<http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/773/Love_of_Christ_Drives_Us_St_Anthony_Claret.html>The
Love of Christ Drives Us On
St. Anthony Mary Claret
Saint Anthony Mary Claret
Saint Antony Claret was born in 1807 in the town of Sallent,
Spain. Following his ordination to the priesthood, he travelled
throughout the region of Catalonia preaching to the people. After
having founded a society of missionaries, he was named a bishop in
Cuba and there won great renown for his pastoral zeal. He returned
to Spain, continued there his pastoral labors, and died at
Frontfroide in France in 1870. The following reading on
evangelization and the apostolic zeal characteristic of the
missionary spirit, drawn from his book L'egoismo vinto (Rome: 1869,
p. 60) is used in the Roman Office of Readings for the feast
(optional liturgical memorial) of St. Anthony Mary Claret on October 24.
Driven by the fire of the Holy Spirit, the holy apostles travelled
throughout the earth. Inflamed with the same fire, apostolic
missionaries have reached, are now reaching and will continue to
reach the ends of the earth, from one pole to the other, in order to
proclaim the word of God. They are deservedly able to apply to
themselves those words of the apostle Paul: The love of Christ drives us on.
The love of Christ arouses us, urges us to run, and to fly, lifted on
the wings of holy zeal. The man who truly loves God also loves his
neighbour. The truly zealous man is also one who loves, but he stands
on a higher plane of love so that the more he is inflamed by love,
the more urgently zeal drives him on. But if anyone lacks this zeal,
then it is evident that love and charity have been extinguished in
his heart. The zealous man desires and achieves all great things and
he labours strenuously so that God may always be better known, loved
and served in this world and in the life to come, for this holy love
is without end.
Because he is concerned also for his neighbour, the man of zeal works
to fulfil his desire that all men be content on this earth and happy
and blessed in their heavenly homeland, that all may be saved, and
that no one may perish for ever, or offend God, or remain even for a
moment in sin. Such are the concerns we observe in the holy apostles
and in all who are driven by the apostolic spirit.
For myself, I say this to you: The man who burns with the fire of
divine love is a son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and wherever he
goes, he enkindles that flame; he desires and works with all his
strength to inflame all men with the fire of God's love. Nothing
deters him: he rejoices in poverty; he labours strenuously; he
welcomes hardships; he laughs off false accusations; he rejoices in
anguish. He thinks only of how he might follow Jesus Christ and
imitate him by his prayers, his labours, his sufferings, and by
caring always and only for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
<*}}}>< <http://halfthekingdom.mofuse.mobi/>Half the Kingdom!
on your Mobile <*}}}><
<*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/wordpress/>Half the Kingdom!
Blog <*}}}><
<*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the Kingdom! Main Site
<*}}}>< <*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/by-the-by/>Half the
Kingdom! By the by <*}}}><
Lord, may everything we do begin with Your inspiration and continue
with Your help,
so that all our prayers and works may begin in You and by You be happily ended.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
<*}}}>< <http://halfthekingdom.mofuse.mobi/>Half the Kingdom!
on your Mobile <*}}}><
<*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/wordpress/>Half the Kingdom!
Blog <*}}}><
<*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the Kingdom! Main Site
<*}}}>< <*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/by-the-by/>Half the
Kingdom! By the by <*}}}><
Lord, may everything we do begin with Your inspiration and continue
with Your help,
so that all our prayers and works may begin in You and by You be happily ended.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
Please note that I do not send or open attachments sent to this list.
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Catholics on Fire" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected]
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/Catholics-on-Fire
May the blessing of Jesus and our Blessed Mother be with you
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
