St. Anthony Mary Claret (1807-1870)

Born in Spain, Antonio Maria Claret y Clarà worked as a weaver in Barcelona while discerning his vocation. He thought about joining the Carthusians, but opted instead for the diocesan priesthood. He was ordained in 1835. Still feeling an attraction toward the rekligious life, he spent a short time with the Jesuits before returning to parish work. In 1849, he founded the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, better known as the Claretians, to evangelize and to worl with the poor. In 1850, he was consecrated Archbishop of Santiago, Cuba. In 1857, he was recalled to Spain as personal chaplain to Queen Isabella II. He continued to work with the poor and publish Catholic literature. After the Revolution of 1868 in Spain, which overthrew the Queen, he was forced to leave Spain and died in exile in France. He was canonized in 1950.