The Congregation of the Claretian Missionaries, Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was founded in Spain on July 16, 1849. Starting today, July 14th, we are inviting you to pray a triduum with us. Who are the Claretians?
Day 1 (July 14th)
“A Son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a man on fire with love, who spreads its flames wherever he goes. He desires mightily and strives by all means possible to set the whole world on fire with God's love. Nothing daunts him; he delights in privations, welcomes work, embraces sacrifices, smiles at slander, and rejoices in suffering. His only concern is how he can best follow Jesus Christ and imitate Him in working, suffering, and striving constantly and single-mindedly for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls.” (Autobiography 494).
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory be to the Father…
Prayer:
Father of kindness and mercy
We praise and bless you
For having raised up in the Church
The charism of St. Anthony Mary Claret
And for having founded our congregation.
We humbly beg you
To send new workers to our congregation,
And impart your spirit to those you have chosen.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Day: 2 (July 15th)
“Toward the middle of May I arrived in Barcelona and returned to Vich where I discussed with Canons Jaime Soler and Jaime Passarell my plan to form a congregation of priests who would both be, and be called, Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Both of them approved of my plan… (and) told me that as soon as the seminarians went home for the summer vacation we could meet in the seminary and live there until God would find some other place for us… I talked with a number of priests whom the Lord had given the same spirit that motivated me. These were Fathers Stephen Sala, Joseph Xifre, Dominic Fabregas, Manuel Vilaro, and Jaime Clotet. I, Anthony Claret, was last of all. And, indeed, they were all better educated and more virtuous than I so that I felt happy and content to consider myself their servant.” (Autobiography 488 & 489)
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory be to the Father…
Prayer:
Father of kindness and mercy
We praise and bless you
For having raised up in the Church
The charism of St. Anthony Mary Claret
And for having founded our congregation.
We humbly beg you
To send new workers to our congregation,
And impart your spirit to those you have chosen.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Day: 3 (July 16th)
“On July 16, 1849, after we had gathered together in the seminary with the approval of the bishop and the rector, we commenced our own Spiritual Exercises, which we followed with all exactness and fervor. Because July 16 is the Feast of the Holy Cross and of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, I based my first sermon on those words of Psalm 22: Your rod and your staff give me courage (v. 4), alluding to the devotion and confidence we should place in the Holy Cross and the Blessed Virgin Mary and applying it also to the project we were beginning…Thus we had begun and thus we continued, living together strictly in community. All of us were going out regularly to work in the sacred ministry.” (Autobiography 490 & 491)
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory be to the Father…
Prayer:
Father of kindness and mercy
We praise and bless you
For having raised up in the Church
The charism of St. Anthony Mary Claret
And for having founded our congregation.
We humbly beg you
To send new workers to our congregation,
And impart your spirit to those you have chosen.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Could you be called to a vocation to serve the people of God as a missionary? Check out www.myclaret.org to find out more and contact a vocation director who will be happy to accompany you on your discernment journey.