The Reminiscences of St. Anthony Mary Claret Taken From CATHOLIC TREASURES, Issue No. 33, 1978 REGENT OF VILADRAU: CURES A popular festival was organized on a certain day in Viladrau. A public dance formed a part of the program. The servant of God heard of it, and when the music began and all was in readiness, Father Claret appeared among the dancers with Crucifix in hand and spoke in a pathetic tone of sin and eternal punishment. The merrymakers grew serious, and soon dispersed. The villagers applauded the act, and several of the young people were moved to compunction and approached the Sacrament of Penance the following day. Several prodigious happenings, attributed to the supernatural power of the young priest, were told and retold. The people were confirmed in their belief by referring to a new public event. Noguer, property of D. Jaime Bofill, became a prey to flames. Father Claret, on being informed of the fire, hastened to the place. Men and women made every effort to extinguish the flames, but all in vain. Father Claret made the Sign of the Cross over the burning building and the flames ceded to the blessing, the devouring fire obeyed a strange power and ceased suddenly. "A miracle! A miracle!" came the cry from all the bystanders. "The fire was quenched when Anthony Claret had blessed it." Claret fled from the acclamations of the public, but this prodigy augmented the moral prestige of his apostolate and contributed to the welfare of souls. Anthony rose in the admiration ot the people to even greater heights when he cured their ills. A young boy, named Francisco Pladevall, suffered a long time from intense pains caused by nervous disorders. All medical aid seemed practically useless. The child appeared to be incurable. One day, the child's parents carried him to Anthony Claret, requesting him to cure their child. Claret declared that he was not a physician nor had he the gift of miracles. The parents, however, pleaded, insisted, wept. Claret then ordered that softened clay be applied to the sufferer. In the meantime the priest prayed. The cure was instantaneous, and the malady did not return. A young man, twenty-five years of age, lay dangerously ill. He was unconscious and apparently at the point of death. Anthony Claret applied a simple remedy and offered prayers for his recovery. In a few days the young man, well and happy, was able to return to his work in the fields. Another young man, about eighteen years of age, who was so crippled as to unable to move, recovered perfect health through the application of a simple home-remedy and the blessing of Father Claret. In a few days the crippled boy was able to go to church, where he assisted at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass celebrated by Father Claret, in thanksgiving for this favor. All were in admiration at this remarkable cure. The news of these cures spread through the district, and soon the house of the sainted priest resembled a hospital, for crowds of sick people gathered there. Anthony, however, wished to cure their souls rather than their bodies. He adopted the method of imparting a general benediction to those who were physically ill, but he devoted himself principally to cure the infirmities of the soul. Rejoice, ye souls, held captive by sin! Leap with joy, ye hearts, poor victims of the world, for now your liberator engages in battle with you. His weapons are such as the demon fears and the world needs.  THE TECHNIQUE OF THE MISSIONS There are, in the therapeutics of the body, radical remedies that alleviate infirmities. There is also an efficient remedy in spiritual therapeutics to cure the grave malady of the people, namely, religious indifference. Parish Missions provide the cure. What are Parish Missions? Missions are a solemn and public call which God addresses to the people so that they may not be left in the hands of weak nature. Missions are an organized, conscious, rapid, and clamorous assault made by the soldiers of Christ on the city of the soul that lies sleeping, happy, and confident in the power of the enemy. Missions are the austere and grave proclamations of the four last ends of man and of the cardinal dogmas that the world has abandoned as a heavy weight upon it. For that reason, one of the greatest graces that God can give a parish is the grace of a holy Mission. Father Claret understood the exceptional importance of this apostolic ministry first by calculation, later by experience, and always by inspiration from Heaven. Consequently, he devoted all the energies of his life to Missions. His Missions, which lasted nine, fifteen, twenty and even thirty consecutive days, did not tire his audience; in fact, eagerness and enthusiasm rose among the people. The subjects upon which he generally developed his sermons were on the importance of salvation, the gravity of mortal sin, the necessity of Confession, bad Confessions, death, the death of the just, and the death of the sinner, judgment, Hell, eternity, Heaven, and perseverance. At Missions of longer duration he, moreover, treated of other subjects such as the prodigal son, the mercy of God, final impenitence, the last judgment, the conversion of St. Augustine, scandal, the conversion of Magdalene, proximate occasions of sin, the holy Rosary, the Passion of Our Lord, and the Sorrows of Our Lady. His style of preaching was based on the readings and imitation of St. John Chrysostom, St. Alphonsus Liguori, Fray Luis of Granada, Sinischlchi, and above all, of Blessed John of Avila, whom he chose as a model. Serious study was always brought into the preparation of his sermons, and prayer gave them unction. Study and prayer united gave his oratory the persuasive power which convinced the learned as well as the ignorant. Anthony Claret wished to have his Missions well organized. He had previous communications, by means of letters, with the respective parish priests, and arranged the slightest details to the finish. When preparing for a Mission in some indifferent or rebellious place, Father Claret asked the prayers of the most saintly persons he knew, and wrote especially to communities of Religious recommending to their prayers the success of that apostolic enterprise. His voice was grave, sonorous, and flexible; his gestures were moderate and calm; his discourses were written in sentences neither too extensive nor too brief. Interpolated exclamations and interrogations gave his sermons vibrancy and dramatic art. "Arguments in the pulpit," Father Claret used to say, "are out of place; the world is lost, not by a lack of arguments, but by a lack of truths." He often exclaimed: "Poor preachers, how useless would your labors be if you were not assisted by the grace of God, and if the soul were not naturally Christian. He walks in evil ways who deals with and disputes with the devil; for the most stupid devil is more alert than the wisest philosopher." Experience in preaching taught him to descend in word and concept so as to make himself understood by the most ignorant. He frequently repeated the maxims of St. Augustine: "I would prefer to have grammarians criticize me rather than not be understood by the uncultured." It was his custom to apply, in his sermons, similes, comparisons, practical applications, examples, and parables. There were some who criticized that simplicity and that abundance of comparisons and parables. D. Enrique Ojero de la Cruz, however, defended him valiantly when he wrote: "His language was allegorical; he made himself clearly understood by all, save by his enemies who tried to reduce Father Anthony to the level of an ordinary man. I myself challenged some of these latter at different times, saying to them: 'If the parable is something so ordinary, invent one.' And when I saw those who believed themselves wise and gifted in the spoken word, so confused, I corrected their facility in passing judgment by placing before them the example of our Divine Master, Who always spoke in parables." Great conversions and resounding triumphs were the result of Father Claret's sermons which were delivered with noble, simple, strong, and convincing eloquence. An influential and perverse leader in a town, on seeing the success of a Mission said: "If this preacher does not leave, all the theatres, cafes, and recreational centers will be deserted." Can a greater eulogy be paid an apostolic missioner in fewer words? APOSTLESHIP OF CONVERSATION There is an apostolate of powerful efficacy for the conquest of souls, intimate and hidden, strong and vanquishing, whose glory is not often inscribed in the archives and annals of human vanity. It is the apostolate of familiar conversation. As Father Claret knew, by his own experience and that of others, the spiritual influence of a good or a bad conversation, he, therefore, endeavored, on principles of art and virtue, to make his conversations attractive, instructive, and exemplary.   During the course of a Mission, a certain person of quality in the town offered Father Claret hospitality in his home. As it was winter, they seated themselves at the fireside when the repast was over, and there engaged in a familiar conversation. Father Claret spoke of God and spiritual things with ingenious simplicity, apparently without any intention of conquest, because this person enjoyed a good moral reputation in the town. They then took leave of each other. A short time after, however, a penitent approached Father Claret's confessional. It was the friend who, moved by the conversation of the evening, wished to make a general Confession, as he himself declared afterwards to a companion, stating at the same time that he had, for a long time, been making sacrilegious Confessions. God granted Father Claret the favor of supernatural enlightenment by means of which states of consciences were revealed to him, and thus many souls were converted and consoled in their tribulations. One day, while passing near Manresa, he met a woman of ill repute. God suddenly manifested to him all the woman's sins. What was he to do? Despise her? Flee from her presence? No. He drew near and spoke to her politely. At first the conversation touched on different topics; then on things of God; and later, on the sins of her life. The woman was surprised, for she could not imagine how an unknown priest could know her hidden sins; he could even point out when and where they had been committed. Like another Samaritan this woman awoke from her lethargy and wept bitterly over her sinful life. She made her Confession to Father Claret, and in future led a fervent and exemplary life. The following incident happened in the suburbs of Ribas, not far from Ripoll. The holy missionary travelled on foot to a place where he was to begin a series of sermons that very day. Panting and covered with perspiration, he seated himself on a mound, and opening his breviary, he began to pray. A coarse muleteer happened to pass that way, and on seeing the priest, cried out: "Listen, Father; close that book and come hear my mule's confession." "Unfortunate one," replied the priest, "it is you that need to go to Confession; for it is now seven years since your last Confession." The poor muleteer was amazed at hearing an unknown priest make such a disclosure. The eyes of his soul were opened, and seeing the sad state of his conscience, he soon made his Confession with extraordinary signs of repentance. Father Claret, after finishing a Mission, was returning with his habitual modesty from the field of his operations. He walked along the road reciting the Rosary. A cart-driver observed him from a distance; then drawing near to him with a sarcastic smile, said: "Good morning, Father. Are you very busy? If you have not much to do, I can give you occupation. My mules have not made their confession yet. Will you hear them now, Father?" An infernal smile was reflected in his eyes, on his lips, and in his face when he uttered these insolent words. Father Claret, repressing an impulse of saintly indignation and looking upon him fixedly, with sweet sadness, said to him: "Unhappy, unfortunate one! Do you know what you have said? Do you know that you have pronounced a sacrilege? Ignoramus! Do you not know that mules are incapable of confessing? You are the one who should make your Confession, because you need it badly. Well, tell me, when did you make your last Confession?" "I do not remember, Father, for I do not keep an account of such things; we have to attend to many other things." "Well, I will tell you. Fifteen years ago. It is fifteen years since you last confessed your sins?" "That is true, but who told you so, Father?" "And, moreover, you are guilty of many and grave sins. You have done this, that, and that." Father Claret continued, mentioning the principal sins that weighed upon the conscience of that insolent man. The poor cart-driver was terrified. "Who told you so," he repeated, "because it is true, it is true." "I do not know you," Father Claret replied, "but I can see the state of your conscience. You are bad, very bad. May God have mercy on you." As though wounded by a stroke of lightning, the poor cart-driver was overcome. He tied his mules to a tree and knelt down to go to Confession. A little later, a roadside traveller saw a strange scene. A priest was seated on a stone and near him knelt a cart-driver confessing his sins. THE DEMON'S IRE Father Claret saw a squadron of demons at the left side of his bed, when, while he was a seminarian, he had a grievous temptation, which was driven away by the apparition of the Blessed Virgin. This infernal army fought him particularly at the time of the Missions, when he snatched so many souls from them and won these souls for God as so many spoils of the battle. The holy missionary was in Vich at the time of the following occurrence: One morning the persons in the house in which he lived noted, with surprise, that he did not come to breakfast at the usual time. They feared he was indisposed. They knocked at his door, entered the room, and asked if he were ill. "I have a severe pain in my side," he replied. Alarmed at this, because Father Claret was not accustomed to complain of slight pains, they called the doctor and the surgeon. They came, and on examining the afflicted part found a frightful wound in his side, as if his flesh had been torn by the claws of a wild beast; it was such that several ribs were exposed. No one knew the cause of this, because Father Claret never mentioned it, but it was believed to be the effect of the demon who wished to torment the flesh of the innocent missionary. The doctors came to see him twice. Noticing that gangrene was about to set in, they agreed to perform a surgical operation, and set the following morning for its performance. They came and knocked at the penitent's door; there was no response. They asked for him anxiously, and while they were speaking the amazed patient presented himself before them smilingly. "Do not be frightened," he said, "but help me give thanks to God, for last night the Blessed Virgin cured me." The astonished doctors asked to see the place of the wound. To their surprise they noticed that not even a scar was to be seen; it was covered with white firm skin. "A miracle!" exclaimed all the bystanders. "It is not natural," replied the doctors. At the request of Don Fortunato Bres, in whose house Father Claret was residing at the time, an official entry was made of the happening. THE CATECHISM OF THE MISSIONS One of the most ingenious and sublime scenes in the life of Our Lord is that in which the Divine Master is seen surrounded by children, teaching them, simply and patiently, His celestial doctrine. He was the first catechist in the world. Father Claret had that immortal picture engraved on his mind and in his heart. On beginning a Mission his first care was to gather the children and to teach them the Catechism. "The first thing that I do," he wrote in his autobiography, "is to instruct the children in Christian Doctrine, either because of the liking I have always had for this kind of teaching, or because I knew it to be most necessary, for the Catechism is the foundation of the edifice of religious and moral instruction; and, then again, it pleases the children and leaves the deepest impression; it preserves them from error, vice, and ignorance; it forms them to virtue more easily, since they are more docile than adults. With children, one has only to do the work of planting, but with adults one has to uproot and then plant." "There is, besides, another advantage. Through children, grown people and their parents are easily conquered. Giving children prizes in the form of pictures or leaflets for attendance and for application, causes the parents and adults to read them through curiosity. Often they are converted, as I well know by experience. Father Claret not only wrote the Catechism but he also taught it, and the manner in which he exercised this difficult mastery is found, described in detail, in his book "The Instructed Collegian," from which his biographers have taken it, saying that, in the beginning of the Missions, he called the children to church, placed them in a semi-circle so that he could see all at a glance. If the number was too large he distributed the children into groups, asking the assistance of other catechists. If the number of catechists proved insufficient, he called upon one or two of the most instructed and reliable of his pupils and had them teach the youngest and most backward of the group. He began his teaching of the Catechism with the Sign of the Cross, followed by the recitation of three Hail Mary's to the Blessed Virgin, and an Our Father in honor of the Guardian Angels. His method was to begin by asking a child whom he thought would know how to answer. If he found that there was no one capable of answering he would teach one the answer, word for word. He asked the same question alternately and individually; then the children all answered in concert. When all knew how to answer the first question he taught the next. Then he reviewed the first question before proceeding to the third. Thus he continued as long as time permitted. On the following day he repeated the questions and answers of the previous day. When they knew their Catechism well, he asked the same questions using different words in order to find out if they had grasped the thought. He used to say that the principal defect of the catechist in teaching Catechism is that he talks too much. He himself never corrected a child who did not answer correctly, but had another child do it. Thus he held the attention of the children, particularly when he obliged them to recite in unison. At the close of the allotted period he gathered the groups and made a few minutes' talk suited to their age, talent, and occupation, in clear and simple terms. He placed before them some example with a short, final reflection to encourage them to be good Christians. In conclusion, they recited three Hail Mary's, and Father Claret distributed holy pictures and instructive leaflets before they left the church. After due preparation, he admitted the children to general Communion. In the afternoon of Communion days, a procession, in which the children took part, marched through the principle streets of the city. The songs of the children and their little banners gave a touch of color and holy joy to the picture of the Mission, which is ordinarily austere. Father Claret, remembering the great spiritual good he had obtained in childhood from the study of the Catechism, always taught it not only when he was a seminarian, a priest, and missionary, but also when overwhelmed by the complex occupations as Archbishop of Cuba and Confessor of the Queen. He wished to simplify and to make the teaching of the Catechism uniform in all the dioceses of Spain by using one official textbook, hoping thus, with the identity of questions and answers, to facilitate the teaching and learning of religion.   E-Mail HOME-----------CHRIST THE KING-----------CATHOLIC CLASSICS www.catholictradition.org/Priests/claret2-2.htm