Blessings Received

Today October 24 is the Memorial of Saint Anthony Mary Claret. He worked as a weaver in his youth, and was seminary student with Saint Francisco Coll Guitart. Ordained on 13 June 1835, he was a missionary in Catalonia and the Canary Islands where he directed retreats and founded the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretians). He was ordained Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba on 20 May 1850. Following his work in the Caribbean, Blessed Pope Pius IX ordered Anthony back to Spain. Confessor to Queen Isabella II, he was exiled with her. Had the gifts of prophecy and miracles. Reported to have preached 10,000 sermons, published 200 works. Spread devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Today we know ordinary persons that do not claim to have the gifts of prophecy and miracles. Yet they are extraordinarly close to our hearts - They include priests and lay persons. Other than the immediate family and our in-laws, I am blessed by the presence of quite a few priests such as Fr. Henri Boulad, S.J.; Fr. Daniel Callam, CSB; Msgr. Robert Nusca; as well as Melkite Catholic priests and other pastors. I am also blessed by quite a few lay persons who always ask about us and particularly a person who calls every day to ask about us. God sends us those who show us what is love, in oder that we love back... Life is a gift of God who loves all. He is "love" (1 John 4:8).