Support a Catholic Speaker Month: Fr. Clement Machado

Fr. Clement Machado, modern Missionary

At the ripe old age of 11, Clement Machado was visited by the Blessed Mother.  Revealing two visions to him, she showed him both heaven and hell. Profoundly affected, he knew then that he had a calling to be a Roman Catholic Priest.  Later, during his ordination in the grand Montreal Cathedral, St. Patrick also appeared to him. ”I felt I had been taken out of all reality, as St.Patrick told me, ‘Go and free my people.’”  the Priest shared. Now known for promoting healing for the whole person – body, mind, heart, and soul – one would think that he has taken those words to heart.  The methods he uses to obtain that healing is through intercessory prayer, the ministry of Sacramentals and the Sacraments, and most poignantly through the Sacraments of Communion and Reconciliation.

Fr. Machado is not only a missionary of the Society of our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT), he is a Exorcist trained by Rome.  An accomplished preacher and evangelist, he has brought the message of the gospel to five continents, as well as been featured on radio and TV programming for EWTN.  His impact is felt through his outreach in the forms of preaching, teaching, retreats, parish missions, conferences, days of recollection, Bible study and healing of the family lineage.  But I imagine that this priest would rather think of himself as leaving an impression in a more humble way.  ”People are searching for their spiritual needs to be met and I try to connect them,” as he was quoted in the Toledo Blade.

Count this missionary among those who do not water it down, but present the message in a clear cut manner.  In August, he preached to a crowd on the “Year for Priests” as declared by Pope Benedict.  He challenged the people to contemplate the nature of the priesthood, which is supernatural, urging them on to truly realize what exactly that meant. In doing so, he felt that it would change the way they think and act around priests.  “A priest is a sign to remind people of God, of the Sacred,” he said, “not to be used or consumed and then not thought about until you need the priest or church.”

Fr. Clement Machado’s life and works include some extraordinary events. Yet, it all really boils down something as simple and profound as this:

“The Lord wants to heal people and heal relationships and help people overcome the pressures of society,” Father Machado said during an interview from Washington. “God is really there close to them, and you can discover God working through the sacraments, the liturgy, and communal prayer as well as individual prayer. Sometimes people have forgotten, and it helps to hear it again from a fresh perspective.”

The remaining list of 100+ Catholic speakers can be viewed at Fallible Blogma.  I’d like to not only recognize Matthew Warner for his efforts in raising awareness on the messengers for our Faith currently at work, but also thank him for the opportunity to participate in this worthwhile and necessary cause. Matthew, to show my appreciation, I just might even bake you a cake!