Every year on October 24, Catholic parishes, educational missions, and religious communities worldwide celebrate the Feast of Saint Anthony Mary Claret. Recognized as the patron saint of weavers, Catholic publishers, and educators, Claret was one of the most energetic pastoral reformers and communicators of the 19th century, utilizing mass printing and agricultural reform to uplift impoverished working families.
Catalan Weaver Turned Tireless Preacher
Born in Sallent, Catalonia, in 1807 into a family of textile weavers, Claret became a master craftsman before being ordained a priest in 1835. Recognizing the immense potential of the printed press to educate ordinary people, he founded the Religious Publishing House in Barcelona, personally authoring over a hundred books and millions of pamphlets distributed free to rural laborers. In July 1849, he founded the Claretian Missionaries (Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) to evangelize through education and community works.
Social Justice and Reforms in Cuba
Appointed Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba in 1850, Claret transformed his diocese through daring social initiatives. He fought tirelessly against slavery and systemic racial exploitation, established technical schools for underprivileged youth, founded credit unions to protect small farmers from predatory lenders, and visited prisons and hospitals daily. Exiled to France following political upheavals in Spain, he died peacefully at the Cistercian Abbey of Fontfroide on October 24, 1870, leaving a legacy of service that spans five continents.
