WORDS OF THE SUPERIOR GENERAL AT TH TRIDUUM TO SAINT ANTHONY MARY CLARET

Words of the Superior General at the triduum to Saint Anthony Mary Claret
at the closing of the Jubilee Year
in the Canary Islands for the 175th anniversary of Claret’s presence in the islands

23 October 2024

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

It is a profound joy to be with you today in these beautiful Canary Islands. I come not as just another visitor attracted by the natural beauty of your land, but as a Claretian brother to celebrate together a historic moment: 175 years since our founder, St. Anthony Mary Claret, first set foot on these blessed lands.

I am deeply moved to see how, after so much time, you continue to keep alive the memory of that ‘Padrito’, as his ancestors affectionately called him. This fidelity to the Claretian legacy is a living testimony of how the Holy Spirit continues to work in this community.

I thank the Lord for all the Claretian missionaries who followed in the footsteps of the Founder on this island and who, together with the people, kept alive the memory and charism of Claret. I keep in my heart the fond memory of dear Father Pedro Fuertes, who with his life and dedication incarnated in an extraordinary way the Claretian charism among all of you.

Today we meditate on the precious gift of faith and its transforming power in our lives. Imagine for a moment living without having experienced the loving embrace of Christ, without ever having felt the warmth of God’s Love enveloping you, without that Spirit that fills us with joy, peace and love, especially when we are going through dark valleys. Faith is not just a belief: it is the light that illuminates and gives meaning to the Christian’s journey.

Claret’s ardent mission was precisely this: to awaken and enliven faith through the living proclamation of the Word of God, that Word which heals the wounds of the soul, consoles afflicted hearts and recreates the whole of existence.

Allow me to share three aspects of the Claretian charism that, 175 years later, remain fundamental:

1. The Gift of Encounter:

When Claret arrived here in difficult times, these islands were recovering from epidemics and political turmoil. But God, in his providence, sent not only Claret but also Bishop Pablo Buenaventura Codina. Together, they were instruments of spiritual renewal. Today, in our own times of global challenges, do we not also need that renewing encounter with Christ?

Pope Francis reminds us of a transformative truth: knowing Jesus radically changes our existence. With him, our steps are firm, our ears are open to his Word, and our heart finds rest in his presence. Building life on the Gospel, beyond pure human reason, leads us to a fullness that gives meaning to everything. This personal experience of Christ’s love is the source of our evangelising impulse. (Cf. EG 266).

2. On fire with the love of God:

Fue aquí, en Canarias, donde el corazón misionero de Claret se confirmó plenamente. Vio el poder transformador del Evangelio en acción. De hecho, me atrevo a decir que fue aquí donde nació en su corazón el sueño de nuestra Congregación, que más tarde fundaría en Vic en 1849. Una vez que nos encontramos con Jesús, nuestros corazones arden con un amor auténtico que ilumina nuestras vidas e irradia a nuestro alrededor. Un discípulo de Cristo arde en el amor de Dios.

3. Spreading the flame:

Being ardent is a dynamic reality. It first guides our personal decisions in discernment. Then it gives life and light in our community and family and continues to illuminate the lives of those whom the Lord brings into our lives. In a world marked by conflict and division, this message is needed more than ever.

Dear brothers and sisters, I see in you the mature fruit of that first seed planted by Claret. The way in which you have preserved and nurtured the Claretian charism is a testimony for our whole Congregation.

This Jubilee is not just a celebration of the past. It is a call to renew our commitment to the mission of evangelisation. As Pope Francis reminds us, we cannot remain nostalgic for the past, but must discern how the Claretian charism can respond to today’s challenges.

May this Jubilee year be a time of special grace. May the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in whose forge Claret was formed, continue to form our hearts to be authentic missionaries in today’s world.

And as we celebrate these 175 years, let us ask for the grace to keep alive the missionary fire that Claret lit in these islands, so that we may continue to be, like him, witnesses of God’s love in our times.

So be it. Amen.

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