius ancillae tuae!1935 Yüklə 5,08 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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