From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
31 August ' Blessed Pere (Peter) Tarr=C3=A9s i Claret
(1905-1950) aged 45
=C2 Priest, Medical Doctor, apostle of Eucharistic Adoration and of Mary,
the Blessed Virgin, apostle of the sick and poor.=C2 Co-Founder, with Dr Gerrado Manresa, of a clinic dedicated to the Blessed Mother for the
ill but in particular for those who suffered from tuberculosis, he
also ensured that the clinic would be able to cater to those people
who could not afford adequate medical treatment.
Pere (Peter) Tarr=C3=A9s i Claret was born on 30 May 1905 in Manresa,
province of Barcelona, Spain, to Francesc Tarr=C3=A9s Puigdell=C3=ADvol and Carme Claret Masats. His parents were deeply religious, which was a
positive influence for himself and his two sisters, Francesca and
Maria, who both entered the convent.
Pere had a very joyful and open spirit and loved nature and helping
others. As a boy, he assisted at the local pharmacy and the shop
owner, Josep Balaguer, encouraged him to continue his studies in
medicine. In 1921 Pere transferred to Barcelona to study, he made the
decision to follow his dream and one day become a doctor to help
others.
During these years of study, Pere received spiritual direction from Fr
Jaume Serra, a priest who encouraged him to enter the =E2=80=9CFederation o=
f
Young Christians of Catalonia=E2=80=9D. This organisation, which met regula= rly
at the Oratory of St Philip Neri, worked for a renewal of the
Christian spirit within society. Pere was appointed President of the
Federation and with his openness and enthusiasm, he knew how to give extraordinary =E2=80=9Cvigour=E2=80=9D to the group.=C2 He was a beacon =
of good example
for others and his zeal motivated him to travel the roads of Catalonia
in his little automobile (which he called his =E2=80=9Cinstrument of work= =E2=80=9D) as
a lay missionary. He spoke openly of God, the Church and Christian
living to the youth and those who were gathered along the streets, he
also assisted in the formation of new Federation groups.=C2 Pere
maintained a written correspondence with many members of the
Federation (of whose federal council he was later appointed
vice-president) and wrote articles that were published in the
Federation's weekly paper.
In addition to his work within this group, the young man was also
involved in Catholic Action. In 1935 he was appointed vice-secretary
of the new diocesan committee, he later became secretary of the
archdiocesan committee, having received the recommendation of the
Cardinal, Francesc Vidal y Barraquer of Tarragona.
A year later, having earned his degree in medicine, Pere began his
residency in Barcelona. Here, together with Dr Gerardo Manresa, he
founded a medical clinic for all those who needed assistance but could
not afford it.
As a doctor, Pere was exemplary in his charity and life of piety. He
never lost his habitual joy and was always available to help and speak
to those who needed him. During the Spanish Civil War (July 1936-April
1939), Pere lived as a =E2=80=9Crefugee=E2=80=9D in Barcelona because the p= ersecution
of Christians forced many into hiding, during this time he prayed,
read and studied.
In May 1938 he was forced to enter the Republican army to provide
medical assistance; these were eight long months of suffering for Pere
and living through the horrors of war probed deep into his soul. Day
after day he wrote about his life on the battle front in his =E2=80=9CWar Diary=E2=80=9D. The war experience and assistance given to the wounded and dying made Pere understand the necessity for =E2=80=9Cspiritual assistance= =E2=80=9D
and he felt that God was calling him to be a =E2=80=9Cdoctor of souls=E2=80= =9D by
entering the priesthood. As a result, he entered the Seminary of
Barcelona on 29 September 1939 and was ordained a priest on 30 May
1942.
Fr Pere began by serving as a parochial vicar at the Parish of St
Stephen Sesrovile and a year later he was sent to the Pontifical
University of Salamanca to study theology. After he earned his degree
in 1944, Fr Pere returned to Barcelona where he dedicated much of his
time to Catholic Action, as well as providing spiritual assistance to
religious congregations and material and spiritual help to the sick,
especially the poorest of the poor. He also served as the diocesan
delegate for the Protection of Women and as spiritual director of the =E2=80=9CMagdalen Hospital=E2=80=9D for female prostitutes.
Fr Pere lived his days to the full and had little time for rest;
nonetheless, he carried out all his activity in peaceful recollection
and a prayerful spirit. Everyone who came into contact with him was
left with the impression that he was a very holy priest who truly
cared, sacrificing himself for the spiritual and physical well-being
of all, particularly the most desolate.
At the beginning of 1950, Fr Pere noticed that his health was
deteriorating. Shortly thereafter, he was diagnosed with lymphatic
cancer. He accepted his illness and offered it up for the
sanctification of priests, resolved to die =E2=80=9Cas a good priest=E2=80= =9D.
Fr Pere said that it was a =E2=80=9Cjoy to have the possibility to be a pri= est
and to die in a continual act of love and suffering=E2=80=A6 worthy of the Heavenly Father=E2=80=9D.
His =E2=80=9Csecret=E2=80=9D in the spiritual life was Eucharistic devotion=
and filial
love towards the Mother of God.
Fr Pere died on 31 August 1950 in the clinic that he founded. He was
45 years old. =E2=80=A6 Vatican.va
=E2=80=9CYou want something to remember me by.
I have no memento to give you,
apart from an invitation to holiness.=E2=80=9D
Blessed Alfredo's parting words
to the seminarians at Venegono,
a few days before his death
Bible Quote:
There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all
sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in
all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God
who is working in all of them.=C2 =C2 (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 )
<><><><>
Excerpt from The Epistles of Clement
"Paul, also, having seven times worn chains, and been hunted and
stoned, received the prize of such endurance. For he was the herald of
the Gospel in the West as well as in the East, and enjoyed the
illustrious reputation of the faith in teaching the whole world to be righteous. And after he had been in the extremity of the West, he
suffered martyrdom before the sovereigns of mankind; and thus
delivered from this world, he went to his holy place, the most
brilliant example of steadfastness that we possess." [The Epistles of
Clement: to the Church in Philippi 4.3].
The reference in St. Clement's passage to the "extremity of the West"
is most likely a reference to the Roman Province of Iberium, or Spain.
"The West" is an expression often used by Roman writers to identify
Spain.
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