St Antony Claret

Archbishop of Cuba and founder of the Claretians. Antony was born in 1809 in northern Spain. As a young man he worked with his father as a weaver, before joining the seminary at Vich. He was ordained in 1835 and went to Rome to join the Jesuits as a missionary. But he suffered ill health and had to return to Spain. For some time he worked as a preacher in Catalonia, founding the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, later known as the Claretians. He then went back to Cuba for several years. In 1857 he returned to Spain for the last time and became chaplain to Queen Isabella. He also devoted himself to preaching and writing, especially in Catalan.

St Antony published more than 200 books and pamphlets and had many interests. He founded a science laboratory, natural history museum, and schools of music and languages.

During the revolution of 1868 he went into exile with Queen Isabella in France and died at the Cistercian monastery of Fontfroide, near Narbonne.

He was canonised by Pope Pius XII in 1950.