MISSIONARI FIGLI DEL CUORE
RE IMMACOLATO DI MARIA. - The original title was "Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary". To this was later added that of "Missionaries". Commonly they are called "Claretians", from the name of the founder. The abbreviation is: C.M.F. (Cordis Mariae Filius).
They were founded on July 16, 1849, in Vich (Spain) by s. Antonio Maria Claret together with Giuseppe Xifré, Giacomo Clotet, Stefano Sala, Domenico Fábregas, and Emanuele Vilarò.
The aim of the new foundation is defined in the Constitutions as follows: "to seek everywhere the glory of God, the sanctification of one's own members, and the salvation of souls throughout the world" (Constit., chap. 1, no. 2). The Institute, in harmony with this ideal, embraces practically all activities: popular missions among the faithful, evangelization in mission countries, the spread 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 at the time. On Oct. 9, 1860, Pius IX approved the new Institute, and on Nov. 21 it was granted the decree of praise. The Constitutions were approved "ad experimentum" in 1865; definitively in 1870 and, after adaptation to the Code, in 1924. In addition to the Constitutions, the Institute has a legislative "corpus" entitled Codex Iuris additicii in which customary "ius", the traditions, and the spirit of the Congregation are condensed.
As regards territory, the Institute is divided into major and minor bodies. The former include provinces and quasi-provinces that may be independent or dependent on another province, visitations (also dependent or independent), and missions. Minor bodies are houses (domus formata), residences (domus non formata, but with a certain stability), and quasi-residences (domus non formata without stability). Assistancies embrace several major bodies.
The Institute is governed by the superior general and five consultors or general counselors, elected by the General Chapter, who remain in office for twelve years. Each of the counselors represents, in the general council, one of the aforementioned assistancies. Furthermore, the general consultors head the so-called "general prefectures" which oversee the various aspects of internal governance (general prefectures of governance, observance, studies, missions, ministries). The curial officers are the procurator, the bursar, and the secretary general, also elected by the General Chapter. The provinces are governed by the provincial assisted by counselors, elected by the general council, who remain in office for 6 years. Quasi-provinces and visitations are governed by the quasi-provincial and the visitor, appointed by the general government if independent, or by the respective major superior if dependent. Houses and residences have a local superior appointed by the major superior ad triennium; quasi-residences have a delegate of the superior upon whom they depend.
In its hundred years of life, the Institute has spread to Spain (four provinces), France, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Poland, and 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 Santo Domingo. Asia: China, Philippine Islands.
At present there are 18 provinces, quasi-provinces, and visitations; 234 houses, residences, and quasi-residences; 2,610 professed members; 200 novices; 1,380 postulants.
Ignazio Ting Pong Lee