SAINT ANTHONY

MARY CLARET

AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND COMPLEMENTARY WRITINGS

Bicentennial edition

(Publisher)

2

SAINT ANTHONY

MARY CLARET

AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND COMPLEMENTARY WRITINGS

3

SAINT ANTHONY

MARY CLARET

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

AND COMPLEMENTARY WRITINGS

Transcription, introductions

and footnotes by

JOS MARA VIAS

and

JESS BERMEJO

Claretian Missionaries

Introductions by

JOSEP MARIA ABELLA

Superior General

and

GUSTAVO ALONSO

Former Superior General

Claretian Missionaries

(Publisher / city/ date)

4

Bicentennial Edition revised and updated.

Cover photograph: Antoine Trinquart, Paris, 1868

Spanish text revision: Jess Bermejo

Autobiography translated from Spanish by Joseph Daries

Footnotes and additional texts translated from Spanish by James Overend

English Text revision and editing: S. Jesu Doss and Anthony Ejikeme of the

Center for Claretian Spirituality (CESC) in Vic, Spain and Rosendo Urrabazo

in Rome

1st Edition (Spanish), February 2008.

All rights reserved.

Printed in Argentina

English Edition,

All rights reserved.

Printed in India

Vias, Jos Mara,

Original title: San Antonio Mara Claret: Autobiografia y escritos complemenatarios / Jos Mara

Vias and Jess Bermejo 1st ed. Buenos Aires: Editorial Claretiana, 2008. 1104 p. : il.; 20 x 14 cm.

ISBN 978-950-512-646-0

1. Antonio Mara Claret, Santo - Biografa. I. Bermejo, Jess

II. Title

5

To the entire Claretian family,

heir of the spirit and mission

of Saint Anthony Mary Claret

on the bicentennial of his birth,

with fraternal affection,

Jos Mara Vias

and Jess Bermejo

6

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Illustrations

Introduction to the present edition

Introduction to the 1981 edition

Note on the bicentennial edition

Abbreviations

Old Testament

New Testament

Other important abbreviations

Important notices

PR E LI M I N ARI E S

Claret Timetable Synopsis

GE NE R AL IN T RO D U C TI O N

The Apostolic Mission

of Saint Anthony Mary Claret

I. An Extraordinary Mission

II. Claret Apostolic Missionary

III. Missionary Vision

The Social Sin

The Ideologies

IV. Evangelization as a Response

Evangelization of People

Evangelization and Human Development

Evangelization and Slavery

Evangelization and Politics

V. The Evangelizers

VI. I have completed My Mission

General Bibliography

A) Claretian Manuscripts (Mss. Claret)

B) Works by Claret

Apostolic Missionary (1840-1850)

Archbishop of Cuba (1850-1857)

Royal Confessor (1857-1869)

7

Father of the Council (1869-1870)

Posthumous Works

C) Edited or Attributed Works

D) Writings

E) Letters

F) Pontifical Documentation

G) Biographies

Unedited

Published During the Life of the Saint

Published After the Death of the Saint

H) Studies

I) Anti-Claret Writings

AU TO B I O G R AP H Y

Revised Edition, Introduction and Notes

by Jos Mara Vias and Jess Bermejo

Introduction to the Autobiography

Historical Dates

The Autobiographical Codices

Literary Form

Historical Value

An Interpretation of His Own Life from the Perspective of His Missionary Charism

Spirituality for Mission

The Congregation of Missionaries

The Publication of the Autobiography

How to Read the Autobiography

The Bicentenary Edition

Editions of the Autobiography

Prayer Before Reading the Autobiography

Autobiography of Saint Anthony Mary Claret

Biography of Archbishop Anthony Mary Claret

Preface

F I R S T P A R T

CHAPTERS

8

I My Birth and Baptism

II Early Childhood

III First Inclinations

IV Early education

V At Work in the Factory

VI First Devotions

VII Early Devotion to Mary

VIII In 1825, Around My Eighteenth Birthday, I Move to Barcelona

IX Why I Gave Up Manufacturing

X My Resolve to Become a Carthusian Monk at Monte-Alegre

XI From Barcelona to Vic

XII Ordination

XIII Assistant Pastor and Administrator

S E C O N D P A R T

About the Missions

CHAPTERS

I Gods Call to Preach Missions

II Departure from Spain

III Events of My Journey through France

IV Events Aboard Ship

V Arrival in Rome and Entering the Jesuit Novitiate

VI Prayers I Wrote During the Novitiate

VII Departure from Rome and Arrival in Spain

VIII Beginning of the Missions

and Healing the Sick

IX On Healing the Possessed, and on the

Many Fictitious Cases of Possession

X The Importance of being sent

XI The Goal I had in Mind Whenever I Went to a

Town to Which My Superior Sent me

XII How I was Moved to Preach Missions

by the Example of the Prophets, of Jesus Christ,

of the Apostles, the Fathers, and Other Saints

XIII The Example and Encouragement I Received

From Certain Women Saints

XIV On the Same Subject

XV On the Same Subject

XVI Means I Used to Achieve Success

9

XVII Other Means I Made Use of to do Good

XVIII Adult Instruction

XIX Sermons

XX The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius

XXI Books and Pamphlets

XXII On the Same Subject and on Everyday Conversations,

on Medals, Pictures, Rosaries and Scapulars

XXIII Virtues I Consider Essential for an Effective Ministry:

The First Virtue: Humility

XXIV The Second Virtue: Poverty

XXV The Third Virtue: Meekness

XXVI The Fourth Virtue: Modesty

XXVII The Fifth Virtue: Mortification

XXVIII The Virtue of Mortification (continued)

XXIX Virtues of Jesus that I Resolved to Imitate

The Virtue of Love of God and neighbor

XXX Towns I have Preached in and Persecutions I have Suffered

XXXI Topics I Preached on, and the Care I Took in Presenting Them

XXXII Preaching Missions in the Canary Islands

XXXIII The Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

XXXIV Accepting the Appointment as Archbishop of Santiago, Cuba

T H I R D P A R T

FROM THE CONSECRATION AS

ARCHBISHOP ONWARDS

CHAPTERS

I Consecration, Voyage, Arrival, and First Ministries

II Persecutions in El Cobre and Events at Puerto Prncipe

III Missions in Puerto Principe, Manzanillo, San Fructuoso, and Bayamon

IV The Earthquakes in Santiago

V The Cholera Epidemic in The Diocese of Cuba

VI Journey to Baracoa, Mayar and Santiago. Outcome of my First Pastoral Visit

VII Various Arrangements I made for the Good of the Diocese

VIII How I was Wounded and the Events Surrounding My Cure

IX How I was Summoned to Madrid

X Biographical Sketch of My Co-workers

XI How I Disliked Living in Madrid

XII How I have Never Sought Positions or Meddled in Politics

XIII My Conduct has Never been Self-serving

XIV Ordinary and Extraordinary Occupations

10

XV The Plan of Life and Resolutions I will Strive to Keep with Gods Help

XVI Some Particular Devotions

XVII Some Homely Animals that have Served Me as Examples of Virtue

XVIII Some Noteworthy Things that God and the Blessed Virgin Mary have Made Me Understand

XIX The Most Notable Dates in My Life

Continuation of the Biography of the Archbishop

Anthony Mary Claret

CHAPTERS

I On Tour With Their Majesties and Highnesses in Andaluca

II Things Done for the Sisters of Andaluca

III Damages and Errors Spread by Protestants

and Socialists in the Provinces of Andaluca

IV The Slanders Malicious Men have Spread about Catholic Priests

V Things I have Done Since my Return from Andaluca

VI Account of Conscience to My Spiritual Director Toward the End of 1862

VII An Account of My Mission to the Palace

VIII Account of Conscience to My Spiritual Director for the Year 1863

IX Retreat Resolutions

X An Important Chapter for The Congregation

XI Account I Made to My Spiritual Director of

My Activities During the Year 1864

XII Cases for Confessors and Preachers

XIII More Examples That May Serve as a Warning

XIV Punishments Occasioned by Cursing

XV Some Cases of Punished Sins

XVI Some of My Experiences

XVII (Blank in the Manuscript)

XVIII Resignation from the Court

XIX Letter of His Holiness

XX Letter of the Nuncio

XXI A Gentlemans Defense

XXII A Report Published in LE MONDE

AU TO B I O G R AP H IC A L DO CUM E NT S

I On Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (1812-1831)

II A Student Devoted to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (1831)

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III A Model Seminarian at Prayer (1829-1835)

IV Vocation to the Apostolate (1831-1835)

V Confraternities (1819-1840)

VI Declaration Made on Entering the Society of Jesus (1807-1839)

VII Apostolic Missionary: Self Portrait (1840-1846)

VIII Rsum of His Life (1813-1856)

IX Graces Granted by the Blessed Virgin Mary (1807-1867)

X Imitating His Model, Jesus (1858-1864)

XI Witness to the Truth (1807-1864)

XII The Librera Religiosa (1851-1869)

XIII Royal Confessor (1857-1869)

XIV Uncertainties About His Office As Royal Confessor (1865)

XV Benefits and Graces Obtained Through Mary (1807-1869)

XVI Notes Concerning the First Vatican Council (1869-1870)

1. Matters that Should be Discussed

2. Notes on Themes for the Council:

3. Council Documents and Dates

4. Daybook of the Congregations

De vita et honestate clericorum

5. Discourse on Papal Infallibility

6. Address to Spanish Bishops on Seminaries

7. Address to Spanish Bishops on a Uniform Catechism

8. On the Margin of the Council

RE S O L U TI O N S A ND S P I RI T UA L NO TE S

Introduction and notes by Jos Maria Vias

General Introduction

Resolutions

1843

1844

1845

1846

1847

1848

1849

1850 - A

1850 - B

1851

1852

1853

1854

1855

1856

12

1857

1858

1859

1860

1861

1862

1863

1864

1865

1866

1867

1868

1869

1870

Spiritual Notes

Introduction

Archbishop of Cuba (1850-1857)

Royal Confessor (1857-1869)

Father of the First Vatican Council (1869-1870)

L I GH TS A N D G R AC E S

Introduction

1855

1856

1857

1858

1859

1860

1861

1862

1863

1864

1865

1866

1867

1868

1869

1870

AP P E N DI CE S

Introduction

Appendix I

13

Notes of Fr. Lorenzo Puig

Appendix II

A visit of Claret to the Bishop of Huesca in Rome

Appendix III

Six recollections of the Claretians in Prades

Appendix IV

Fr. Claret in Fontfroide

Appendix V

Biographical notes

Appendix VI

The Processes

Closing Document

Letter-message of Pope Benedict XVI

I ND E XE S

Name and Place Index

Thematic Index

14

ILLUSTRATIONS

1. Claret at his writing desk.. Page I [PAGE NN. FROM SPANISH EDITION]

2. Coat of Arms - Librera Religiosa ... Page 283

3. Plan of the Academy of St. Michael Page 284

4. Map of Catalonia ............................... Page 331

5. Map of Grand Canary Island . Page 343

6. Writing and seal of Archbishop Claret.. Page 350

7. Four maps: pastoral visits of Claret in Cuba... Page 394-5

Following Page 407

8. Panoramic views of Sallent .. 1st Page

9. Birthplace of Claret; Virgin of Fusimanya; Chapel of the Virgin of Fusimanya... 2nd Page

10. Weaving machine in the time of the Saint; Sallent - Home of Claret . 3rd Page

11. Barcelona Cathedral; Barcelona La Lonja (Exchange Building)... 4th Page

12. Vic - Queralt Bridge over the Mder River; Vic - Main Square ... 5th Page

13. Vic Holy Cross Hospital; Vic Seminary...6th Page

14. Rome - St. Mary in Traspontina; Rome - St. Andrew in Montecavallo...7th Page

15. Viladrau - Tower of the parish church; Pencil drawing of Claret .8th Page

16. Our Lady of Montserrat;

Las Palmas of Grand Canary Island Cathedral ..9th Page

17. Las Palmas, Grand Canary Island - San Telmo Park;

Room of the Foundation of the Congregation, Vic 10th Page

18. Scene of the Foundation;

Painting of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Divine Love ...11th Page

19. Santiago, Cuba: Cathedral;

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, Cuba ..12th Page

20. Our Lady of Charity;

Claret and several of his collaborators, Cuba 1853 (1st photo of Claret).. 13th Page

21. Episcopal seal used by Claret in his books;

Baracoa Mountains, Cuba14th Page

22. Mother Mara Antonia Paris;

Pulpit of the main church in Holgun, Cuba.. 15th Page

23. Isabel II, Queen of Spain; Madrid - Royal Palace..16th Page

24. Map of Spain Page 449

25. Facsimile of first edition of Solace of a Slandered Soul. Page 479

26. The philosopher Jaime Balmes; Facsimile of his writing ...Page 529

27. St. Peters Basilica, Rome: Floor plan of the Council Hall. Page 583

28. Clarets handwriting (1861). Page 814-15

15

29. Death-bed of Fr. Claret .Page 881

Following Page 886

30. Seal of the Congregation (1857); Monastery of the Escorial 1st Page

31. Lisbon Tower of Bethlehem; Lisbon Palace of the Hieronymites... 2nd Page

32. Paris Champs Elises; Paris Notre Dame des Victoires .3rd Page

33. Painting and Photograph of Claret in Madrid, 1858 &1860 4th Page

34. Painting of Claret in 1860; Photograph of Claret, Madrid, 1867. 5th Page

35. Photographs of Claret, Paris, 1868 6th Page

36. Paintings of Claret, Paris, 1869 & Rome, 1869. 7th Page

37. Rome, Basilica and Plaza of St. Peter (1869) &

Palace of the Chancellery ..8th Page

38. Painting of Claret at First Vatican Council;

Rome, Church of St. Adrian 9th Page

39. Clarets room, Convent of St. Adrian, Rome;

40. Cistercian Monastery of Fontfroide 10th Page

41. Cloister, Monastery of Fontfroide;

Sepulcher of Fr. Claret in Fontfroide .11th Page

42. Sepulcher tombstone of Claret in Fontfroide ..12th Page

43. Sepulcher of Fr. Claret in Vic; Crypt of St. Claret Church in Vic 13th Page

44. Paintings of Fr. Claret . 14th Page

45. Drawing of the Saint; Painting of Claret for India;

Model for Engraving 15th Page

46. Mosaic of Claret in the Basilica of St. Peter..16th Page

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INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH EDITION

To open ones heart to the story of another persons life is always an enriching

experience, often awe-inspiring. The narrated events and the various resonances that these

found in the heart of that person are transformed into messages of life for us who receive

with great respect, the testimony that is given to us.

Anthony Mary Claret wrote the story of his own life because someone who was

profoundly inspired by it and ardently desired that it continue being an inspiration for many

asked him to do so. It was difficult for Claret to respond to this request and he only did it

because, in that moment, the one asking, Fr. Jos Xifr was the superior of the Congregation

of Missionaries that Claret himself had founded. Anthony Mary Claret has left us in his

Autobiography a living testimony of those events and experiences that marked his life and

guided his tireless apostolic work.

The life of Claret, like that of each human being, had it moments of light and of darkness.

Reading the Autobiography will reveal them. It is important to make oneself a fellow

traveler to be able to take in all of the force of the testimony presented to us.

It is of capital importance to discover the underlying principles that guided his life and

that appear, in various ways, during the different periods of the same. Reading the

Autobiography draws us into the spiritual experience of a man who allowed himself to be

questioned and guided by the Word of God, who felt with a very strong intensity the call to

dedicate his life to the proclamation of the gospel and who knew how to bring many others

into that work. The Autobiography allows us to peer into the interior of the person and see

how the Spirit of the Lord guided him to new horizons of sanctity and apostolic

commitment.

The Autobiography of St. Anthony Mary Claret is available in many editions and in

various languages. Many people from diverse countries and cultures have been able to

approach these pages born in the heart of one who lived passionately for Christ and for the

proclamation of the Gospel. The Spanish and English editions had finished and there were

calls for new editions. It is a joy, dear reader, to be able to put this now into your hands. Fr.

Jess Bermejo, an expert in St. Anthony Mary Claret, and the team of the Center for

Claretian Spirituality (CESC) in Vic, Spain, have done a revision of the text and its notes

and have prepared some pedagogical materials that will facilitate greater comprehension of

the pages of the Autobiography.

With regard to this English edition, I cannot but thank the work done for many years by

Fr. Joseph Daries, who has dedicated countless hours so that the person of Anthony Mary

Claret might be better known in the English-speaking world. To him do we owe the basic

translation of the Autobiography and many of the autobiographical writings contained in

this volume. I also want to acknowledge the invaluable collaboration of Frs. Rosendo

Urrabazo who together with the CESC team of Frs. Anthony Ejikeme and S. Jesu Doss have

reviewed and revised all of the English texts. Special thanks also to Fr. James Overend who

translated the interesting and extensive notes by which this edition has been enriched.

17

I hope that contact with the testimony of Claret touches your life and increases your love

for Jesus and the ardent desire to work for the kingdom. I place this edition in the hands,

even more, in the heart of Mary, for whom St. Anthony Mary Claret felt so loved and

accompanied in the growth of his faith and missionary commitment.

Rome, August 4, 2009

JOSEP M. ABELLA

General Superior

of the Claretian Missionaries

18

INTRODUCTION TO THE

1981 EDITION

The edition of the Autobiographical and Spiritual Writings of Saint Anthony Mary

Claret published by the Biblioteca de Autores Crisitianos (BAC) in 1959 placed an

exceptional document, the Autobiography of the Saint, at the disposal of the public-at-large

for the first time; which until that time had been the private patrimony of the Missionary

Sons of the Heart of Mary. As a matter of fact, the two previous editions (1915 and 1951),

although with different characteristics, had only been planned for a limited distribution

among the communities of the Congregation.

However, starting from the 1959 edition, the Claret Autobiography has been published in

several languages (French, Portuguese, English, Italian), in addition to anothermanual

sizeedition in Spanish. This has resulted in a widespread distribution of this document

which has subsequently been extended even more with this new edition that the BAC now

presents, with the intention of being critically more refined, while at the same time better

situating the period, mainly through introductions and notes.

In presenting this new edition, I do not think it is necessary to refer to literary or historic

aspects of the text. Even though they have their validity and it would be fair to focus on

them when the time comes, these aspects do not correspond to what the author and editors

specifically intended. I would like, therefore, to underline that the Autobiography of Saint

Anthony Mary Claret is, above all, a testimonial and pedagogical document. Its greatest

values and the key to its optimum reading are found there.

But most of all, it is a living testimony, in the sense that it communicates, emotionally

and personally, a special experience of God and man, through which existence itself takes

on a sense of mission, as it did with Jesus Christ. It is the testimony of a lived experience

through a long process of search and affirmation, of action and passion, of dedication and

martyrdom, and which little by little makes a total identification with Jesus Christ, the only

measure of the missionary vocation.

It is a fact that the 19th century for Christians (especially in Spain) has much greater

weight for its living testimonies than from its elaboration of a theology or a spiritual

doctrine. For this reason, also is this autobiographic document of Claret of some importance.

It can help in the understanding of an historic fragment of ecclesial life. Moreover, above

all, it illustrates the encouraging presence of the Spirit in the ever-current praxis of the

mission, which, through a total and unifying experience, gives meaning to life, placing it

before the Father of Jesus, unchangeable source of the sending, and before the sometimes

turbulent events of the people to whom we are sent.

On the other hand, the Autobiography of Saint Anthony Mary Claret has a stated

pedagogical intention: to serve in the formation of those called for the mission. It entered

into the plans of whoever imposed upon the Saint the obedience to write these pages. And,

on the other hand, it fit in with Clarets constantly sought purpose, since the first years of his

priesthood, in which he invested so much time and effort to cultivate in priests the

19

dedication and adequate preparation for the missions. The Congregation of Missionaries that

he founded has considered his Autobiography a living interpretation of the Constitutions and

a necessary place for the encounter with his spirit.

But, going beyond this particular reference, it is natural that a document of this type,

profoundly evangelical and vivid, retains a contemporary relevance in times when,

everywhere, the Lord is arousing vocations for the service of missionary evangelization

throughout the Church. It is truly a manual of missionary spirituality that introduces the

experience of a life dedicated to the Gospel, to the proclamation of the Good News, the

same as the life of Jesus. Transmitted in clear and warm pages, full of serenity and strength,

this living proposal of Father Claret is fostering today the birth of many consecrated, as well

as secular missionary, vocations from the most diverse latitudes.

Claret, moved by his apostolic keenness, having written extensively about many diverse

subjects, found nothing more repulsive as in narrating his own life. Maybe because of this,

with a sense of death to himself by which he planted this seed, today it has such force and is

producing an abundance of missionary vocations. And, by the same token, nothing is more

pleasing to his spirit, which yearned for the formation of a large family of evangelizers.

I hope that the optimum work carried out by the responsible persons of Studium

Claretianum of Rome and by the BAC in the presentation of this volume is blessed by this

same fruit: a new emergence of vocations for the mission, in a Church that is again clearly

conscience of its everlasting condition: sent, as Jesus, for the salvation of mankind.

GUSTAVO ALONSO, CMF

Superior General

of the Claretian Missionaries

(1971-1991)

20

NOTE TO THIS BICENTENNIAL EDITION

Since the publication of the previous edition of this work (1981) more than twenty years

have gone by. Around the time of the canonization of Saint Anthony Mary Claret (1950),

there was an abundant flourishing of studies, whose results were integrated into the first

BAC edition (1959). Later, over several decades, the scholars have continued their difficult

task in both the historic and the spiritual fields, trying to highlight aspects that maybe the

zeal of glorification had blurred or placed out of focus. A new climate of greater serenity,

exempt from apologetic concerns, has allowed a new settling and clarification in this regard.

The 1959 edition contained the autobiographical and spiritual writings of Saint Anthony

Mary Claret. The 1981 edition only included the autobiographical writings and the same is

included in this edition as well. It was decided to leave the Spiritual Writings for a second

volume, which was published also by BAC in 1985. In other courses of action, the

Epistolario Claretiano was published in Madrid in three volumes: the first two in the

Editorial Coculsa in 1970 and the third in Publicaciones Claretianas in 1987.

The present work includes the Autobiography, fifteen autobiographical documents,

Resolutions and Spiritual notes, Lights and Graces and six appendixes.

Guided by the criteria of fidelity, all the Saints hand-written manuscripts have been

carefully checked. In the introductions and notes, we have tried to incorporate the results of

the findings carried out during these last years.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those who made possible the first

and the second edition of this work and to all those who have collaborated in the

bicentennial edition. All are Claretian Missionaries, whose names are the following: Jos

Luis Albistur, Jordi Alsina, Augusto Andrs Ortega, Eleuterio Briongos, Jos Mara Ciller,

Juan Manuel Lozano, ngel del Molino, Isidro Muoz, Joan Sidera, Jaime Torras and

Francisco Vives.

This edition has been noticeably enriched with the numerous literal biblical citations or

allusions of the Autobiography. Tracking them were Fathers Rudolf Mainka and Manuel

Garde.

In the preparation of this new edition, the following have rendered valuable

collaboration: Fathers Joan Sidera, Manuel Casanovas and Aldo Luis Cooper, as well as

Brother Leopoldo Snchez Cardenas, Sister Mara de la Cruz Bermejo, JST.

This initiative is that of the (2003-2009) General Government: Frs. Josep Maria Abella,

Rosendo Urrabazo, Vicente Sanz, Domingo ngel Grilla, Marcelo Ensema, Gonzalo

Fernndez, Mathew Vattamattam and Jos Flix Valderrbano.

21

The revision of the text has been done by the members of the CESC-Vic team, under the

direction of Fr. Antonio Bellella and made up of by Frs. Jess Mara Palacios, Jesu Doss S.

and Anthony Ejikeme.

Finally, the printing of the Spanish Edition was undertaken by the team of the Editorial

Claretiana of Buenos Aires, under the direction of Fr. Gustavo Larrazbal and composed of

Fr. Ral Mehring, Mara Gabriela Spalla Fuentes, Mara Gabriela Tavelli, Agustina

Santarelli, Veronica Ferraro and Ramiro Pazo with the collaboration of Fr. Gustavo Alonso.

To all of them, we extend our most sincere gratitude with the hope that the effort we

have carried out contributes to a greater understanding of one of the most significant figures

in the Church of the 19th century.

J.M.V. and J. B.

22

ABBREVIATIONS (Latin Citations)

OL D TES T AM EN T

Chr ..

Dn..

Chronicles

Daniel

Dt.. Deuteronomy (Deut)

Eccl.. Ecclesiastes

Ex.. Exodus

Ez.. Ezekiel

Ezr Ezra

Gn Genesis

Hos

Is

Hosea

Isaiah

Jer Jeremiah

Job Job

Jon

Judg

Jonah

Judges

Lam Lamentations

Num Numbers

Prov Proverbs

Ps Psalms

Sam

Sir

Samuel

Sirach or Ecclesiasticus or Ecclesiasticus of Ben Sirach (Eccli)

Songs

Tob

Wis

Song of Songs

Tobias

Wisdom

Zep Zephania

1 Esd 1 Esdras

2 Esd 2 Esdras

1 Mc 1 Maccabees (Mac)

1 Sm 1 Samuel (1 Sam)

2 Sm 2 Samuel (2 Sam)

23

NE W TES T AM E N T

Acts.. Acts of the Apostles (Acta Apostolorum)

Col.. Colossians

Eph .. Ephesians

Gal.. Galatians

Heb Hebrews

Jas James (Iac)

Jn John

Lk Luke (Luc)

Mk Mark

Mt Matthew

Rev Revelation or Apocalyse (Ap)

Rom. Romans

1 Cor 1 Corinthians

2 Cor 2 Corinthians

1 Jn 1 John

2 Jn 2 John

1 Pt 1 Peter

1 Thes 1 Thessalonians

2 Thes 2 Thessalonians

1 Tim 1 Timothy

2 Tim 2 Timothy

OTH E R IM P O R T AN T AB B RE VI AT I ON S

AAS.... Acta Apostolica Sedis

ACV.. Arxiu Claret Vic (mimeographed magazine)

AHN.. Archivo Histrico Nacional (Madrid)

AP.. Arxiu Pairal Vic [Family Archive]

APT Apostolic Process of Tarragona

APV Apostolic Process of Vic

Arch. Post. CMF Archives of the Postulation CMF Roma

Art. Article

Autob. Autobiography of St. Anthony Mary Claret

Autob. Doc. Autobiographical Documents of St. Anthony Mary Claret

BAC Biblioteca de Autores Cristianos

24

BPC Bolletin of the CMF Province of Catalonia

CESC Vic

Cf.

Center for Claretian Spirituality in Vic, archives, library and museum

Con fer, see.

CL

Claret-Nunc

Claretian Bulletin published in Rome.

CMF Cordis Mariae Filius (Son of the Heart of Mary, Claretian Missionary)

CpR Commentarium pro Religiosis (magazine of the Claretian Missionaries,

Rome)

DHEE Diccionario de la Historia Eclesistica de Espaa

DIP Dizionario degli Istituti di Perfezione (Rome)

EC Epistolario de San Antonio Mara Claret, prepared and annotated by

Jos Maria Gil (Madrid 1970) vol. I and II; Madrid 1987, vol. III.

Ed. Edition

Ex libris Personal library of St. Anthony Mary Claret

Fr.

HC

Father

Ritzler-Sefrin, Hierarchia Catholica Medii et Recentioris Aevi.

GA CMF General Archives of the Claretian Missionaries (Roma)

HD Fernndez, Cristbal, El Beato Padre Antonio Mara Claret. Historia

Documentada de su vida y empresas (Madrid 1946) vol. I and II.

Hist.Arch.CMF

IC

Historical Archives of the Congregation of Missionaries Sons of the

Immaculate Heart of Mary, J. Postius, ed. Vol. I (Madrid 1915) 432 pp.

Ilustracin del Clero (magazine of the Claretian Missionaries, Madrid)

IP Iris de Paz (magazine of the Claretian Missionaries, Madrid)

IPB Informative Process of Barcelona

IPL Informative Process of Lrida

IPM Informative Process of Madrid

IPT Informative Process of Tarragona

IPV Informative Process of Vic

J.M.J. Jesus, Mary and Joseph

LR Librera Religiosa

Mss. Claret Manuscripts handwritten by St. Anthony Mary Claret

n. (nn.)

NUNC

op.cit. (o.c.)

Number(s)

Nuntii de Universa Nostra Congregatione, CMF Congregation bulletin

published in Rome

opere citato, in the work cited

Pal. Lat. Palaestra Latina (Claretian magazine, in Latin)

PL Patrologia Latina

PUG Pontifical Gregorian University

25

RC Revista Catlica

RMI Religious of Mary Immaculate Claretian Missionary Sisters

SC Studia Claretiana

Ses(s)

SL

Session(s)

Selected Letters from the Correspondence of St. Anthony M. Claret,

Vol. I, 1832-1857, Trans. by J. Daries, (Bangalore, 2007)

VL Virtud y Letras, magazine of the Claretians of Colombia

WORKS II, III

v.g.

Works of St. Anthony Mary Claret, vol. II Autobiographical Writings

(1995) and vol. III, Selected Spiritual Writings (1991).

Verbi gratia (=for example)

IMPORTANT REMARKS

So that the reading, study and meditation of the Autobiography answers the needs of the

reader and helps to guide him throughout, some prior notes are offered here to keep in mind.

1st. As opposed to the previous editions of the Autobiography, that may have been

lacking, this is presented not as a critical edition, but rather as an one that is fully faithful to

the original text. For this reason, another patient and tedious task has been carried out in

collating the Saints original manuscripts.

2nd. The integral text of the work is offered, with the exception of some chapters for

reasons that are indicated in their corresponding location.

3rd. The only corrections that have been made had to do with mistakes in spelling very

frequent in that time, even among people with a high level of education and in

punctuation, also somewhat careless in that time.

4th. At times, to complete or clarify incorrect phrases, we put some words or literal

meanings in brackets. The words or phrases added subsequently in the margins by the Saint

or by some of his closest friends (we believe by Fr. James Clotet or Don Carmelo Sala) are

placed between parentheses.

5th. The footnotes have been thoroughly revised, completed, and updated. They help us to

accurately represent the historic facts and significant figures cited throughout the narration,

and allow us to highlight the apostolic personality and as well as the intense life of Saint

Anthony Mary Claret in his untiring work throughout more than over thirty years of

apostolate. For the English edition, references to the English translations of cited works are

added whenever possible.

6th. In order to draw as near as possible to the biblical texts used by the Saint, the Spanish

26

versions of the texts that we provide in the notes are taken, for the Old Testament, from

SCO DE SAN MIGUEL, FELIPE, La Santa Biblia, traducida al espaol de la Vulgata latina

(Librera Religiosa, Barcelona 1852-1853), 4 volumes; and, for the New Testament, from

TORRES AMAT, FLIX, La Sagrada Biblia nuevamente traducida de la Vulgata latina al

espaol (Madrid 1832) volume V, 2nd. Edition; except for the Gospel of Saint Matthew,

which is quoted from to Clarets version, El santo evangelio segn San Mateo (Librera

Religiosa, Barcelona 1856) 230 pp. For the English edition, we have placed in the notes the

excellent translation of the Latin texts done by Fr. Daries and where necessary have used the

Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition1 for scripture quotes.

7th. In the General Bibliography (Clarets own works), the first edition of each work is

indicated, and successively, where applicable, the last edition of the same published during

the life of the Saint. In addition to a translation of the title, when available, the bibliographic

reference for the English edition of the work is added.

8th. When a work is cited and its author is not specified (and the word Anonymous or

CMF is not placed there), it is understood that the authorship belongs to Claret.

9th. The illustrations, photographs, etc., that appear in this work, are given to help to

visualize the person of St. Anthony Mary Claret as well as the geographic and historical

surroundings in which is lived out his life and mission.

1 (San Francisco: St. Ignatius Press, 2006).

27

PRELIMINARIES _____________________

28

CHRONOLOGICAL SYNTHESIS OF

CLARETS LIFE AND WORKS

The following chronological synthesis offers an overall vision of the life and works of St.

Anthony Mary Claret, together with the most important events in Spain and in the world.

From this point of view it will be easier to frame the autobiographic works that later were

acquiring significant relevance. In drafting it we have omitted almost completely all

interpretative judgment, limiting ourselves to consigning year-by- year, and, when it has

been possible, day-by-day, the raw events that make-up the life of the saint.

This synthesis is based, summarizing and at times correcting, that which Fr. ngel del

Molino wrote for the first edition of this work. For the English edition, some changes and

additions were made especially of those world events of particular relevance to Africa and

Asia.

Although critically based, it does not have the finality of a rigorous review. Because of

this, we do not cite the sources that endorse it. We only note here the principle studies that

scientifically lay the foundations for each one of the outstanding events.

BERTRANS, PERE. Petjades apostliques del Beat P. Antoni Maria Claret en el Bisbat de

Solsona (Barcelona 1934) 52 pp.

CLARET, ANTHONY MARY. AUTOBIOGRAPHY (published in this work).

FERNNDEZ, CRISTBAL. El Beato P. Antonio Mara Claret. Historia documentada de su

vida y empresas. (Madrid 1946) 2 vols. 1,065 and 930 pp.

_______. El confesor de Isabel II y sus actividades en Madrid (Madrid 1964) 518 pp.

FORT I COGUL, EUFEMI. El Beato Claret y el arzobispado de Tarragona (Tarragona 1949)

198 pp.

_______. Itinerari de Sant Antoni Maria Claret per Catalunya (Barcelona 1970) 62 pp.

GASOL, JOSEP MARA. Sant Antoni M. Claret i la ciutat de Manresa (Manresa 1970) 64 pp.

GIL, VICENTE. Itinerario Claretiano (Pocr 1987) 276 pp. mimeograph copy.

GUTIRREZ, FEDERICO, San Antonio Mara Claret, apstol de Canarias (Madrid 1969) 586

pp.

HUSU, FRANCESCO. Sant'Antonio Maria Claret (Roma 1950) 780 pp.

SANZ, VICENTE. Huellas de Claret (Madrid 1997) 3 ed., 170 pp. Translated by Jess

Vasquez under the title Traces of Claret (Quezon City, Philippines: Claretians

Publications, 2001).

SERRA FIT, JUAN. Dietari del Venerable Servent de Du P. Antoni Maria Claret i Clar

(Barcelona 1931) 76 pp.

29

YEAR SPAIN CLARET WORLD

1801 War with Portugal Unification of Great Britain and

Ireland.

1802

Creation of the House of Charity of

Barcelona.

Prohibition of the importation of

cotton fabric.

Peace of Amiens marked the end of

the French Revolutionary War

1803

First mechanical spinning jenny

using hydraulic energy in Rec

Comtal.

Beethoven composes the Third

Symphony (Heroic), inspired by

Napoleon.

1804

Definitive suspension of colonial

commerce.

War with Great Britain

Proclamation of the Empire of

Napoleon. Napoleon, emperor.

Promulgation of the Napoleonic

Civil Code. Haiti declares

independence from France.

1805 Battle of Trafalgar (British victory) Battle of Austerlitz (defeat of

Austria)

1806

Beginning of the continental

blockade (until 1870). Discourses

to the German Nation by Fichte.

1807

Treaty of Fontainebleau.

Napoleon orders the occupation of

Spain.

The musician Hilarin Eslava is

born.

On December 23, Claret is born in

Sallent (Barcelona). On December

25, he received the Sacrament of

Baptism

Peace of Tilsit between Russia and

France. Abolition of slave trade in

the British Empire. Fultons steam

ship.

R. Morrison, first protestant

missionary in China. Translated

Bible into Chinese.

1808

French occupation. Revolt of

Aranjuez

Fall of Godoy.

Abdications of Bayona.

Joseph I (Bonaparte), King of Spain

Constitution of Bayona.

War of independence begins

against the invasion of Napoleon.

Local Councils and Supreme

Council.

Battle of Bailn.

Beginning of the separatists

movements of the American

colonies.

The delicate health of his mother

obliged her to seek-out a wet nurse.

Napoleon's France invades Spain

and Portugal

Great Britain and the United States

abolish the slave trade in Africa.

Birth of Napoleon III, future

emperor of France

1809

Anti-French conspiracy in

Barcelona.

Siege and occupation of Gerona

and Zaragoza.

First efforts towards independence

in Bolivia. Austria revolts against

Napoleon. Death of musician

Joseph Haydn. British enact

Hottentots Code in African

colonies.

1810

Joseph I (Bonaparte) occupies

Andalusia

Beginning of the Court of Cdiz.

The Supreme Court of Catalonia

demands the restitution of the code

of law.

Governing bodies in America.

Establishment of provisional Juntas

in Caracas (Venezuela) and in the

provinces of Rio de la Plata

(Argentina/Uruguay). Insurrection

of Miguel Hidalgo in Dolores

(Mexico). Simon Bolivar in

Venezuela begins an independence

war against Napoleonic Spain.

30

YEAR SPAIN CLARET WORLD

1811

Abolition of seigniorial rights by

the courts.

Sacking of Montserrat.

On a trip to the country, while the

relatives were collecting firewood,

Anthony is caught-up in a fire. He

succeeds in putting it out and

remains unscathed.

Independence of Venezuela and

Paraguay. First Luddite worker

revolts in the United Kingdom.

1812

Constitution of Cdiz, first Spanish

constitution, of a unifying and

liberal nature.

Battle of Arapiles (near

Salamanca).

Annexation in fact of Catalonia to

the French Empire.

Sleeps little. Thinks about the

wretched eternity of sinners.

Always, always. A very pious

childhood.

Napoleon invades Russia. Franco-

Russian war: war of Russian

Liberation. The USA declares war

against Great Britain. Great Britain

limits working day for children to

12 hours.

Jos de San Martn leads the

insurrection in Argentina

1813

Battles of Victoria and San Marcial.

Treaty of Valenay.

Joseph I abandons Spain.

Abolition of the Inquisition.

Attends the school of Don Antonio

Pascual. Learns the catechism by

memory. Leads the recitation of the

rosary in church and in his fathers

shop.

War of German liberation. Birth of

philosopher Kierkegaard and

musician Giuseppe Verdi.

1814

Armistice and evacuation of the

French troops.

Return of Fernando VII, who reins

till 1833.

Manifesto de los Persas and the

return of absolutism.

Coup dtat by absolutist. Period of

absolutistic restoration.

Reestablishment of the Inquisition.

Receives Confirmation in Sallent,

at the hands of the titular

Archbishop of Palmira, Don Flix

Amat de Palou y Pont.

End of Napoleonic empire.

Napoleon confined to the isle of

Elba. Stephenson invents the steam

engine. On December 24 in Ghent,

Belgium, USA and England sign a

perpetual peace agreement. Birth

of Russian anarchist Mijail

Bakunin.

1815

Spanish offensive in America, in an

effort to recapture the colonies.

Reestablishment of the guilds.

Return of Napoleon. Battle of

Waterloo and exile of Napoleon. -

Congress of Vienna, in which Pope

Pius VII gives back almost all the

papal territories. Holy Alliance.

On April 10, the 13,000 foot Mount

Tambora on Sumbawa Island,

Indonesia erupts killing 50,000

islanders and shrouding the planet

in debris.

Birth of St. John Bosco on August

16.

1816

Reestablishment of Spanish power

in Venezuela and New Granada.

Congress of Tucuman and the

Independence of Argentina on July

9.

Shaka Zulu becomes chief of the

Zulu in Africa.

1817

Treaty with Great Britain. Victory

of San Martn in Chacabuco

(Spanish defeated in Chile). Slavery

abolished.

F. Cros creates in Barcelona a

chemical products industry.

Receives First Communion. Great

love for Jesus in the Blessed

Sacrament. A tender devotion to

the Virgin. He makes frequent

visits to the Sanctuary of the Virgin

of Fusimanya with his sister Rose.

1818

Defeat of Spanish troops in the

battle of Maip, Chile.

On February 12, Chile attains

independence from Spain. Birth of

Karl Marx on May 5.

31

YEAR SPAIN CLARET WORLD

1819

The United States buys Florida.

Queen Maria Luisa dies.

He begins to study Latin with Don

Juan Riera. His father makes him

an apprentice in the family

business.

Simon Bolivar obtains the

independence of Colombia. In

England children less than 10 years

of age are prohibited from working.

1820

Reigo military uprising in Cdiz.

Liberal Triennium (till 1823).

Return to the Constitution of 1812.

Foundation of the Commission of

Factories (Barcelona).

First wave of liberal revolutions in

Europe. Liberal revolution in

Portugal and Naples. Belgrano

creates the flag of Argentina.

1821

First worker actions against

machines in Alcoy, Alicante

(destruction of textile mills).

San Martin enters Peru.

Independence of Peru, Venezuela

and the formation of the Great

Columbia. Independence of

Mexico. Iturbide proclaims himself

the emperor of Mexico. Greek

revolution.

1822

Creation of National Militia. Failed

monarchical coup dtat. Sucre

defeats the Spanish in Pichincha,

Ecuador.

First action of workers against the

machines of Camprodn

(Catalonia).

Congress of Verona. Independence

of Ecuador. Brazil becomes

independent. Birth of Louis

Pasteur.

1823

Intervention of the Hundred

Thousand Sons of St. Louis of

France. End of Liberal Triennium.

Return of the absolutist (till 1833)

(Ominous Decade). The French

army occupies Barcelona (till

1827).

Absolutist reaction in Portugal.

Monroe Doctrine in the USA.

Guatemala, Costa Rica, El

Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras

organize themselves into the United

Provinces of Central America.

Death of Jenner, inventor of the

small pox vaccine.

1824

Proclamation in Mexico of the

federal republic, after the

dethronement of the emperor.

Union legislation in Great Britain.

Appearance of the first unions

(Trade Unions). Histoire de la

Revolution Franaise, by Michelet.

1825

Battle of Ayacucho (Peru). End of

the Spanish domination in America

(only Cuba, Puerto Rico and

Philippines remain as colonies).

Travels to Barcelona to perfect

himself in the textile arts. In La

Lonja he studies drawing, grammar

and French.

Independence of Alto Peru

(Bolivia). Independence of almost

all of Spanish and Portuguese

America. G. Stephenson builds the

world's first public railways.

1826

Publication of the Manifesto de los

Realistas puros. Beginning of the

policy of tariff protectionism:

protective tariffs.

Congress of Panama. Failure of the

Bolivar project to create a United

South America. First railway in the

United Kingdom.

1827

War of the Malcontents. Fernando

VII visits Catalonia.

Is freed from the temptations of a

bad woman by invoking the Virgin.

Is cheated by an unfaithful friend.

First photograph of N. Niepce.

1828

A house collapses in Sallent during

a dance. 28 people die. Anthony

had been there just before it

happened. He is saved from

drowning at the beach of the

Uruguay declares independence.

Birth of Jules Vern on February 8.

Hottentot Code abolished in Africa.

32

YEAR SPAIN CLARET WORLD

Barceloneta of Barcelona. Crisis

evoked by the question Quid

Prodest.

1829

Trade Laws. He is admitted to the seminary in

Vic. He lives in the house of Don

Fortin Bres. He makes a general

confession.

Pius VIII is elected Pope.

Louis Braille creates a system of

reading for the blind.

1830

Publication of the Pragmatic

Sanction (allowing a female heir to

the throne). Birth of Isabel II.

He decides to enter the Carthusians

of Montealegre (Barcelona); but, a

furious storm makes him change his

mind.

Second wave of liberal revolution

in Europe. Revolutions in France,

Belgium and Poland. Independence

of Greece and of Belgium. French

occupation of Algeria. First

passenger railway (Liverpool-

Manchester). Creation of the

National Association for the

Protection of Labor in Great

Britain. Showing of the dramatic

work Hernani, a play by Victor

Hugo.

Beginning of the publication of the

Course in Positive Philosophy by

A. Comte.

Gregory XVI is elected Pope.

Death of Simon Bolivar.

Period of 1831-1840

Year SPAIN CLARET WORLD

1831

During his second year of

Philosophy he suffers a great

temptation against chastity. The

apostolic vocation is awakened in

him while reading the Bible and the

lives of the Saints. He joins various

confraternities in Vic. He strikes-

up a friendship with Jaime Balmes.

The German philosopher Hegel

dies. Faraday discovers

electromagnetic induction.

Notre-Dame de Paris, by Victor

Hugo.

1832

Foundation in Barcelona of the

Bonaplata factory (first steam

factory in Spain). Prohibition of

importation of foreign cotton. First

blast furnace in Marbella.

Receives tonsure at the hands of the

Bishop of Vic, Don Pablo de Jess

Corcuera, and takes possession of

the benefice of Santa Mara de

Sallent. Finishes the third year of

Philosophy. Stands out in science

and mathematics. Begins Theology.

British abolish slavery in West

Indies

S. Morse invents the electric

telegraph.

1833

Death of King Fernando VII.

Regency of Mara Cristina (till

1840). Start of the First Carlist

War, confronting liberals and

absolutists.

Division of Spain into provinces.

Cholera epidemic.

First great wave of Catalan

industry. Beginning of the

Renaixena catalana.

Receives minor orders at the

Church of St. Philip Neri in Vic.

Abolition of slavery in the United

Kingdom.

33

YEAR SPAIN CLARET WORLD

1834

Royal Statute

Freedom of industry.

Definitive suppression of the

guilds.

On May 24, he receives the

subdiaconate at the same ordination

in which Jaime Balmes is ordained

Deacon. On December 20, Claret is

ordained Deacon at the Church of

the Presentation in Vic

Quadruple Alliance. End of

Absolutism in Portugal. The

Zollverein or German Customs

Union formed among the majority

of the German Confederation states.

1835

Progressive uprisings in the cities.

lvarez Mendizbal, head of

government. Dissolution of

religious orders (exclaustration).

Popular uprising in Barcelona

(burning of convents).

On June 13, in the episcopal

palace, the Bishop of Solsona, Fray

Juan Jos de Tejada, Mercedarian,

ordains Claret to the Priesthood.

On the June 21, in Sallent, he

celebrates his first Mass. He is

named paroquial vicar and then

administrator of St. Marys Church

in Sallent.

Birth of USA writer Mark Twain.

1836

La Granja revolt. Laws related to

the sale of Church lands and

severance of ties (until 1837).

Mendizbal begins sale of Church

goods. Establishment of the

business Nueva Vulcano in

Barceloneta. First steam ship.

Lives a life full of ministerial

activity. He lived in the rectory

with his sister Mary in Sallent.

J. Ericsson patents boat propeller.

Texas declares its independence

from Mexico.

1837

Progressive constitution. The

Carlists reach the gates of Madrid.

Moderates come to power.

Definitive abolition of seigniorial

rights and the tithe.

Beginning of the reign of Queen

Victoria I in the United Kingdom

(until 1901).

1838

Foundation of the most important

textile businesses in Catalonia

(until 1847).

People's Charter presented to the

British House of Commons.

United Provinces of Central

Americas dissolved.

1839

Vergara Treaty. Beginning of a new

progressive period (until 1843).

In September, he travels to Rome to

offer himself to the Propaganda

Fide. On October 2, he travels by

boat from Marseilles to

Civitavecchia. On October 6, he

arrives in Rome. In November, he

enters the novitiate of the Society

of Jesus.

L. A. Blanqui, French political

activist, calls utopian the

contemporary social thinkers.

1840

End of the Carlist war in Catalonia.

Law of Municipal Governments.

Constitution in Barcelona of the

Association of Weavers (first

worker association).

Espartero Government.

Exile of Queen Maria Cristina.

Creation of the first society of

workers.

The Father General of the Jesuits

advises him to return to Spain. On

May 13, he is named regent of

Viladrau. On August 15, he asked

to be freed from his responsibilities

to dedicate himself more freely to

giving popular missions.

Explorations of D. Livingston in

Equatorial Africa (until 1873).

England produces the first postal

stamp.

Period of 1841-1850

1841

Regency of Espartero.

Abolition of the Basque privileges.

Beginning of the demolition of the

Barcelona citadel.

Economic free-trade measures.

Movements for the free association

On January 23, he moves to Vic to

dedicate himself completely to

preaching. On July 9, he receives

from Rome the title of Apostolic

Missionary.

.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Confederationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France

34

YEAR SPAIN CLARET WORLD

and organization of workers.

Birth of federal republicanism with

Abdn Terradas.

1842

Uprising of Barcelona against

Espartero and the bombing of the

city.

Abdn Terradas proclaims the

Republic in Figueras.

Foundation of the Catalan society

for gas lighting.

Adverse political circumstances

prevent him from preaching. In

June, he is named vicar of San Juan

de Ol.

France begins the conquest of

Algeria.

Treaty of Nanking, ending first

opium war in China.

1843

Anti-Espartero uprising.

Isabel II is declared to be an adult,

rules (till 1868).

The political situation eases. On

March 1, he begins his intensive

missionary activity in Catalonia.

Publishes The Straight Path.

March 21, date of the end of the

world, erroneously set by American

preacher William Miller.

1844

Beginning of the Moderate Decade

(till 1854).

Creation of the Civil Guard.

Creation of the Bank of Isabel II.

Prohibition of workers societies.

Preaches the month of May in

Santa Mara del Mar, in Barcelona.

A great crowd is moved to hear

him. His missionary campaign

continues with great conversions.

The Dominican Republic gains

independence from Haiti. Birth of

Friedrich Nietzsche. Treaty of

Wanghia establishing diplomatic

relations between the US and

China.

1845

Moderate Constitution.

Reform of state finances.

Publication of El Criterio by J.

Balmes

Missionary activity continues. He

establishes in Matar the The

Spiritual Society of Mary Most

Holy against Blasphemy.

Annexation of the Texas territory

into the United States.

1846

Second Carlist war: war of the

Martiners (till 1849): carlist and

federal republicans against liberal

unionists.

In Tarragona gets to know Don

Jos Caixal. With him he

establishes the Brotherhood of

Good Books. In May he preaches

the famous mission in Lrida. In

this mission the people begin to

calling him Father Claret.

Campaign of defamation begins.

The planet Uranus is discovered.

MexicanAmerican War,

annexation of California to the US.

Pius IX is elected Pope. His

pontificate lasts until 1878.

Polish author, Henryk Sienkiewicz,

is born, winner of the Nobel prize

for literature 1905.

1847

Fusion of the Bank of San

Fernando with that of Isabel II.

Assembly of factories of Catalonia.

He founds the Librera Religiosa

with Don Jos Caixal and Don

Antonio Palau. In March, he retires

to Vic. In August, he founds in Vic

the Archconfraternity of the Heart

of Mary.

Independence of Liberia.

1848

Dictatorship of Narvez.

Republican and progressive

political parties.

The first railroad in Spain between

Barcelona and Matar.

On March 6, he embarks for the

Canary Islands from Cdiz. On

March 11, he arrives in Santa Cruz

de Tenerife and on the 14th he

arrives in a Las Palmas and

preaches missions throughout the

Grand Canary Island. He becomes

known as El Padrito.

Third wave of liberal European

revolutions. Parliament of

Frankfort. Italian war of

Independence. California gold rush.

Communist Manifesto of K. Marx

and F. Engels. Declaration of

Seneca Falls. USA-Mexico war

ends, the USA acquires almost half

of Mexico's territory (New Mexico,

Nevada, Arizona, Utah and

California)

1849

End of the War of the Martiners. On July 16, in a cell at the seminary

in Vic, he establishes the

Congregation. On August 11, he

receives his nomination as

Archbishop of Santiago, Cuba and

on October 4, he accepts the

Independence of Hungary.

35

YEAR SPAIN CLARET WORLD

nomination.

1850

He is dedicated to missionary

preaching while awaiting his

episcopal consecration, which takes

place in Vic on October 6. He is

ordained by the bishop, Luciano

Casadevall. On December 28 he

embarks in Barcelona for Cuba.

Growth of suffrage movement

(until 1900).

Death of General Jos de San

Martn, Liberator of Argentina,

Chile and Per,

and of Jos Gervasio Artigas, hero

of the independence of Uruguay.

Period of 1851-1860

1851

Concordat with the Holy See.

Madrid-Aranjuez Railroad.

On February 16, he arrives at

Santiago, Cuba. On March 3, he

visits the shrine of Our Lady of

Charity of El Cobre. On April 2, he

begins the diocesan pastoral

visitation.

Napoleon III staged a coup d'tat

and seized dictatorial powers of

France. First World Exposition in

London. First performance of

Rigoletto by G. Verdi

1852

Foundation in Cuba of the A. Lopez

and Company shipping company.

In October there is a great cholera

epidemic. Almost 3,000 victims in

three months. Claret visits

hospitals, confesses, counsels,

distributes alms.

1853 Claret continues untiringly his

pastoral activity in Cuba.

Crimean War (until 1856).

1854

Uprising of progressives in

Barcelona.

Barcelona-Granollers Railroad.

Military uprising in Viclvaro.

Popular revolt in Barcelona (July).

Manifest of the Manzanares.

Fall of the moderates.

Beginning of the Biennial of the

Progressives (till 1856).

Economic expansion.

Reorganization of worker

movement (till 1856).

On February 15, he establishes

savings banks.

Pope Pius IX proclaims the dogma

of the Immaculate Conception of

the Virgin Mary.

Births of playwright Oscar Wilde.

Death of philosopher Fichte.

1855

Law of Civil Desamortization of

Pascual Madoz.

Bank laws. Railroad laws. Blast

furnace in Vizcaya. First national

telegraph network in Spain. First

general strike in Catalonia.

On January 8, he begins the

Agricultural Farm of Puerto

Prncipe.

On July 12, he finishes a letter

about the Immaculate Conception.

On August 25, he issues the decree

of the foundation of the Claretian

Missionary Sisters.

Bessemer converter for making

steel. Foundation of the Young

Mens Christian Association

(YMCA). Alexander II named czar

of Russia.

1856

Fall of Espartero.

Beginning of a new era of a

moderate government (until

1868).The Bank of San Fernando

becomes the Bank of Spain. Bank

laws. Worker organizations return

On February 1, he suffers an

attempted assassination in Holgun.

On the 23rd he writes to the Pope

putting his miter at his disposition.

Pius IX suggests that he continue in

the archdiocese.

Birth of Sigmund Freud.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_coup_of_1851

36

YEAR SPAIN CLARET WORLD

to clandestine existence.

1857

First modern census of the

population: 15 million inhabitants.

Revolts caused by the subsistence

crisis.

Moyan law regulates education.

First Fontaine turbine to use the

energy of water.

On March 18, he receives a letter

from Queen Isabel II asking him to

return to Madrid. On April 12, he

leaves the island of Cuba. On May

18, he enters the port of Cdiz,

Spain. On May 26, he arrives in

Madrid. Is interviewed by Queen

Isabel II, who has chosen him as

her Confessor. On June 5, the

official nomination arrives. In the

fall, he gives various spiritual

exercises in Madrid.

March 9, death of St. Dominic

Savio.

First India struggle for

independence repressed by the

British.

1858

First government of the Liberal

Union.

The Railroad Company of

Northern Spain is organized for

the construction of the Madrid-Irn

line.

In May, he travels with the Queen

to Levante; in July and August to

Castile, Len, Asturias y Galicia.

On September 19, the Queen names

him president of the royal

monastery the Escorial. On

November 1, he establishes the

Academy of St. Michael.

Birth of Theodore Roosevelt.

India comes under direct rule of the

British crown.

Birth of G. Puccini.

1859

War against Morocco for having

destroyed their fortifications in

Ceuta.

Mining Law. Approval of the Cerd

Plan for the extension of Barcelona.

First immersion of the submarine

Ictineo.

In May, he travels with the King

and Queen to Catalonia and

Valencia. On May 28, he presides

at the First General Chapter of the

Congregation. On July 11, he

moves with the King and Queen to

their summer residence in La

Granja (Segovia).

Austria-Italian war. First oil well in

Pennsylvania, USA. Publication of

Origin of Species, by C.R.Darwin.

On April 25, Suez Canal

construction begins. Civil war

between the Buenos Aires and the

federal government.

1860

Peace treaty signed between Spain

and Morocco.

Birth of musician Isaac Albniz.

Failure of the Carlist military

uprising at San Carlos de la Rpita.

In June, he finishes The Well-

instructed collegian or Seminarian.

On July 13, he is recommended to

be Archbishop of Trajanpolis. In

September, he travels with the King

and Queen to the islands of

Baleares, Catalonia and Aragn.

Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of

the USA. J.H.Speke and J.A. Grant

discover the source of the Nile.

Death of German philosopher,

Arthur Schopenhauer. Peking

convention ending second opium

war in China.

Period of 1861-1870

1861

Expedition to Mexico.

Expansion of the railway network

(until 1867). Railroad from

Barcelona to Zaragoza passing

through Lrida.

Fifteen thousand Catalan workers

ask the Cortes freedom of

association.

Foundation in Barcelona of the

Cultural Association of the Worker

Class.

In July, he travels with the royal

family: Valladolid, Palencia and

Santander. On August 26, he

receives an important mystical

grace of the sacramental species in

the Church of the Rosary, in La

Granja.

Proclamation of the Kingdom of

Italy (Italian Unification). Vctor

Manuel II, King of United Italy.

Civil war (1861-64) in the United

States.

Abolition of servitude in Russia.

Production of soda (E. Solvay).

Birth of Rabindranath Tagore,

Indian Nobel prize writer.

37

YEAR SPAIN CLARET WORLD

1862

Notary Law. First Spanish sewing

machines.

Railroad from Barcelona to Gerona.

From January to May, he is

dedicated, by obedience, to write

the Autobiography, begun in the

final months of the previous year.

From July 7-14, he presides over

the second General Chapter of the

Congregation of Missionaries in

Gracia (Barcelona). In September-

October, he travels with the Queen

to Andaluca. Continuous activity.

Bismarck, chancellor of Prussia.

War in Mexico. Dungan revolt of

Muslim ethnic groups in China.

1863

England, France and Spain

designate Maximilian I emperor of

Mexico.

Established the Congregation of

Catholic Mothers.

Abolition of slavery in the United

States. Construction of the

metropolitan railway system in

London (6km). Foundation of the

Red Cross (in Switzerland).

1864

Railway from Madrid to Irn.

Birth of Miguel de Unamuno.

In July, he presides at the third

General Chapter of the

Congregation, in Gracia

(Barcelona). Throughout the year

he is slandered and persecuted by

the secular press.

Creation of the First International

(AIT-International Working Mens

Association) in London.

End of the war of Prussia and

Austria against Denmark (Peace of

Vienna).

France crowns the archduke

Maximilian of Austria emperor of

Mexico.

1865

Military uprising of General Prim.

Spain abandons Santo Domingo.

On July 15, Isabel II recognizes the

Kingdom of Italy. On July 20, he

leaves Madrid for Catalonia.

November 7 and 23, he is received

by Pius IX, who is informed about

Spain. On December 1, he arrives

in Barcelona and on the 22nd by

order of the papal Nuncio he

returns to Madrid to continue his

post as confessor to Queen Isabel

II.

G.J. Mendel publishes his work on

inheritance, first step of genetics

(laws about genetic inheritance).

End of the US Civil War. Abraham

Lincoln assassinated.

1866

San Gil barracks events.

Ostende Accord to expel the

Bourbon Monarchy.

Economic and financial crisis.

In August, he travels with the queen

to the Basque country. In December

he travels to Portugal. Preaches in

Ciudad Real, Mrida, Badajoz and

Lisbon.

War between Austria and Prussia.

Italy occupies Venice. First

successful transatlantic telegraph

cable between Europe and America.

A. Nobel invents dynamite.

1867

Railway between Barcelona and

Valencia via Tarragona.

Birth of musician Enrique

Granados.

On May 14, he travels to

Extremadura and in June to

Burgos. In October God reveals to

him about the amount time left in

his life: two years and ten

months.

British electoral reform.

Dual Monarchy Austria-Hungry.

Canada is declares independence

from the United Kingdom.

Karl Marx publishes the first

volume of his work Das Kapital.

USA buys Alaska from Russia.

1868

Military uprising of Admiral Juan

Bautista Topete in Cdiz.

September revolution that

suppresses the Bourbon Monarchy

(fall of Isabel II).

Beginning of the democratic period

of the Sexennium Revolution (until

1874).

Beginning of the first Cuban war

(the ten years war).

On May 31, he submits his

resignation as president of the

Escorial, which Isabel II accepts on

June 22. In August he travels with

the King and Queen to San

Sebastin. On September 30, the

Queen is exiled to France. Fr.

Claret accompanies her. He resides

in Pau (France). On November 6,

he arrives in Paris. Resides in the

End of the shogunate and triumph

of the Meiji revolution in Japan.

Discovery of prehistoric human

remains, Cro-Magnon man.

Patent of the typewriter (C.L.

Scholes).

Yangzhou riot-revolt against

missionary presence in China.

38

YEAR SPAIN CLARET WORLD

The peseta, new Spanish monetary

unit begun.

Freedom of association.

school of the Sisters of St. Joseph

of Bourg.

1869

New constitution, democratic,

monarchic based on national

sovereignty.

Serrano, regent, and Prim head of

government.

Establishment of an agency for the

Fomentation of National Production

Creation of nuclei of the

International (International

Working Mens Association) in

Spain.

Catalan federal republicans propose

a return to the Catalan-Aragon

confederation under a republican

state with a federal character.

Protectionist campaigns.

Establishment of the union: Las

Clases de Vapor.

In Paris he lives a poor and simple

life. March 30, he decides to

separate himself from the court.

Leaves Paris for Rome. On April 2,

he arrives in Rome. Is put up at the

rectory of the Mercedarians of San

Adrin, at the Roman Forum. On

April 24, Pius IX receives him. In

Rome he is dedicated to prayer,

study, writing, visiting hospitals,

preaching. The book Legoismo

vinto (Selfishness conquered) is

published in Italian. On December

8, he attends the opening of the

First Vatican Council.

Suez Canal inaugurated in Egypt.

On December 8 First Vatican

Council begins.

Mendeleievs Periodic Table of the

Elements.

First successful electric motor in

industry (Z. Gramme).

Birth of Mohandas Gandhi.

1870

Strong growth in organized worker

movements.

First Congress of Spanish Workers,

with the framework of the

International, in Barcelona (Worker

Congress of the Spanish Regional

Federation of the International

Workers Association). The thesis of

Mijail Bakunin is adopted.

Revolt against the obligation to

serve in the military.

Assassination of Juan Prim.

Queen Isabel abdicates from the

Spanish throne. Amadeo de

Saboya, King (parliamentary

monarchy) Death of Gustao Adolfo

Bcquer.

He continues his participation in

the Council. On May 31, he

delivers a moving address in

defense of infallibility. On July 23,

the Council is interrupted. He

arrives in Prades (France). On

August 6, he finds refuge in the

Cistercian monastery of Fontfroide,

near Narbonne, where he dies on

October 24, at 8:45 a.m. He was 62

years and 10 months. His funeral

was celebrated with simplicity on

October 27. His body was placed in

a tomb in the monastery cemetery.

On a simple memorial tablet were

engraved these words of St.

Gregory VII: I loved justice and

hated iniquity; for this I die in

exile.

Franco-Prussian War. Proclamation

of the III French Republic.

Italy occupies Rome.

Disappearance of the Papal States.

Principles of Psychology by H.

Spencer.

Death of C. Dickens. Tianjin

Massacre, attack on Catholic

institutions in China.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_motor

39

GENERAL

INTRODUCTION

_________________

40

THE APOSTOLIC MISSION

OF SAINT ANTHONY MARY CLARET

I. An extraordinary mission

As the 19th century acquires historic perspective, the figure of Saint Anthony Mary Claret

is also finding its proper place. Clarets personality, made of contrasts, created an even more

contrasting circumstance: slandered and celebrated in his time, discussed and praised in the

beatification process with the obstructions of the devils advocate and the arguments of the

defense lawyers. These contrasts of light and shadow have helped little to reach an objective

vision of his mission and his real influence in the Church. Nevertheless, when it came to the

moment of truth, on the occasion of his beatification and the canonization, what the Supreme

Pontiffs Pius XI and Pius XII, said respectively, and which could have sounded like

extravagant praise due to the circumstances, is now repeated by historians from the viewpoint

of rigorous scientific objectivity.

Pius XI said that, among the providential men that God sends to His Church in

extraordinary circumstances, among the greatest men of the 19th century arose Anthony

Mary Claret.1 Pius XII proclaimed that Claret had served the Church up to the end of his life

more than anyone.2 Now, the historians express that Father Claret centers the Spanish 19th

century with his saintly and apostolic life.3 There is none more distinguished than Saint

Anthony Mary Claret among those who were dedicated to the rough task of improving the

customs and religiously instructing the people.4 The movement of evangelization to re-

catholicize the Spanish society is linked to Father Claret, apostle of Spain.5

Father Claret, at first sight called to be a popular missionary, had an extraordinary mission

in the Church because of his extraordinary gifts of the Spirit and because of his multiform

and submissive action in the same Spirit. From his self-identity as a missionaryconsecrated

and configured with Christ, the evangelizerhe had a prophetic vision of the world, of the

Church and of the urgent needs of his time. As a missionary, he endeavored to give an

appropriate response using the most effective methods and he stirred-up this same vision and

this same response in others: secular, religious and priests, inspired by this same apostolic

spirit.

II. Claret, apostolic missionary

1 PIUS XI, Apostolic Letters Magnus vocabitur, February 25, 1934: AAS 26 (1934) 174. 2 PIUS XII, Litterae decretales: Beato Antonio Mariae Claret, confessori Pontifici Sanctorum honores

decernuntur: Quos Spiritus Sanctus, May 7, 1950: AAS 44 (1952) 351. 3 JIMNEZ DUQUE, BALDOMERO, Espiritualidad y apostolado, en: BAC, Historia de la Iglesia en Espaa. V: La

Iglesia en la Espaa contempornea (1808-1975) (Madrid 1979) p. 468. 4 MONTALBN, FRANCISCO JAVIER, Historia de la Iglesia catlica, V: BAC (Madrid 1953) p. 607. 5 CARR, RAYMOND, Espaa. 1808-1939 (Barcelona 1970) p. 280. (cf. R. Carr, Spain, 1808-1975, USA,

Oxford Univerity Press; 2nd edition, 1982.)

41

In the first biography of Anthony Mary Claret, written a year after his death, Fr. Francisco

de Asis Aguilar, well-informed about the Saint as a friend and collaborator, gave him his first

title on the books cover and with highlighted typography, that of the apostolic missionary,

leaving in second place, and in smaller type, that of Archbishop of Santiago of Cuba and

Trajanpolis.6 This fact is very significant, because apostolic missionary describes the most

authentic and profound personality of Anthony Mary Claret.

Apostolic missionary, in its original and legal sense, means a priest sent by the Apostolic

See to raise-up the Church where it is not established; it also means a priest recommended by

the Apostolic See as Ordinary of an established Church with the canonical mission of

animating or re-evangelizing it.7 Claret obtained the title of apostolic missionary ad honorem

in 1841; but for him it was not an honorific title, but a definition of his being, a recognition of

his charisma and a commitment with the Church.8

For Claret, to be an apostolic missionary means to be one who continues in the mission of

Jesus Christ, the Son sent by the Father, and of the Apostles, sent by Jesus Christ to the whole

world to make God known as Father and to raise-up his Kingdom through the announcement

of the Gospel. First, he was sent to the universal mission of the Church. Because of this, he

found the boundaries of a parish to be too narrow,9 likewise, those of a diocese, no matter

how vast it would have been, such as that of Santiago of Cuba,10 and also those of a country,

when exercising the role as confessor to Isabel II.11 Universal mission is in the widest

geographic sense: the salvation of all the inhabitants of the world,12 and in sense of classes:

hierarchy and faithful, saints and sinners, evangelized and evangelizers, rich and poor, wise

and ignorant, kings and vassals.

In second place, the evangelizing mission. The Word is the first means, so to speak, of

salvation. Among the elements of the apostolic ministry magisterium or prophecy,

sanctification and shepherding, Claret felt called to favor, by vocation and in an integrated

manner, the first: magisterium; but through evangelization and prophecy: the Word that

converts and transforms. Because of this, when it was in his hands, he renounced being a

parish priest and sacramental maintenance in favor of missionary, and for the same reasons,

itinerant evangelization.13

In third place, he chose evangelical witness, according to the lifestyle of Jesus and the

Twelve. Itinerancy brings with it poverty, and he felt the call to live it in a concrete manner,

following exactly the letter of the Gospel: he traveled on foot and with no supplies, and, to be

totally free to preach, he did not wish to be a burden, and did not accept money for the

ministry.14 In Cuba, where distances demanded a means of transportation, he adopted the

horse, but bought at a very low price and which he sold at the end of the missions so as not

to defraud the poor with its maintenance.15 At the beginning, he lived this radical life as a

6 AGUILAR, FRANCISCO DE ASS, Vida del Excmo. e Ilmo. Sr. D. Antonio Mara Claret, misionero apostlico

(Madrid 1871). 7 Urbaniana, Sylloge (Roma 1939) 13, III. 8 HD, I, pp. 271-397. 9 Annales CMF 35 (1939) 165. 10 Besides, I would thus be tying myself down to a single archdiocese, whereas my spirit goes out to all the

world. (letter to papal nuncio Brunelli, August 12, 1849: SL, 179). 11 Autob. n. 762. 12 Constituciones CMF, 1857, n. 2. 13 Autob. nn. 193, 460. 14 Autob. Doc. VII, 2. 15 Cf. Report of Marqus de la Pezuela to the Director General of Ultramar: Havana, February 7, 1854: AHN

Ultramar leg. 1662, n. 81. Photocopy: CESC-Vic: FC-H 3.

42

lonely pioneer. Afterwards, the Lord gave him the possibility of living in community, in the

likeness of the evangelizing community of Jesus and the disciples.16

This way of understanding the apostolic mission is not the fruit of study, but of an

experience of the Spirit and of a charismatic reading of the Gospel, of a personal identity with

Jesus Christ the evangelizer. It is the fruit of much soul-searching prayer, and likewise he was

only able to accomplish it by responding with much prayer and meekness to the Spirit.

As a missionary, he felt possessed by the Spirit, which had consecrated him to evangelize

the poor and heal those of a contrite heart.17 This possession was so full, that he felt like an

instrumentarrow, horn; from another came the strength and the drive, or the wind;18 at

times, up to the roar of thunder. The spirit was the charity of Christ, which stirred in him the

intimacy of the Father or pushed him in all directions in search of sinners who had gone

astray.19

He knew through the Gospel, inherent in the Spirit and through the life he lived, that

Christ the evangelizer is a sign of contradiction, and therefore, hardships, slanders, and

persecutions, are the badge of the apostle.20 Claret experienced this in slander, forged

writings, cartoons, songs, shows; in threats and intimidation, including a bloody attempt on

his life.21

A Chapter book of the Tarragona Cathedral has left us this suggestive portrait of the

apostolic missionary in his first years: Anthony Claret, apostolic missionary, accomplishes

his mission in the towns to where he is called and sent by the prelates. He is thirty-eight years

old, a truly apostolic man, of great zeal and fervor, tireless and extraordinary. He is always on

foot; does not accept money or gifts under any pretext. His work is imponderable, because

from four oclock in the morning up until the time he goes to bed, he hardly has time to pray

and take necessary food, always going from the confessional to the pulpit and from the pulpit

to the confessional.22

III. Missionary vision

An outstanding characteristic of Claret was his sensibility to understand the popular soul,

his capacity to enter into communion and share the feelings of the people, the fruit of his gifts

of human goodness and apostolic zeal.23 His evangelization did not spring from a laboratory

of self-sufficiency, which drives his methods and programs, but from that which comes

forward from a vision of reality. A vision that sprung from the eyes of the heart, ignited by

apostolic zeal.

When Father Claret showed himself to the people, the first thing he saw and felt was the

hatred between brothers, triggered by the question of succession to the throne, but which had

deeper roots. The consequences, in addition to death, fires and pilferage, were fear, sadness

and sorrows, and psychic diseases.24

16 Autob. nn. 488-491. 17 Autob. nn. 685 and 118. 18 Cf. Declaration of D. Carmelo Sala: IPT ses. 3, art. 58. 19 Autob. nn. 439-488. 20 Autob. n. 427. 21 Autob. nn. 573-584,798. 22 HD, I, p. 227. 23 MONTSONIS, S. DE, Un segle de vida catalana (Barcelona 1961) II, p. 786. 24 Autob. nn. 288, 291.

43

He saw, in spite of all this, that the people kept their faith, though dimly lit, due to a

general illiteracy and a lack of catechists and proper catechisms.25 These believing people

were sinners because the three concupiscences had been triggered by the same passionate

environment as the war.26 On the other hand, the ministers of pardon, influenced by a baroque

pastoral style and even by Jansenism, terrorized, but did not convert.27 There were also social

causes that had negative consequences upon popular piety, among them, industrialization,

with all its problems of urban concentration, of injustices, of recriminations. He himself, who

had experienced the enthusiasm of manufacturing as a specialist and the progress of being a

worker in a large factory in Barcelona, had also seen how it breaks from Christianity when it

serves greed, and, by the same token, is converted into oppression.28

Another conquest of technology steam locomotion was also going to have a strong

impact on society. The railroad made possible the transportation of the masses previously

anchored to their native soil with their customs and traditions as norms of life, but without

deep prin