Today, October 24, is the memorial of Saint Anthony Mary Claret.
Founder of the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretians).
Anthony Mary was born in Barcelona, Spain in 1807, and was the fifth of 11 children. He worked as a weaver in his youth. He wanted to join the Carthusian monks but eventually entered the diocesan seminary, together with Saint Francisco Coll Guitart.
He was ordained in 1835 and became a missionary in Catalonia and the Canary Islands. He also directed retreats. He easily won the hearts of the people with his preaching, and spent hours giving confession. He had the gift of discernment of consciences.
When he turned to Spain, he founded the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, more popularly known as the Claretians, on the feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (July 16, 1849).
He was appointed archbishop of Santiago de Cuba in 1850 by Blessed Pope Pius IX. He also served as confessor to Queen Isabella II, and was exiled with her and had the gifts of prophecy and miracles. According to reports, he preached 10,000 sermons and published 200 works.
He died in 1870 at age 62. He was beatified in 1934 by Pope Pius XI. He was canonized in 1950 by Venerable Pope Pius XII.