Launching of ＜喜樂之源——四福音及注釋＞Four Gospels and Commentaries in Chinese in the Extra Ordinary Mission Month
The Feast of St. Claret was celebrated on 24 October in the Claretian House in Shatin with a group of close friends and associates of Claretians. Fathers from Macau and Hong Kong communities hosted the event which began with a Mass at 6.30 pm followed by dinner. At the end of the Mass, Fr. Rossa introduced the reprint of
＜喜樂之源——四福音及注釋＞, published for the purpose of the Missionary Month and distributed copies of them to all the participants, reminding their responsibility to share the Gospel of Jesus.
Antony Claret was born in the year 1807 in a small town called Sallent in Spain. His parents were God-fearing Catholics and grew up in faith. His Father was textile manufacturer and he wanted young Antony to take care of the family’s business.
Antony was given special training in textile industry. As any other youth of his time, he nurtured ambitions to become a successful business man. But during his training period in the city of Barcelona, some special events made him to change is attention from becoming a business man to do business for God. Once he was saved from being drowned in the sea and he believed that it was Blessed Mother who helped him to get back to the shore. He had a special love and devotion to Blessed Mother. So, in his later years, he added the name of Mary to his own name – so he is known as Antony Mary Claret. He decided to dedicate his life for the gospel and so left his studies in textile industry midway.
He joined the seminary to become a priest. After becoming a priest, he realised that most of the priests were remaining in their parishes and involving in numerous activities, but there were not enough priests to preach the Word of God. Therefore, he together with five other priests began a community of preachers on 16 July 1849. He named this community as the “Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” In 2019, we have completed the 170th year of the founding of the Congregation.
He wrote 100s of books and booklets and distributed
among the people to read, for two reasons: First, he said, “if people do not have good books to read, they would turn to bad ones.” Second, he said, “I cannot go every place to bring the good news of Christ but my literature can reach all the places that I cannot go.”
Today, for example, we cannot personally be present in China for
example. But We are distributing/selling over 120000 copies of the Daily Gospel in China every year. Our Chinese New Testament and other books are reaching numerous dioceses in the mainland.
So today Claretians
are involved in the Ministry through Media and the Claret group of Publications have 12 publishing houses around the world, including the one in Macau. Fr. Rossa coordinates the works of all these publishing houses of the Congregation around the world.
Archbishop Claret died on 24 October 1870. Next year this day,
will be 150th death anniversary of our Father Founder. Archbishop
Claret was canonised in 1950 by Pope Pius XII.
After the death of the Founder, the members of the community adopted name of the Founder as the alternative name for the community and started to be called as Claretians. Thus we are known in two names: Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Claretians.
Today over 3000 Claretian missionaries – priests and brothers - are involved in the ministry of spreading the message of the Gospel in 67 countries around the world. As we all know, 3000 is not a significant number, unless with the selfless contributions of 1000s of mission partners who work with us in every little work we take up.
We also pray for all the missionaries and all those who are associated with us in the ministry. Through the intercession of St. Claret our Founder, may all of us who are gathered here this evening receive all the necessary graces to seek God’s will in our lives.
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