San antonio maria claret biography of albert

After a lengthy time in the pulpit, he would spend long hours in the confessional. He was said to have had the gift of discernment of consciences. In Claret's life was threatened by anti-clerical enemies and he was sent to the Canary Islands where he gave retreats for 15 months. His missions were so well attended that he often preached from an improvised pulpit in the plaza before the church.

He was consecrated at Vic in October Before he embarked, he made three separate pilgrimages: to Our Lady of the Pillarpatroness of Spain; to the Virgin of Montserratpatroness of Catalonia; and to Our Lady of Fussimanya, near his home village. The Santiago seminary was reorganized, clerical discipline strengthened, and over 9, marriages validated within the first two years of his arrival.

He erected a hospital and numerous schools. Three times he made a visitation of the entire diocese, giving local missions incessantly. He wrote books about rural spirituality and agricultural methods, which he himself tested first. The congregation was considered as the first women religious institute in Cuba. He also visited jails and hospitals, defended the oppressed and denounced racism.

Claret was an exceptional preacher with incredible charisms: witnesses said his body would become transfigured while preaching or in prayer, he would levitate up to six feet off the ground at times in front of credible witnesses, he stopped a series of earthquakes in Cuba by kneeling on the ground and placing his palms to the earth while uttering prayers, he could calm terrible storms by raising a hand to the sky and blessing the storm clouds, he experienced apparitions of both Jesus and Mary, and was even seen walking on water.

In addition, a supernatural light that radiated from his body while he was saying Mass was seen by many. It was so intense at times that one witness said he saw the light radiate from his body behind the altar all the way to the sacristy. Queen Isabella of Spain even produced a written statement solemnly declaring that she had personally witnessed this phenomenon.

On September 3,Claret claimed he had heard Jesus tell him that there were three great evils that were descending upon mankind: the first was a series of enormous, horrifying wars; the second, the four powerful demons of pleasure, love of money, false reasoning and a will separated from God. Finally, in addition to a grievance he had with certain Christians who had left the church, Jesus told Claret that the third chastisement would be brought about by Communism, an unknown, fledgling movement that only had hundreds of followers at the time.

Two years after the September 3 warning, during benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in AugustClaret again said he was warned interiorly by Jesus that Communism was to be the great foe of humanity. The remedy, Jesus told him, would include devotion to the Blessed Sacrament also known as the Eucharist and the Rosary. He obtained permission to resign his Cuban see and was appointed to the titular see of Trajanopolis.

His influence was now directed solely to help the poor and to propagate learning; he lived frugally and took up his residence in an Italian hospice. For nine years he was rector of the Escorial monastic school, where he established a scientific laboratory, a museum of natural history, a library, college and schools of music and languages. Ina new revolution dethroned the queen and sent her with her family into exile.

Claret's life was also in danger, so he accompanied her to France. He continued his popular missions and distribution of books wherever he went in accompanying the Spanish Court. When Isabella recognized the san antonio maria claret biography of albert, secular government of a united Italy, he left the Court and hastened to take his place by the side of the pope.

People soon began to look to him not only for spiritual help but also for relief of their physical ills. When his personal efforts became insufficient for the task on hand he called on the assistance of other apostolic men and founded the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Claretian Fathers on July 16, The first official act of the new Archbishop was to consecrate his diocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

He then began the systematic reconstruction of the Diocese by personally conducting retreats for all the Clergy, and his missions for the faithful of the extensive and extremely difficult territory.

San antonio maria claret biography of albert

He instituted a Seminary for native clergy and founded an order of teaching Sisters. He published a simple illustrated catechism and devised a system for teaching religion which was later approved by the Vatican Council for the entire Church. Father Jan Klak became Pastor inand led the first capital campaign to build our permanent church.

It was dedicated on May 2, When arrived at his destination, he began a thorough reform at Santiago's seminary, which was reorganized and strengthened with clerical discipline. In the first two years of his ministry there, over 9, marriages—most involving common-law relationships—were validated under the Catholic tradition. He erected a hospital and numerous schools.

On three different occasions, Claret made a systematic visitation to the entire diocese, including all the local missions. His passionate work stirred up much opposition in the anti-clerical mood of the period, as had happened previously in Spain. No less than 15 attempts were made on Claret's life; his cheek was laid open from ear to chin by a would-be assassin's knife at the eastern provincial capital of Holguin.

He obtained permission to resign his see in Cuba and was appointed to the titular see of Trajanopolis. In addition to acting as the queen's spiritual adviser, his influence was now directed greatly to help the poor and to propagate learning; he lived frugally and took up his residence in an Italian hospice. For nine years he was rector of the Escorial monastic school where he established an excellent scientific laboratory, a museum of natural history, a library, college, and schools of music and languages.

His further plans were frustrated by the Revolution ofwhich ultimate deposed Isabella II and led to the establishment of the first Spanish republic. When Isabella recognized the new secular government of a united ItalyClaret left the court and hastened to Rome, where Isabella had incurred the pope's displeasure for ending the Catholic Church's status as the official religion of Spain.

He later returned to Madrid authorized by the pope to absolve the queen for her role in Spain's secularization. Due to failing health, he withdrew to Prades in France, where he was still harassed by his Spanish enemies; shortly afterwards he retired to the Cistercian abbey at Fontfroide, Narbonne, southern France, where he died on October 24,at age