Saint of the Day: St. Anthony Mary Claret

Bishop (1807-1870)

His life

+ Anthony was born in Spain in 1807. Ordained a priest in 1835, he worked as a mission and retreat director throughout Catalonia. To help in this work, he founded a new religious community: the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (commonly known as the “Claretians”). 

+ In 1849, Anthony was consecrated as bishop of Santiago de Cuba. Seeing the many needs of his diocese, he initiated a program of reforms, including the creation of a new community of sisters: the Sisters of Mary Immaculate.

+ In 1857, he was recalled to Spain to serve as chaplain for Queen Isabella II. This position allowed him to continue preaching and publishing. He later opened a museum, library, schools, and a laboratory and helped revive the Catalan language. 

+ A participant in the First Vatican Council, Anthony Mary Claret was later forced to flee Spain following the Revolution of 1868 and he died in exile in 1870.

+ Saint Anthony Mary Claret was canonized in 1950. 

For prayer and reflection

“The love of Christ arouses us, urges us to run, and to fly, lifted on the wings of holy zeal. The zealous man desires and achieves all great things and he labors strenuously so that God may always be better known, loved and served in this world and in the life to come, for this holy love is without end.”—Saint Anthony Mary Claret

Spiritual bonus

On October 24 we also remember Saint Luigi Guanella. A priest and the founder of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence and the Servants of Charity (the Guanellan Fathers and Brothers), he is honored a special friend and patron of the poor. Saint Luigi died in Como, Italy, on October 24, 1915, and was canonized in 2011.  

Prayer

O God, who for the evangelization of peoples
strengthened the Bishop Saint Anthony Mary Claret
with admirable charity and long-suffering,
grant, through his intercession,
that, seeking the things that are yours,
we may earnestly devote ourselves
to winning our brothers and sisters for Christ.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)
Saint profiles prepared by Fr. Silas Henderson, S.D.S