Saint Anthony Mary Claret · Autobiography, §490
1807–1870 · MISSIONARY & WRITER
Saint Anthony Mary Claret
Saint Anthony Mary Claret (1807–1870) was born in Sallent, Catalonia, and worked in the textile trade before entering the priesthood. Ordained in 1835, he became an itinerant missionary in Catalonia and the Canary Islands. He founded the Claretian Missionaries in 1849, served as Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, and later became confessor to Queen Isabella II of Spain. He died in exile in France and was canonized in 1950.
In Spain, Claret treated publishing as an extension of preaching: books could remain in homes long after a missionary had departed. Writing in Spanish and Catalan, he produced catechetical works, devotional guides, and inexpensive pamphlets for everyday readers. His widely circulated Camino recto y seguro para llegar al cielo and his role in establishing the Librería Religiosa in Barcelona in 1848 helped make religious reading more accessible. These publications sustained prayer and instruction beyond the pulpit, bringing Christian teaching into daily life.
As Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba from 1851 to 1857, Claret combined pastoral visits and preaching with the distribution of religious books, catechisms, and devotional materials. In a large diocese where many communities could not receive frequent visits, printed texts extended religious instruction into homes and parishes. Publishing gave continuity to his missionary work and helped readers revisit its teachings for themselves. Translating and preserving these writings today opens both his spirituality and the pastoral concerns of his time to a wider audience.
A missionary, bishop, and prolific writer, Anthony Mary Claret dedicated his life to sharing the Christian faith. His preaching and publications grew from the same conviction: that the Gospel should reach ordinary people in the language of their daily lives.
From Catalonia to a missionary life
Claret was born in Sallent, Catalonia, on December 23, 1807. As a young man, he worked in the textile trade before entering the seminary. Ordained a priest in 1835, he became known for his itinerant preaching throughout Catalonia and later in the Canary Islands.
A mission that crossed borders
In 1849, he founded the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, now known as the Claretians. He served as Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba from 1851 to 1857, then returned to Spain as confessor to Queen Isabella II.
The printed word as an apostolate
Alongside his preaching, Claret wrote and promoted books, pamphlets, and other publications on prayer and Christian life. His Spanish and Catalan texts form the heart of Project Claret’s work: bringing his written legacy to English-speaking readers.
An enduring legacy
Claret died in exile at the Cistercian abbey of Fontfroide, France, on October 24, 1870. Pope Pius XII canonized him in 1950. His feast day is celebrated on October 24, and his legacy continues through the Claretian family and the readers of his works.