Autobiography of St Anthony Mary Claret

[mariafransisca11]

MEANS I USED TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS

First Means. Prayer

Because, as I have already said, I was driven to work for God's greater glory and the salvation of souls, I shall now say something of the means that the Lord showed me were the best and most fitting to attain that goal.

The first means I have always employed and still do is prayer. In my opinion, this is the greatest means that can be used for the conversion of sinners, the perseverance of the just and the relief of the souls in purgatory. Hence in my meditations, Masses, recitation of the breviary and other devotions, as well as in my aspirations, I always asked God and the Blessed Virgin Mary for these three intentions.

I not only prayed myself but asked others to pray--nuns, Sisters of Charity, Tertiaries, and all virtuous and zealous folk. I would ask them to attend Holy Mass, receive Holy Communion and, both during Mass and after receiving Holy Communion, to offer to the Eternal Father his most holy Son; and in his holy Name and through his merits, to ask for the three graces I have mentioned, namely, the conversion of sinners, the perseverance of the just, and the relief of the poor souls in purgatory. I also asked them to make visits to the Blessed Sacrament and to make the Way of the Cross.
I also exhorted them to commend themselves earnestly to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to pray to her for the same three requests, availing themselves of the devotion to the Holy Rosary, on which I preached to them, explaining a practical method of reciting it. Before beginning my sermon, I would recite the rosary with all the people, both to teach them how to pray it and, by saying it together, to obtain the three aforesaid graces.I likewise taught them the devotion to the Sorrows of Mary and saw to it that on each day of the week they meditated on one Sorrow, so that by the end of the week they
would have meditated on all seven.

I also prayed and had people pray to the saints in heaven that they might intercede with Jesus and Mary to obtain these same graces. I especially prayed to those saints who during their earthly lives had shown the greatest zeal for God's glory and the salvation of souls.
I never forgot to invoke St. Michael and the guardian angels--especially my own, and those of the kingdom, the province, the city in which I was preaching, and of each individual present.
I have had visible knowledge of the protection of the holy guardian angels. I want to list here some of the aspirations I say every day. I have counseled others to say them, and they have told me that doing so has been of much benefit to them.
Who is like God?
Who is like Jesus Christ?
Who is like Mary, Virgin and Mother of God?
Who is like the angels of heaven?
Who is like the saints in glory?
Who is like the just upon earth?
Long live Jesus! Long live Mary Most Holy!
Long live the holy law of God!
Long live the holy evangelical counsels!
Long live the holy sacraments of the Church!
Long live the holy Sacrifice of the Mass!

In a certain sense it could be said that all of his listeners formed a great association of mutual prayers, because wherever he went he requested prayers for his intentions and his request was so well received that it became a custom with his listeners to pray for him.
Long live the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar!
Long live the Holy Rosary of Mary!
Long live the grace of God!
Long live the Christian virtues!
Long live the works of mercy!
Death to vices, faults, and sins!

The Prayer I Said at the Beginning of Every Mission.
O Virgin Mother of God, mother and advocate of poor and unhappy sinners, you are well aware that I am your son and minister, formed in the furnace of your mercy and love. I am like an arrow poised in your mighty hand. Release me, my Mother, with the full force of your arm, against the impious, sacrilegious, and cruel Ahab, wed to the base Jezebel.160 I mean to say: release me against Satan, the prince of this world, who has made an alliance with the flesh.

May the victory be yours, my Mother; you shall overcome. Yes, you have the power to end all heresies, errors, and vices. And so, trusting in your most
powerful protection, I begin to do battle not only against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of darkness, as the Apostle says,taking up the shield of the Holy Rosary and armed with the two-edged sword of God's Word.
You are Queen of the angels: command them, my Mother, to come to my aid. Surely you
know how weak I am and how strong my enemies are. You are Queen of the saints: command them to pray for me and tell them that the victory and triumph to be won will be for God's greater glory and the salvation of souls. Lady, through your humility, crush the pride of Lucifer and his followers who have the audacity to claim the souls redeemed by the blood of Jesus, the Son of your virginal womb.

I also pronounced the following exorcism Satan, with all your followers; I, a minister--however unworthy--of Jesus Christ and Mary Most Holy, command you to depart from here and go to the place where you belong. I command you to do so
in the name of the Father, who created you; in the name of the Son, who has redeemed us from your tyranny; in the name of the Holy Spirit, who has sanctified and consoled us. Amen.

I command you also in the name of Mary Most Holy, Virgin and Mother of the living God, who has crushed your head.
Away, Satan! Away, you proud and envious one! May you never do anything to hinder the
conversion and salvation of souls.

[mariafransisca11]

THE PLAN OF LIFE AND RESOLUTIONS I WILL STRIVE TO KEEP WITH GOD'S HELP

This plan of life and resolutions are basically the same as those he made at his episcopal
consecration, with certain variants, either in the direction of greater strictness or on the
basis of the different occupations imposed by his new post. Comparing all the lists of
resolutions he made during this period, the present list might have been used as a general
outline for all of them.

1. Jesus and Mary are my only support and guide, the models I propose to follow and imitate.
Furthermore, I take the glorious St. Francis de Sales, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Thomas of Villanova,
and St. Martin as my patrons and exemplars.

2. I will bear in mind the Apostle's words to Timothy (1 Tim. 4:16): "Watch yourself and
watch your teaching." As Cornelius says, "These are the two duties of bishops; those who neglect them
are of no use to themselves or others.''

3. Every year I will make the Spiritual Exercises. (4) Every month I will make a day of retreat.

5. Every week I will go to confession at least once.

6. Three days a week I will take the discipline, and on the other days I will wear the cilice or do
some equivalent penance.

7. Every Friday of the year and on the vigils of feasts of our Lord and the Blessed Virgin, I will
fast.

8. Every day I will get up at 3:00 or earlier, if I can't sleep. After rising I will recite Matins and
Lauds and read the Holy Bible until time for meditation.

9. I will meditate for an hour.

10. I will celebrate Holy Mass and afterwards spend a half hour in thanksgiving and in asking
graces for myself and others.

11. Then I will go to the confessional until 8:00, when I will go and take a cup of chocolate,
after which I will return to the confessional. If there is no one there, I will do something else until 11:00,
when I hold audience for an hour. At 12:00 I will recite the Angelus and make my examen.416

12. At 12:15 I will have lunch with spiritual reading.

13. I will rest until 1:30.

14. I will work until 8:30, when I will recite the rosary and my other devotions.

15. At 9:00 I will have dinner and at 10:00 I will retire.

16. I resolve never to lose a moment's time, and hence I will always keep busy either studying,
praying, preaching, conferring the sacraments, etc.

17. I resolve always to walk in God's presence, referring all things to Him, never seeking my
own praise, but only greater grace to imitate Jesus. I will always try to ask myself how Jesus would have
acted under similar circumstances.

18. I resolve to do well the ordinary things that I do. If there is a choice of two good things, I
will try to select the better, even though it might cost me the sacrifice of my own will. I will likewise
choose whatever is poorest, meanest, and most painful.

19. I resolve to keep an even temper and disposition, never allowing myself to be carried away
by anger, impatience, sadness, or exaggerated joy, always remembering the example of Jesus, Mary, and
Joseph, who also had their trials, and far greater ones than mine. I will think that God has arranged
things this way for my own good, and so I will not complain. Rather, I will say, "Thy will be done." I
will remember what Augustine says, "Either do what God wills or suffer what you would not." I will
also recall what God told Mary Magdalen de Pazzi: to maintain the same unchanging pleasant mood
with every sort of person, yet never let slip one word of flattery.417 Of St. Martin we read that he seemed
never to be upset or sad or laughing, but always in an even mood of heavenly joy. So great was his
patience that although they knew he was their prelate, even the least of his clergy could rest assured that
if they offended him, he would not chastise them.418

Perfection consists in loving God very much and despising oneself (St. Mary Magdalen de
Pazzi).
To despise oneself and despise no one; to despise the world and despise being despised (St.
Louis Bertrand).
Do your duty and let come what may.
It is a thing of great courage to suffer without complaining and a thing of great wisdom to listen
with patience.
In quiet and in trust your strength lies (Is. 30:115).
The strong man should fear nothing, not even death, when it comes to doing his duty.

We should hold the post God has assigned us, fighting to the death without fear of the
consequences. The only thing we should fear is acting unjustly.
If you want to achieve high virtue, do not be lifted up in self-esteem. Believe that you are
doing nothing and you will do all (St. John Chrysostom).
Abstine et sustine. forbear and bear, abstain and endure.
Abstain from gluttony, luxury, and every pleasure, even if it be licit.
Endure work, illness, persecution, and slander.
The Holy Spirit teaches us to speak little and discreetly, to do all things fervently, and to praise
God constantly.

[Patricia]

So great was his
patience that although they knew he was their prelate, even the least of his clergy could rest assured that
if they offended him, he would not chastise them.418

If St Anthony Mary Claret was so patient that his clergy did not fear him , imagine how patient is Our Lord whom we strive to imitate! 

[mariafransisca11]

This is one of my favorite books 

[Shin]

Who is like God?
Who is like Jesus Christ?
Who is like Mary, Virgin and Mother of God?
Who is like the angels of heaven?
Who is like the saints in glory?
Who is like the just upon earth?

This reminds me of St. Patrick and the Holy Daughters!

[Shin]

Close by the clear fountain of Clebach, not far from the royal abode, Patrick and his venerable companions had pitched their tents and at early dawn were chanting the praises of the Most High, when the two daughters of the Irish monarch — Ethne, the fair, and Fedelm, the ruddy — came thither, as was their wont, to bathe. Astonished at the vision that presented itself to them, the royal maidens cried out: "Who are ye, and whence do ye come? Are ye phantoms, or fairies, or friendly mortals?" St. Patrick said to them: "It were better you would adore and worship the one true God, whom we announce to you, than that you would satisfy your curiosity by such vain questions." And then Ethne broke forth into the questions:

    "Who is God?"
    "And where is God?"
    "Where is His dwelling?"
    "Has He sons and daughters?"
    "Is He rich in silver and gold?"
    "Is He everlasting? is He beautiful?"
    "Are His daughters dear and lovely to the men of this world?"
    "Is He on the heavens or on earth?"
    "In the sea, in rivers, in mountains, in valleys?"
    "Make Him known to us. How is He to be seen?"
    "How is He to be loved? How is He to be found?"
    "Is it in youth or is it in old age that He may be found?"

But St. Patrick, filled with the Holy Ghost, made answer:

    "God, whom we announce to you, is the Ruler of all things."
    "The God of heaven and earth, of the sea and the rivers."
    "The God of the sun, and the moon, and all the stars."
    "The God of the high mountains and of the low-lying valleys."
    "The God who is above heaven, and in heaven, and under heaven."
    "His dwelling is in heaven and earth, and the sea, and all therein."
    "He gives breath to all."
    "He gives life to all."
    "He is over all."
    "He upholds all."
    "He gives light to the sun."
    "He imparts splendour to the moon."
    "He has made wells in the dry land, and islands in the ocean."
    "He has appointed the stars to serve the greater lights."
    "His Son is co-eternal and co-equal with Himself."
    "The Son is not younger than the Father."
    "And the Father is not older than the Son."
    "And the Holy Ghost proceeds from them."
    "The Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are undivided."
    "But I desire by Faith to unite you to the Heavenly King, as you are daughters of an earthly king."

The maidens, as if with one voice and one heart, said: "Teach us most carefully how we may believe in the Heavenly King; show us how we may behold Him face to face, and we will do whatsoever you shall say to us."

And when he had instructed them he said to them: "Do you believe that by baptism you put off the sin inherited from the first parents."

They answered: "We believe."

"Do you believe in penance after sin?"

"We believe."

"Do you believe in life after death?" Do you believe in resurrection on the Day of Judgement?"

"We believe."

"Do you believe in the unity of the Church?"

"We believe."

Then they were baptized, and were clothed in white garments. And they besought that they might behold the face of Christ. And the saint said to them: "You cannot see the face of Christ unless you taste death, and unless you receive the Sacrifice." They answered: "Give us the Sacrifice, so that we may be able to behold our Spouse." And the ancient narrative adds: "when they received the Eucharist of God, they slept in death, and they were placed upon a couch, arrayed in their white baptismal robes."

[martin]

I love reading those stories of St. Patrick. It conjures up images of what Ireland must have been like in those times when St Patrick and his companions walked through the land deviod of modern day luxuries and depending solely on God for everything.

A priest once said at a retreat (many yrs ago), instead of bemoaning the fact that we don't have saints like of old, why not become one yourself?

St Patrick ora pro nobis.