THE FEAST OF ST ANTHONY MARY CLARET, MISSIONARY BISHOP AND FOUNDER.
FEAST OF ST ANTHONY MARY CLARET, BISHOP, FOUNDER AND MISSIONARY.
A Baptism I must be baptized. (Jesus).
"Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!
"There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
"Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” (Luke 12: 49 - 53).
Thursday 24th October 2024 of the 29th week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Anthony Mary Claret (1807 - 1870). Spanish missionary and Archbishop of Santiago, Cuba. He founded the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretians).
St Anthony Mary Claret was no stranger to the type of cruelty inflicted on the poor and marginalized people in most countries of the world. He fought for the rights of these people in Cuba and at the end of his life, he wrote: “I have fulfilled my mission, I have preached the Gospel, I have kept holy poverty.”
Some people think that the Gospel of today from Luke 12: 49 - 53 is a hyperbole, that is, great exaggeration. Do you think so? Then look at a Crucifix. Is Jesus nailed to the Cross wearing a crown of thorns a hyperbole?
Jesus proclaimed: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!" Jesus said in another passage that the purpose of His life is to proclaim the truth. If you belong to the truth, you will listen to His voice. He further said. If you do not belong to the truth, you will oppose Him.
Falsehood always opposes the truth. Cain murdered Abel. Esau hated his brother Jacob and would have killed him if he had the opportunity. The brothers of Joseph sold him into slavery. Judas, intimate companion of Jesus betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver. This tug of War still plays out relentlessly in families everywhere. Do not be afraid of those who oppose you because you have responded to the call of Jesus. Be rather afraid of failing to acknowledge Jesus before men. Jesus wants us to love our families and friends but never make idols of them.
Do you remember how David slew Goliath? Now see what weapons God has given us for the inevitable struggle of the present time:
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10: 4 - 5).
Our God is a consuming fire!
October is the Holy Rosary Month.
"St. Bernard asks, Why does the Church name Mary Queen of Mercy? and answers, Because we believe that she opens the depths of the mercy of God, to whom she will, when she will, and as she will; so that not even the vilest sinner is lost, if Mary protects him."
The Holy Rosary has divine power to demolish strongholds
Say the Holy Rosary every day in October.
For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:
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