Claret, Anthony Mary, Blessed

CLARET, Anthony Mary, Blessed. - Founder of the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (v.), born at Sallent (Barcelona) on 24 December 1807. Having studied at Vich and been ordained a priest at Solsona, he came to Rome in 1840 to devote himself to the missions under the auspices of the S. Congregation of Propaganda Fide. Having returned to Spain after a brief stay in the Society of Jesus, he dedicated himself with apostolic zeal to preaching and to the reform of morals. In 1849, with five other priests, he founded in the seminary of Vich the said Congregation of missionaries, for which he obtained apostolic approval in 1860 and, six years later, that of its constitutions.

In the same year (1849) he was appointed archbishop of Cuba, a see which he governed until 1857, when he was called to Madrid as confessor to Queen Isabella II. This important and thorny office did not prevent him from carrying on a wonderful apostolate with word and pen, founding the famous "Libreria religiosa" and helping other founders of religious institutes and pious societies. When Queen Isabella was driven from the throne in 1868, he had to follow her into exile. The following year in Rome he took an active part in the Vatican Council. He died shortly afterwards in the Cistercian monastery of Fontfroide (France). He was beatified by Pius XI in 1934. His cause for canonization is close at hand. His body is venerated in the Mother house of Vich.