Oct 24 – Memorial for St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop
St. Anthony Mary Claret (1807–1870) was a weaver and a seminary student with Blessed Francis Coll. He was ordained on 13 June 1835, and became a missionary in Catalonia and the Canary Islands. He directed retreats and founded the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretians). He became Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba on 20 May 1850, and founded the Teaching Sisters of Mary Immaculate.
Following his work in the Caribbean, Blessed Pope Pius IX ordered him back to Spain, where he became confessor to Queen Isabella II and was exiled with her. He had the gift of prophecy and miracles, and was reported to have preached 10,000 sermons and published 200 works. He spread devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
- Patron Saint Index
Rm 7:18-25
Lk 12:54-59
“…try to settle with him on the way…”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks how is it that we do not know how to interpret these times. I used to think how the example given seems a bit disconnected. While it is true that it’s best to settle things before court – this is actually a common practice in our times – I still felt that the example was not about reading times.
Today, I can say that God has given me the grace to see more than I used to see.
Jesus could also be alluding to our lives here on earth. I’m pretty sure all of us have been offending God and we have a lot of things to settle with him. In fact, according to the Catechism,
Mortal sin… if it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back. (CCC 1861)
The above statement is very similar to the story that Jesus shared during the Gospel, that the bailiff would have ‘you thrown into prison.’ Even if we don’t die in a state of mortal sin, many of us will still end up in purgatory to purify us before we meet God. This very much sounds like what Jesus said in the Gospel, that ‘you will not get out till you have paid the very last penny.’
That is why it is important that while we are alive, we become mindful and be penitent for our lack of love for our Lord. After all, sin is really telling our Lord we love something else more than we love him. And this puts us in the position where our relationship with him breaks. So, I think one message for us today is to seek to make amends with God always, knowing that once we reach the end of our lives, we will have to stand before the judge.
The second point of reflection is praying for the souls in purgatory. One of the things that breaks my heart during a funeral is when I hear people try to console the bereaved that their loved ones would already be in heaven, or that they are in a better place. What worries me is that because of this, the bereaved will end up forgetting to pray for the soul of his loved one. Since a soul cannot do anything to make reparations with God, the soul relies on our prayers so that they could shorten their time in purgatory. I fear that there are so many souls in need of prayer and yet, no one is praying for them because their loved ones thought they are already in heaven.
That is why I hope that as part of this reflection, we also say a prayer for the forgotten souls in purgatory.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Stephanie Villa)
Prayer: Dearest Lord, I offer three Hail Mary’s for the forgotten souls in Purgatory. May they quickly reach heaven.
Thanksgiving: Thank you, Lord, for reminding me that I still have the chance to reconcile with you while I am alive.
OXYGEN 
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