Saint Anthony Mary Claret - Catholic Apologetics Information

conference, as I was doing in Vich, for the remainder of my training. I did so out of obedience and
finished my studies, as the certificate I received from the Seminary of Vich attests:
105. "I, the undersigned, Secretary of the Conciliar Seminary of the City of Vich, certify that Father
Anthony Claret, a native of Sallent in this diocese, has studied and satisfactorily completed three years of
philosophy, during which he studied: first, logic, ontology, and the elements of mathematics for the
school year of 1829 to 1830; second, general and special physics, for that of 1830 to 1831; third, a
private course in metaphysics and ethics, for that of 1831 to 1832. Likewise he has studied and passed
four years of theological studies during the school years 1832 to 1836. Finally, in the aforesaid seminary,
he has successfully completed three years of moral theology, from 1836 to 1839. This may be seen in the
records of matriculation and qualification, kept in my office, by anyone who applies through me.
"In witness of which I grant this certificate to the petitioner and sign and seal it with the seal of this
Secretariat. Given at Vich this twenty-seventh day of August, in the year eighteen hundred thirty-nine.
Augustine Alier, Secretary." ( Seal ). 68
Chapter XIII
ASSISTANT PASTOR a AND ADMINISTRATOR
106. Once I had settled in the parish of St. Mary in Sallent, I was occupied both with daily studies
and matters of the ministry. The pastor and I divided the work of preaching between us, alternating on
the Sundays of Advent and Lent, and on Corpus Christi and other major feasts, when we preached from
the pulpit at the principal High Mass. On other feast days we preached in the evening after we had
finished teaching the catechism class.
After two years as assistant, my superior made me administrator since the pastor had left for political
reasons and I was left alone in administering the parish.
107. I followed a regular plan of life. Every year I made a ten-day retreat, a practice I have
followed ever since I joined the seminary. Every eight days I received the sacrament of reconciliation. I
fasted on Thursdays and Saturdays, took the discipline on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and wore
the cilice on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
108. Every day before leaving the house I made my mental prayer alone, since I rose so early. In
the evening I was joined at meditation by my sister Mary, who is now a Tertiary, 69 and by an elderly
servant, since there were just the three of us in the house. After meditation, we said the rosary together.
A. Assistant Pastor and
109. I preached on all Sundays and feast days, as the Council of Trent requires. 70 On the Sundays of
Advent and Lent and on the principal feast days I preached at Mass, whereas on the remaining Sundays I
preached in the evening after the catechism class, which I held every Sunday of the year without a single
exception.
Besides the Sunday catechism class I also had a daily Lenten class in the church from two to three in
the afternoon for girls, and one in the rectory from seven to eight at night for boys.
110. Every day I celebrated Mass very early and went to the confessional, where I stayed as long as
there were penitents. Every evening I walked through the main streets of the town, especially those
68 In the declaration he made on entering the Company of Jesus, Claret gives further details of his studies: "For three years I studied
philosophy from the text of Andrew Guevara.... For three years (and one year outside the seminary, with due permission) I studied the
theology of St. Thomas. We covered the following treatises: God and His Attributes, the Angels, Human Acts, Laws, the Incamation,
and the State of the Soul After Death. I studied Moral Theology for three years privately, by the advice and with the approval of His
Excellency the Vicar General and the superiors of the seminary, following the text of Fr. Larraga and the Compendium of St.
Alphonsus Liguori" (Writings, p. 440).
69 He means a Carmelite of Charity. The old servant's name was Jaime and he was sixty years old. The house was big enough to
accommodate seven, and Claret opened the available rooms for children's catechism classes. His sister Mary has informed us that the
Saint slept for only two hours, although obedience required him to spend six hours in bed. His bed's only furnishing was a straw
mattress. (Informative Process, Vich, session 38.)
70 Council of Trent, session 24, chaps. 4 and 7, De ref.
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