St. Anthony Mary Claret

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Saturday, 24 October 2026 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops or Saturday Mass of Our Lady)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, each and every one of us are meant to do what we can as Christians, having been given various talents and gifts, blessings and graces by the Lord. Each and every one of us are therefore expected to make good use of those gifts of the Lord and be fruitful in the grace of God, bearing the rich fruits of our actions and commitments in life, in accordance to what each one of us have been called to do as Christians. All of us are reminded today of this calling, and we should embrace the Lord’s calling wholeheartedly.

In our first reading today, taken from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians, we heard about the matter of the gifts that God had given to His disciples, to the Apostles and the others who have given themselves to the service of God. The Lord has granted them all the gifts and the blessings, the opportunities and the abilities to do His will, and gave them each a mission to fulfil in their lives. St. Paul therefore wanted to remind the faithful in Ephesus of their calling and mission in life, on the significance of them being Christians, as followers of the Lord. The Lord has called on all of them to be the members and parts of His Church, His one united Body, made up of all the different various parts, all the different peoples of different origins and background.

The Church of God is made up of all these people and parts, each one of them with their own talents and capabilities, with their own missions and responsibilities. For example, as mentioned, the Lord called and gave the gifts and entrusted some with their responsibility as Apostles, some others as missionaries and teachers, while some others were entrusted to be evangelists and preachers, while others were called to be involved in building good and faithful Christian families, to be good fathers, mothers, children and other members of the Christian community, as parts of the same united Body of Christ, the Church.

At that time the Church and the Christian communities in the various parts of the Mediterranean and elsewhere were still in their early stages, as the Apostles and the other missionaries spread the Good News and the Christian faith to various parts of the world, proclaiming the truth of God courageously despite the many challenges that they had to face. The Lord has sent His disciples to those places, revealing His truth and salvation to all the people of all the nations. That is why, the Lord wants us all to remember how all of us have the same mission that He has entrusted to His Apostles and disciples, and thus, we have to make good use of the gifts and talents given to us. We can neither be idle or ignore our calling and mission.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard the Lord telling His disciples that all those people who had suffered due to the riot in Galilee and the collapse of the tower in Siloah had met their end, and while it was not due to any fault of theirs, but the Lord highlighted to them all, that unless they changed their ways and actions, then they would face the end in the same manner as those who had perished experienced. He used this example to highlight how all of our actions and works, our beliefs and faith truly matter as they all determine whether we are going to be worthy of the Lord, or whether our actions and lives will condemn us at the Day of Judgment. The choice and opportunities have been given to us, and now therefore it is up to us whether we will act on it or not.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all realise that as Christians, as members of the Church of God, all of us like that of the Apostles and the early Christians, are all the same disciples of the Lord, and we all share the same calling and mission which the Lord had given and entrusted to us through His same Church. Each one of us have been given the gifts and talents, and the various capabilities and opportunities, for us to reach out to more and more of our fellow men, and proclaim the truth of God through our own exemplary lives and actions. We do not have to perform amazing and wonderful things, as in truth, what really matters is for us to do whatever we can, in our own small little ways, to do the will of God, and to follow His path, at all times.

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Anthony Mary Claret, the founder of the religious order of the Claretians also known as the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, named after its founder. St. Anthony Mary Claret was an archbishop and renowned missionary, who lived approximately two centuries ago, laboured and worked as God’s servant in various places especially Spain and in the colonies of the Spanish Empire, such as in Canary Islands, and also in other areas. He was a great missionary with zeal and love for God, felt and embraced the call to the priestly life, and thereafter went on missions to evangelise and to spread the Good News of God to more and more people. He faced a lot of challenges along his mission and journey, but he always did his best to proclaim the Lord faithfully and courageously.

St. Anthony Mary Claret spent a lot of time in preaching among the people, which became very popular, and many people came to listen to his preachings. He also spent a lot of time in the confessionals, helping many people to come closer to the Lord, by reconciliation and healing, and by listening to their troubles and problems. Many were touched by the courageous and clear sermons from this holy man of God, and by his dedication as a shepherd of the Lord’s flock. He established the Claretians soon after he returned from his missionary works in the Canary Islands, and then later on was quickly appointed as Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, in which he continued his mission as shepherd and missionary in the territory of Spanish Cuba, reforming the diocesan seminary, establishing schools and hospitals, and founding another religious order named Religious of Mary Immaculate.

St. Anthony Mary Claret continued to serve the people of God with amazing commitment and dedicating his great charism with most passion and commitment, and many came to be saved through his efforts. Miracles and wonders were attributed to him, as according to accounts and eyewitnesses, he levitated during prayers and celebrations of the Mass, and his prayers stopped even calamities like storms and earthquakes, and supernatural lights and phenomena would be seen as he celebrated Mass, facts which astounded many and attested to his great personal holiness and virtues, and he was also given gift of foresight and revelation, as the Lord revealed to him several challenges and trials that the world and the Church would be facing.

St. Anthony Mary Claret eventually became the personal confessor of the Queen of Spain, Isabella II. He continued to do his many works for the glory of God and for the good of his fellow men in his various capacities, continuing to commit himself wholeheartedly for the Lord’s mission and works. He continued to inspire many people in generations after his passing to this very day, and his religious orders continued to work and being inspired by their founder’s great examples. Therefore, each one of us should also be inspired to do God’s will and to follow Him wholeheartedly as St. Anthony Mary Claret and many other holy men and women of God had done. Each and every one of us as Christians should always strive to do what the Lord has taught and shown us all to do.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all hence commit ourselves anew and let us be exemplary in our every actions and works throughout our lives. May God be with us all and may He empower and strengthen each and every one of us, so that we may continue to live our lives most worthily and be the shining beacons of His light and truth, bearing His Good News and love to all whom we encounter daily in life, just as St. Anthony Mary Claret had done in his life and ministry. Let us always do our best to bear rich fruits of our actions rooted and grounded in our genuine Christian faith and beliefs, so that more and more people may come to be touched by our sincere faith and come ever closer together with us towards God. May God bless our every good endeavours and efforts, now and always. Amen.

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Saturday, 24 October 2026 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops or Saturday Mass of Our Lady)

Luke 13 : 1-9

At that time, one day, some people told Jesus what had occurred in the Temple : Pilate had had Galileans killed, and their blood mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus asked them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered this? No, I tell you. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish, as they did.”

“And those eighteen persons in Siloah, who were crushed when the tower fell, do you think they were more guilty than all the others in Jerusalem? I tell you : no. But unless you change your ways, you will perish as they did.” And Jesus continued, “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but found none. Then he said to the gardener, ‘Look here, for three years now I have been looking for figs on this tree, and I have found none. Cut it down, why should it continue to deplete the soil?’”

“The gardener replied, ‘Leave it one more year, so that I may dig around it and add some fertiliser; perhaps it will bear fruit from now on. But if it does not, you can cut it down.’”

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Saturday, 24 October 2026 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops or Saturday Mass of Our Lady)

Psalm 121 : 1-2, 3-4a, 4b-5

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” And now we have set foot within your gates, o Jerusalem!

Jerusalem, just like a city, where everything falls into place! There the tribes go up.

The tribes of the Lord, the assembly of Israel, to give thanks to the Lord’s Name. There stand the courts of justice, the offices of the house of David.

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Saturday, 24 October 2026 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops or Saturday Mass of Our Lady)

Ephesians 4 : 7-16

But to each of us, divine grace is given, according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, it is said : When He ascended to the heights, He brought captives and gave His gifts to people. He ascended, what does it mean, but, that He had also descended to the lower parts of the world? He, Himself, Who went down, then ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things.

As for His gifts, to some, He gave to be Apostles; to others, prophets, or even evangelists; or pastors and teachers. So, He prepared those who belong to Him, for the ministry, in order to build up the Body of Christ, until we are all united, in the same faith and knowledge of the Son of God. Thus, we shall become the perfect Man, upon reaching maturity, and sharing the fullness of Christ.

Then, no longer shall we be like children, tossed about by any wave, or wind or doctrine; and deceived by the cunning of people, who drag them along into error. Rather, speaking the truth, in love, we shall grow in every way, toward Him, Who is the Head, Christ. From Him, comes the growth of the whole body, to which a network of joints give order and cohesion, taking into account, and making use of, the function of each one. So, the body builds itself, in love.

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Friday, 24 October 2025 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we heard the words of the Lord contained in the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded that all of us as Christians we must always continue to live our lives worthily and to the best of our abilities in being good role models and examples in our respective way of life, so that we may indeed bring forth the truth and Good News of God, manifesting His love and compassion in our world today, through even the smallest and the seemingly least significant aspects of our actions and works, in all that we say and do, in how we interact with one another. All of us as Christians are reminded that we should always strive to live righteously in God and to resist at all times the temptations of evil and sin.

In our first reading today, taken from the continuation of the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Church and the faithful in the city and region of Rome, we heard of the reminders from the Apostle of our human nature, our worldly existence that is tainted by sin and by all the vulnerabilities that we have towards the temptations and the pressures of this world. Due to this, it is our human nature for all of us to continue to falter and fall again and again into sin, which I am sure we ourselves have experienced at each and every moments, and yet, God in His great and ever wonderful love and mercy constantly reached out to us and showed us all His power, showing us the path for us all out of the darkness and the tyranny of sin into His eternal light and salvation.

He has sent us His deliverance and made it real and true for us through none other than His own Beloved Son, Whom He had sent into our midst, into this world to bring us all the long awaited salvation and the perfect fulfilment of His promises, as He Himself had told us. Through Christ our Lord and Saviour, Who has offered Himself most lovingly and selflessly on His Cross, He has opened for us the gate of Heaven and the sure path to eternal life with Him. And this is why St. Paul reminded all the faithful in Rome and elsewhere, including all of us, that we should always strive to focus our attention on Him and do our very best in each and every moments of our lives to continue journeying towards God even when we constantly continue to stumble and fall through the temptations to sin.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, we heard of the account from the Gospel according to St. Luke the Evangelist in which the Lord Jesus Himself told His disciples on the matter of reading the signs of times, by using the conventional and well-known wisdom of seeing the signs in the skies for weather and other knowledge, to know what would come to happen in due time. He also mentioned about how those who had troubles and issues and wanted to settle a court case ought to try to settle the issue with the accuser before they reached the judge and the courthouse, where if they had not settled the issue amicably and peacefully, it would have led to one of them being punished and having to face potentially severe consequences.

Through what the Lord Himself mentioned in this passage, He is reminding us that we too should take seriously our relationship with God and one another, and we should not wait until it is too late for us all, as we ourselves will face the moment of judgment and the time when we have to ultimately account for all of our lives, our every actions, words and deeds, our every interactions and even our failures to act upon what the Lord Himself had entrusted to us. All of us should always seek to forgive one another our trespasses, faults, mistakes and any hurt we cause to each other, so that just as we always prayed in The Lord’s Prayer, ‘Forgive us our trespasses just as we forgive those who trespass against us’, all of us as Christians should always lead by example in our attitudes and actions.

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Anthony Mary Claret, the founder of the religious order of the Claretians also known as the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, named after its founder. St. Anthony Mary Claret was an archbishop and renowned missionary, who lived approximately two centuries ago, laboured and worked as God’s servant in various places especially Spain and in the colonies of the Spanish Empire, such as in Canary Islands, and also in other areas. He was a great missionary with zeal and love for God, felt and embraced the call to the priestly life, and thereafter went on missions to evangelise and to spread the Good News of God to more and more people. He faced a lot of challenges along his mission and journey, but he always did his best to proclaim the Lord faithfully and courageously.

St. Anthony Mary Claret spent a lot of time in preaching among the people, which became very popular, and many people came to listen to his preachings. He also spent a lot of time in the confessionals, helping many people to come closer to the Lord, by reconciliation and healing, and by listening to their troubles and problems. Many were touched by the courageous and clear sermons from this holy man of God, and by his dedication as a shepherd of the Lord’s flock. He established the Claretians soon after he returned from his missionary works in the Canary Islands, and then later on was quickly appointed as Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, in which he continued his mission as shepherd and missionary in the territory of Spanish Cuba, reforming the diocesan seminary, establishing schools and hospitals, and founding another religious order named Religious of Mary Immaculate.

St. Anthony Mary Claret continued to serve the people of God with amazing commitment and dedicating his great charism with most passion and commitment, and many came to be saved through his efforts. Miracles and wonders were attributed to him, as according to accounts and eyewitnesses, he levitated during prayers and celebrations of the Mass, and his prayers stopped even calamities like storms and earthquakes, and supernatural lights and phenomena would be seen as he celebrated Mass, facts which astounded many and attested to his great personal holiness and virtues, and he was also given gift of foresight and revelation, as the Lord revealed to him several challenges and trials that the world and the Church would be facing.

St. Anthony Mary Claret eventually became the personal confessor of the Queen of Spain, Isabella II. He continued to do his many works for the glory of God and for the good of his fellow men in his various capacities, continuing to commit himself wholeheartedly for the Lord’s mission and works. He continued to inspire many people in generations after his passing to this very day, and his religious orders continued to work and being inspired by their founder’s great examples. Therefore, each one of us should also be inspired to do God’s will and to follow Him wholeheartedly as St. Anthony Mary Claret and many other holy men and women of God had done. Each and every one of us as Christians should always strive to do what the Lord has taught and shown us all to do.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore reflect on what we have heard from our Scripture passages today and from the great life and works of St. Anthony Mary Claret. Let us all continue to do our best in each and every moments of our lives so that we will continue to be great examples for all those around us, and be inspiration for all those whom we encounter in our paths. Let our lives be the beacons of God’s light and hope at all times, and let us continue to walk ever more courageously and faithfully at all times, as good and faithful Christians, now and always. Amen.

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Friday, 24 October 2025 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops)

Luke 12 : 54-59

At that time, Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it happens. And when the wind blows from the south, you say, ‘It will be hot’; and so it is. You superficial people! You understand the signs of the earth and the sky, but you do not understand the present times.”

“And why do you not judge for yourselves what is fit? When you go with your accuser before the court, try to settle the case on the way, lest he drag you before the judge, and the judge deliver you to the jailer, and the jail throw you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

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Friday, 24 October 2025 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops)

Psalm 118 : 66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94

Give me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust in Your commands.

You are good, and Your works are good; teach me Your decrees.

Comfort me then with Your unfailing love, as You promised Your servant.

Let Your mercy come, to give me life; for Your Law is my delight.

Never will I forget Your precepts; for with them, You give me life.

Save me, for I am Yours, since I seek Your statutes.

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Friday, 24 October 2025 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops)

Romans 7 : 18-25a

I know, that what is right, does not abide in me, I mean, in my flesh. I can want to do what is right, but I am unable to do it. In fact, I do not do the good I want, but the evil I hate. Therefore, if I do what I do not want to do, I am not the one striving toward evil, but sin, which is in me.

I discover, then, this reality : though I wish to do what is right, the evil within me asserts itself first. My inmost self, agrees and rejoices with the Law of God, but I notice in my body, another law, challenging the Law of the Spirit, and delivering me, as a slave to the law of sin, written in my members.

Alas, for me! Who will free me from this being, which is only death? Let us give thanks to God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

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Thursday, 24 October 2024 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Lord contained in the Words of the Scriptures, we are all called to keep in mind our faith in the Lord and how our lives all should be focused and centred on Him, and in everything that He has presented to us, in the love and generosity, all the kindness and mercy that He has always shown us, and at the same time we are also reminded of the kind of challenges and obstacles that we may encounter in our path as faithful Christians, because of the opposition that may arise from all those who refuse to listen to the Lord and acknowledge Him, which may lead to friction and conflict in our lives, and yet, we should not give up our faith easily because of all those.

In our first reading today, taken from the continuation of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in the city and region of Ephesus we have been listening to for much of this week, in which the Apostle kept on reminding the faithful there of the love of God and how all these have been manifested through Christ, His Son, Our Lord and Saviour. God has never given up on us despite everything that we have done in disobeying Him and being stubborn in our attitude and constant refusal to follow His path. God has always been patient in reaching out to us and in attempting to help us, guiding us so that we may find the right path towards Him. And through His Son, He has shown us all the sure path to eternal life, by His perfect obedience to His Father’s will and by His love for us.

St. Paul reminded all of the faithful that through the ever enduring and patient love that God has always had for each and every one of us, we have been truly fortunate to receive the great grace of His love and blessings, His strength and power through the gift of the Holy Spirit that He has bestowed upon us, the gift of life and all the opportunities and other wonderful things and opportunities that we have been given. Therefore, it is important that each and every one of us, as God’s holy and beloved people, we must be truly appreciative of this fact, and be grateful for all of those things we have received, and then strive to be good and worthy of God, to be truly faithful as Christians, to be full of love both for God and for our fellow brothers and sisters around us, as we all should be.

Then, in our Gospel passage from the Gospel according to St. Luke, we heard the Lord speaking to His disciples telling them all that His coming into this world would bring about divisions, strifes and conflicts, disagreements and conflicts within their families, relatives and circles of friends, and how they would have to contend with these divisions, challenges and trials, which were likely contrary to what those disciples had been expecting. As at that time, many of the Jewish people were expecting the coming of the Messiah or the Saviour, the Son of David, Who was prophesied to be the One to deliver them from their troubles and enemies, and many among the people had likely expected Him to come to reestablish the great Kingdom of Israel.

Thus, it must have been a surprise for many among the Lord’s disciples to hear Him saying all that, as they must have expected Him to be that great, conquering King, Who would lead them all in the victory and triumph against the Romans, and then ushering an era of peace and harmony for everyone. But the Lord was speaking the truth and He gave them all a premonition of things to come. The reality is that many in the world were not welcoming of what the Lord Himself has come into this world to deliver to us, His truth and Good News. Many of them had hardened their hearts and minds against the Lord, and resisted Him, and their opposition would translate into all these hardships, conflicts, strife and all the trials facing those who follow the Lord and His teachings.

But this should not then discourage us from following the Lord ever more faithfully, as we are all aware of these trials, tribulations, challenges and difficulties that we may have to face, and we must remain focused on the Lord and His love, and keeping in mind that God’s love for us will make all things possible for us. We must never be afraid and hesitant to commit ourselves more to the Lord, despite the opposition, disagreements and challenges we may have to face, even from all those who are close and dear to us. History has shown how many of our holy predecessors had faced opposition, challenges, and even persecution from their own family members and friends, but they remained firmly in faith to the Lord. And most importantly, we must always remember not to retaliate or hate those who persecute us.

On the contrary, just as the Lord Himself has told us, we should pray for those who hated and persecuted us, and forgive them, and the Lord Himself has done so as well. After all, has He not forgiven us all many times, all of us who have often tested His patience and continued to disobey and disregard His love and compassion? He forgave those who persecuted them from His Cross, prayed for them and shed His Most Precious Blood, and broke His Most Precious Body for all of them as well. If God Himself has shown His love and forgiveness in that way, then we too, as Christians, should follow in His footsteps and examples, and be the good examples of love and forgiveness, compassion and kindness in the midst of our communities, amidst our family, relatives and friends, at all times.

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Anthony Mary Claret, the Founder of the congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, also known commonly as Claretians as homage to their founder. This great and holy man of God was a dedicated servant of the Lord who devoted his life for the good of many of the faithful entrusted under his care in his various capacities and responsibilities throughout his life, spending a lot of time and effort to reach out to many people especially those who were marginalised and less fortunate, showing God’s love and care for them. He was born in Spain, and grew in a large family of weavers, and after a career as weaver and programmer, he eventually felt the call to religious life and becoming a priest after a period of preparation, being sent as a missionary to many places.

He went from place to place, carrying out his mission faithfully and with great patience and love for those whom he had ministered to, and many came to listen to his preachings and works, touching the hearts of countless people throughout his missions. After establishing the Claretians, God would call him into an even greater mission with the responsibility of being the Metropolitan Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba in what was then Spanish colony of Cuba in the Americas, where he was involved in a thorough reform of the Archdiocese, its seminaries and institutions, strengthening the discipline and spirituality among the clergy and the faithful alike, and through his works and ministry, which according to eyewitnesses and evidence, involved even miraculous occasions, St. Anthony Mary Claret inspired so many people to come closer to God.

Throughout his later missions and works, when he returned to Spain as the confessor to the Queen of Spain, Queen Isabella II, and his many other works and ministry, St. Anthony Mary Claret continued to inspire many people, and touched the lives of many as he continued to minister faithfully to them and to bring more and more people closer to God. His inspiration and examples, his dedication to God which he carried on until the end of his life should inspire us all as well, in how we should live our lives faithfully and with faith, so that our own lives and examples may truly be good and worthy of those whom God had called and chosen, to be called as Christians, as God’s holy and beloved people.

Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all hence let us all continue to centre and focus our lives on the Lord, and let us continue to do our best so that our whole lives may truly proclaim the Lord, His truth and love, His Good News and truth, by our every actions, just as St. Anthony Mary Claret and our many other holy predecessors had done. May the Lord continue to strengthen our faith and love for Him, and help us to persevere through the many challenges and trials, obstacles and persecutions that we may have to face in the midst of our faithful journey towards Him. May God bless us always, now and forevermore. Amen.

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Thursday, 24 October 2024 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops)

Luke 12 : 49-53

At that time, Jesus said to the people, “I have come to bring fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what anguish I feel until it is finished! Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on, in one house five will be divided : three against two, and two against three.”

“They will be divided, father against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”