MISSIONARI FIGLI DEL CUORE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY, KING. - The original title was "Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary." To this was later added that of "Missionaries." They are commonly called "Claretians," from the name of the founder. The abbreviation is: C.M.F. (Cordis Mariae Filius).
They were founded on July 16, 1849 at Vic (Spain) by St. Anthony Mary Claret together with Joseph Xifré, James Clotet, Stephen Sala, Dominic Fábregas, Emmanuel Vilarò.
The purpose of the new foundation is thus defined in the Constitutions: "to seek everywhere the glory of God, the sanctification of its own members and the salvation of souls throughout the whole world" (Constit., ch. 1, no. 2). The Institute, in harmony with this ideal, embraces practically every activity: popular missions among the faithful, evangelization in mission countries, the diffusion of the divine word by all oral and written means, the direction of seminaries, teaching in colleges, etc. The founder's idea was to establish a true and proper religious congregation, but the laws then in force in Spain did not permit its legal existence. On Oct. 9, 1860 Pius IX approved the new Institute, and on Nov. 21 the decree of praise was given to it. The Constitutions were approved "ad experimentum" in 1865; definitively in 1870 and, after adaptation to the Code, in 1924. Besides the Constitutions, the Institute has a legislative "corpus" entitled Codex Iuris additicii, in which the customary "ius," the traditions and the spirit of the Congregation are condensed.
The Institute, as regards territory, is divided into major and minor organisms. The former comprise the provinces and quasi-provinces, which may be independent or dependent on another province, visitations, likewise dependent or independent, and missions. Minor organisms are the houses (domus formata), residences (domus non formata, but with a certain stability), quasi-residences (domus non formata without stability). The assistances embrace several major organisms.
The Institute is governed by the superior general and five consultors or general councillors, elected by the General Chapter, and they remain in office for twelve years. Each of the councillors represents, in the general council, one of the above-mentioned assistances. Furthermore, the general consultors are at the head of the so-called "general prefectures," which superintend the various aspects of the internal regime (general prefectures of government, observance, studies, missions, ministries). The curia officials are the procurator, the economist and the general secretary, also elected by the General Chapter. The provinces are governed by the provincial assisted by the councillors, elected by the general council, and they remain in office 6 years. The quasi-provinces and the visitations are governed by the quasi-provincial and by the visitor, appointed by the general government, if independent, by the respective major superior, if dependent. The houses and residences have a local superior deputed by the major superior ad triennium; the quasi-residences a delegate of the superior on whom they depend.
In its hundred years of life the Institute has spread in Spain (four provinces), France, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Poland, England. Africa: Canary Islands, Islands of São Tomé and Príncipe (Portuguese), continental and insular Spanish Guinea. America: United States, Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Cuba and S. Domingo. Asia: China, Philippine Islands.
At present there are 18 provinces, quasi-provinces and visitations; 234 houses, residences and quasi-residences; 2610 professed; 200 novices; 1380 postulants.
Bibliography3 works
Ignazio Ting Pong Lee