ST ANTHONY Mary CLARET The man who challenged

ST. ANTHONY Mary CLARET The man who challenged the impossible

Anthony Mary Claret. . . • Works a great deal, but he is not a workaholic • Prays very often, but he is not a spiritualist man • Writes a lot, but he is not a professional writer • Is well known, but he is not a superstar • Suffers, but he is not bitter person • Is a holy man, but he is not stupid

But, who is Anthony Mary Claret?

He was born at Sallent in Spain on December 23, 1807

Since he was a child he wanted to become a priest

He works in his father’s workshop. Manufacturing is in his blood

When he is only 17 he leaves Sallent and goes to the big city of Barcelona: there is a new world to explore!

He works during the day. He studies at night. He dreams of becoming a great textile industrialist.

But God has a “new” proposal for him

“In the midst of this whirligig of ideas, while I was at Mass one day, I remembered reading as a small boy those words of the Gospel: "What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul? " This phrase impressed me deeply and went like an arrow to my heart. I tried to think and reason what to do, but to no avail. ”

The time of a radical option has come!

He studies to become a priest in the seminary of Vic, Catalonia, Spain

He is ordained a priest on June 13, 1835 at Solsona, not far from Vic

After an attempt of going to foreign missions and of joining the Society of Jesus in Rome, he becomes an itinerant missionary preaching in many towns and villages in Catalonia …

… and in the Canary Islands, where he is known as “El Padrito” (The Little Father)

Always “poor and on foot”, preaching the Gospel to the poor, in the style of the prophets and the apostles

On July 16, 1849 he founds the Congregation of Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in this small room of the diocesan seminary in Vic

Together with five other companions

“My God, may you be blessed for condescending to choose your humble servants to be Sons of the Immaculate Heart of your Mother! Most Blessed Mother, may the courtesy of your Immaculate Heart, in accepting us as your Sons, be praised a thousand times! Mother, make us cooperate with such kindness by becoming daily more humble, fervent, and zealous for the salvation of souls. ”

On August 4, 1849, astonishing news: Pope Pius IX appoints him as Archbishop of Santiago, Cuba

“Overwhelmed by the nomination, I had no desire to accept it because I considered myself unworthy and incapable of such a great dignity, for which I lacked both the necessary knowledge and virtue. ”

1851 -1857: Archbishop of Santiago, Cuba

In Cuba he fought against injustice, helped the poor, visited and organized the diocesis, preached the Gospel to all

In 1855, along with Mother Antonia M. Paris, he founds the Religious Sisters of Mary Immaculate (Claretian Missionary Sisters)

He suffered many attacks, but he intensively loved people and was committed to them

1857 -1868: Confessor to Queen Isabella II of Spain in Madrid

“I was a few days into the mission when I received a royal summons to Madrid. The Archbishop of Toledo, who was confessor to the queen, had died, and Her Majesty had chosen me as her new confessor. ”

1857 -1868: During these years he wrote many books and pamphlets

Accompanying the Queen, he toured Spain preaching the Gospel

He promoted the vocation of the lay people for evangelization

“In these last times, it seems that God wants the lay people to play an important role in the salvation of souls. ”

He founds the Academy of St. Michael, presides the Patronage of the Monastery of El Escorial, works actively for the reform of the Church.

In 1850 he published the book “Daughters of the Most Holy and Immaculate Heart of Mary”, basis of the present secular institute “Cordimarian Filiation”

His mind and his heart progressively opened to a more and more universal mission : “My spirit is for the whole world”

1868: Exile in Paris

1870: Bishop of Vatican I

Defender of the infallibility of the Pope

Exiled in a Cistercian monastery in Fontfroide, France

He died on October 24, 1870

“I have loved justice and hated iniquity. Because of this I die in exile. ”

Since 1897 his sepulchre is at Vic, in Catalonia, Spain

Canonized by Pope Pius XII on May 7, 1950

His ideal?

To Evangelize

His symbol?

Fire

“A Son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a man on fire with love, who spreads its flames wherever he goes. He desires mightily and strives by all means possible to set the whole world on fire with God's love.

Nothing daunts him; he delights in privations, welcomes work, embraces sacrifices, smiles at slander, and rejoices in suffering.

His only concern is how he can best follow Jesus Christ and imitate Him in working, suffering, and striving constantly and singlemindedly for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls. ”

PRAY WORK SUFFER

“Formed in the forge of your mercy and love”

“He was a great soul, born as it were to assemble contrasts.

Though of humble origin, he was glorious in the eyes of the world.

Small in stature, but giant in spirit. Modest in appearance, but very capable of imposing respect even to the great of the world.

Strong in character, but possessing the soft gentleness of one who knows the restraint of austerity and penance.

Always in God’s presence, while in the midst of his prodigious external activity.

Slandered and admired, honoured and persecuted.

And amidst so many wonders, like a soft light that illumines everything, his devotion to the Mother of God. ” (Pius XII)

The spirit of Claret is still alive

THE CLARETIAN FAMILY TODAY • Claretian Missionaries • Claretian Missionary Sisters • Cordimarian Filiation • Lay Claretians

THE CLARETIAN MISSIONARIES IN THE WORLD CHINA

Saint Anthony Mary Claret, pray for us Fr. Gonzalo Fernández Sanz, CMF