Anthony Mary Claret
Anthony Mary Claret ( born December 23, 1807 in Sallent, Catalonia, Kingdom of Spain, † October 24, 1870 in Fontfroide, France ) was a sainted Spanish bishop and founder of the order.
Youth
Anthony Mary Claret was born into a family of weavers. At twelve, he spoke for the first time the desire to become a priest. But the private Latin studies were soon replaced by the training as a weaver at home and in Barcelona.
Priest Training
After a few harassing experiences Claret wanted to be a priest and go in a Carthusian monastery. Again and again he was now led by visions and inspirations until he was ordained after studying at the seminary in Vic on 13 June 1835 at the time of the Carlist Wars in Solsona in the Pyrenees as a priest. He was parish administrator of his home town, in a time when all priests and bishops were persecuted and driven out.
People missionary
After a retreat in Rome, he wanted to join the Jesuits, but because of an illness he had to leave the novitiate again. Back in Spain, he soon began successfully with popular missions, which now became its central task. However, because of persecutions he had cut back here again and again. From 1843 to 1847 he wandered then preaching throughout Catalonia. Because of new persecutions he shifted his activities in 1848 to Gran Canaria, where he gave popular missions in almost every community.
Founding of the order
In 1849 he returned to Catalonia. As the work became too much, he founded with five like-minded priests, the Community of the Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary ( Latin: Cordis Mariae Filii, abbreviation CMF) This order is now generally referred to as the Claretians. 1850 already appointed bishop of Cuba, he founded the Daughters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as a secular institute. As Bishop of Cuba eventually he founded in 1855 the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary ( Claretinerinnen ).
Bishop of Cuba
In August 1849 Claret was appointed bishop of Santiago de Cuba and ordained a bishop in October 1850 in the cathedral of Vic. In February 1851 he arrived in Cuba. In Cuba, he promoted again the popular missions, built from the diocese and even traveled several times in all places. At the same time he also took care of social problems and created, for example, unions and thrifts. He also fought against slavery and racism, which earned him hatred and persecution. When an assassination attempt in 1856, he was even critically injured. After his retirement, he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Traianopolis in Rhodope 1860.
At the Spanish Court
1857 Claret is called back to Madrid at the Spanish court. He is confessor to the Spanish Queen Isabella II ( ruler of 1833-1870 ) and educators of the royal children. He also worked in a variety of ways missionary in Madrid. He was also responsible for the appointment of the Spanish bishops, at the same time he promoted in many ways the creation of new orders and communities. Because of its many activities, he was again exposed to many attacks and hostility.
First Vatican Council
1868 Isabella II had to flee from Spain, accompanied by Bishop Claret. This then traveled but to Rome, where he took part in the preparations for the First Vatican Council. He was a strong advocate of papal infallibility and held in spite of poor health at the Council nor a speech in defense of this doctrine.
Death
Shortly after Claret traveled back to the South of France to the Claretians in Prades. The Spanish revolution government demanded the surrender Clarets. On the run from the soldiers he sought refuge in the Cistercian monastery Fontfroide. On October 24, he died here. His remains were transferred in 1897 to Vic.
Canonization
On February 25, 1934, he was called by Pope Pius XI. beatified. Pius XII. spoke to him on May 7, 1950 holy. The Catholic Church celebrates his feast on 24 October. The Church of St. Claret Ziegelhofstraße (Vienna) bears his name.