Saint Anthony Mary Claret
Bishop, Optional Memorial
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
Anthony was born on December 23, 1807, in Sallent, a small town near Barcelona. The life of Saint Anthony Mary Claret reminds us that God can take an ordinary human heart and set it on fire with extraordinary love. He was a missionary, a preacher, a publisher, an archbishop, a spiritual guide, and a defender of the poor. Yet beneath all these titles was something simple and beautiful: the heart of a shepherd who loved Christ deeply and could not remain indifferent to the needs of Christ’s flock.
In 1849, he founded the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Through this missionary family, his desire to spread the Gospel would continue far beyond the limits of his own strength and lifetime.
Opening Prayer
O God, who for the evangelisation of peoples
strengthened the Bishop Saint Anthony Mary Claret
with admirable charity and long-suffering,
grant, through his intercession,
that, seeking the things that are yours,
we may earnestly devote ourselves
to winning our brothers and sisters for Christ.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
First Reading
The Messenger of Peace
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who herald peace and happiness, who proclaim salvation and announce to Zion: “Your God is King!”
Together, your watchmen raise their voices in praise and song; they see the Lord face to face, returning to Zion.
Break into shouts of joy, O ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord consoles his people and redeems Jerusalem.
The Lord has bared his holy arm in the eyes of the nations; all the ends of the earth, in alarm, will witness God’s salvation.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (3) Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come after me, says the Lord,
and I will make you fishers of men.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
His Proclamation Begins
After John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee and began preaching the Good News of God.
He said:
“The time has come; the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel.”
He Calls His First Disciples
As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them:
“Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”
Immediately, they left their nets and followed him.
Jesus went a little farther on and saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee; they were in their boat mending their nets.
Immediately, Jesus called them, and they followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men.
Prayers of the Faithful
Prayer Over The Gifts
Lord, as we offer these gifts, we ask your Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with the same apostolic zeal that moved Anthony Claret to sacrifice himself for Christ and his people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
Preface
It is truly right and just our duty and our salvation
always and everywhere to give you thanks, L
ord Holy Father Almighty and Eternal God, through Christ our Lord.
You called St. Anthony Claret to unite with your Son,
and moved by love, to tirelessly continue
your work of salvation in the Church, as pastor and missionary;
you made him founder of new families who, guided by the Spirit,
follow and imitate Christ, your Son,
always seeking your greater glory and the salvation of all humankind.
And so, joyfully we join the whole company of saints
to sing our unending hymn of praise:
Prayer After Communion
Lord our God, may the sacrament we received
increase in us the faith which the Apostles preached
and St Anthony Mary Claret earnestly conserved.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
REFLECTION
After the 1868 Spanish revolution, he was forced into exile with the deposed queen. In Paris, he continued caring for the royal family, Spanish immigrants, and the poor. Exile did not end his mission. Even when his circumstances changed, his purpose remained the same: to make Christ known and loved.
In 1869, he travelled to Rome and took part in the First Vatican Council. By then, his health was failing. His final days were marked by weakness, displacement, and the threat of arrest. He eventually found refuge in the Cistercian monastery of Fontfroide in southern France. Surrounded by the affection of the monks and a few disciples, he died on October 24, 1870, at the age of sixty-two.
The Church later recognized what so many had already seen in his life. He was beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1934 and canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950.
A Fire We Are Called to Share
Most of us will not travel as widely, preach as often, or carry responsibilities as great as those of Saint Anthony Mary Claret. Yet his life speaks powerfully to every ordinary Christian.
His holiness began with listening. He allowed a single sentence from the Gospel to question his ambitions and redirect his life. We too can ask: What is occupying my heart? What am I pursuing? Is there something Christ is inviting me to leave behind so that I may follow him more freely?
His mission grew through availability. Whether he was in a village, a palace, a hospital, a prison, a school, or a place of exile, he asked how he could serve. We may not stand in a pulpit, but every home, workplace, parish, and neighborhood offers opportunities to make the love of God visible.
His perseverance came from prayer. He experienced failure, illness, misunderstanding, violence, and exile, but he continued because his life was rooted in Christ. When our strength is small, we can draw near to the Eucharist and entrust ourselves to Mary, just as he did.
Above all, Saint Anthony Mary Claret possessed the heart of a shepherd. He could not ignore those who were confused, wounded, forgotten, or far from God. His zeal was not restless ambition. It was love made urgent.
The Lord asks us to carry that same love into our own small corner of the world. A gentle word, a patient act, a visit to someone who is lonely, a courageous defense of what is right, a prayer offered for another person, or a faith shared without embarrassment can become part of Christ’s care for his flock.
May Saint Anthony Mary Claret obtain for us hearts that listen deeply, pray faithfully, speak truth courageously, and serve generously. May we never seek to gain the world at the cost of our souls. Instead, may we spend our lives bringing others closer to the Heart of Christ.
Prayer
Saint Anthony Mary Claret,
you allowed the Word of God to set your heart on fire.
You carried the Gospel to the poor,
defended those who suffered injustice,
and remained faithful in hardship, persecution, and exile.
Pray for us,
that we may listen when Christ calls,
leave behind whatever keeps us from following him,
and use our gifts in the service of his people.
Obtain for us a shepherd’s heart:
tender toward the suffering,
courageous before injustice,
faithful in prayer,
and tireless in love.
May our ordinary lives become a living Gospel,
and may everything we do lead others
to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Amen.