August 26, 1861: Claret and the Grace of the Preservation of the Sacramental Species

On August 26, 1861, while praying in the Church of the Rosary in La Granja, Father Antonio María Claret received an extraordinary grace:

«On August 26, 1861, at 7:00 in the evening while I was at prayer in the church of the Rosary at La Granja, the Lord granted me the great grace of keeping the sacramental species intact within me and of having the Blessed Sacrament always present, day and night» (Aut. 694)

Claret interpreted this as a call to live in constant union with the Lord and to take on a mission of intercession for the Church and the people:

«I must always be very recollected and inwardly devout. Furthermore I must pray and confront all the evils of Spain, as the Lord has told me» (Aut. 694)

It is therefore not surprising that the Eucharist held a central place in his experience:

«The Eucharist, as the sacrificial sacrament of the real presence of Christ, occupied an important place in the spiritual and apostolic life of St. Anthony Mary Claret. The Eucharistic celebration was the most intense personal union with Jesus Christ…» (Spiritual Heritage 14)

The Eucharist was for him an inner fire and apostolic strength, the root of his spirituality and tireless mission, and it continues to be for every Claretian Missionary, and for those walking with us, the center of fraternal unity for mission and the deepest invitation to missionary transformation.