Anthony Claret was born in 1807 near Barcelona Spain. After being ordained a priest he travelled many years through Catalonia preaching to the people. In 1849 he founded the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretians). He was appointed archbishop of Santiago Cuba. He worked hard to spread the Gospel and ensure better conditions for slaves. Such was the anti-clerical mood that no less than fifteen attempts were made on his life. In 1857 he returned to Spain and acted as confessor to Queen Isabella II. He died at Fontfroide in France in 1870. – CTS New Daily Roman Missal 2012, p 3086; Christian Prayer 1990, p 1261
