Saint Anthony Mary Claret (Antonio María Claret y Clarà, 1807–1870) was a Spanish Catholic archbishop, missionary, and religious founder whose work spanned preaching, education, social reform, and the Catholic press.
Born in Sallent, Catalonia, Spain, into a weaving family, he worked as a weaver before studying Latin, French, and printing, and entering the seminary at Vic WikipediaWikipedia+1. Ordained a priest in 1835, he was initially considered for Jesuit missions but, due to ill health, returned to Spain, where he became one of the most popular preachers in Catalonia and the Canary Islands catholic-repository.orgcatholic-repository.org+1.
In 1849, he founded the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, now known as the Claretians, a congregation dedicated to popular missions, education, and publishing WikipediaWikipedia+1. In 1851, he was appointed Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, where he implemented pastoral and social reforms, faced political opposition, and even survived an assassination attempt Franciscan MediaFranciscan Media+1.
Recalled to Spain in 1857, he served as confessor to Queen Isabella II and continued his missionary and publishing work. In 1868, he went into exile in France with the Queen, later attending the First Vatican Council Catholic OnlineCatholic Online+1.
Saint Anthony Mary Claret died in Fontfroide Abbey, France, on October 24, 1870, and was canonized in 1950 by Pope Pius XII.
He is the patron of weavers, textile workers, savings, the Catholic press, and the Claretians WikipediaWikipedia+1.
His legacy includes a strong emphasis on Eucharistic devotion, education, social justice, and the power of the Catholic press to spread the Faith.
His tomb in The Claretian House of Spirituality in Vic, Spain.