On August 29, Bishop Romà published a pastoral letter, Here I am, Send me, in observance of the bicentennial of the birth and baptism of St. Anthony Mary Claret. After explaining his reasons for writing the letter, the bishop offers his reflections on:
1. The Christian roots of the saint, his family and his youth;
2. The missionary, his person and his work throughout his apostolic career, concluding with his death and burial;
3. The secret of St. Anthony Mary Claret, the source of his spiritual nourishment and his service of God and humanity. The letter concludes with a reflection on the relevance of Claret to the church today, especially in Catalonia. The bishop also invites people to visit during the coming year two places of special significance: Sallent, where Claret was born, and Vich, where he is buried. It is kind of the bishop of the diocese, where our Founder was born, to describe to his faithful this spiritual giant, one of their own, whose remains a living witness to the Gospel after two hundred years.
Saint Anthony Mary Claret visited Rome three times during his lifetime. His first visit was in 1839, when he presented himself to the Congregation of Propaganda Fide, offering to be sent anywhere in the world. He returned in 1865 to consult the Holy Father regarding...
In this year 2025, the Claretian Missionaries joyfully celebrate the 75th anniversary of the canonization of our Founder, Saint Anthony Mary Claret, declared a saint by Pope Pius XII on May 7, 1950. He was recognized as a “giant in spirit” for his life fully dedicated...
Rome, Italy. On October 24, 2024, the Claretian Family gathered at the Basilica del Sacro Cuore Immacolato di Maria in Rome to celebrate the Feast of St. Anthony Maria Claret, our founder, a mystic, prayerful, and faithful servant of God. This special Mass, presided...
