Saint Anthony Mary Claret - Catholic Apologetics Information

EARLY LIFE
Chapter I
MY BIRTH AND BAPTISM
3. I was born 3 in the village of Sallent, deanery of Manresa, diocese of Vich, province of
Barcelona. 4 My parents, whose names were John Claret and Josephine Clara, 5 were married, upright, and
God-fearing people, very devoted to the Blessed Sacrament and Mary Most Holy.
4. I was baptized in St. Mary's Parish, Sallent, on December 25, Christmas Day, 1807, although
the parish books say 1808. The reason for this is that they counted the year as beginning on December
25, and so it is that mine is the first entry in the books for the year 1808.
5. I was christened Anthony Adjutor John. My mother's brother, Anthony Clara, was my
godfather, and he wanted me to be named after him. My father's sister, Mary Claret, was my godmother.
She was married to Adjutor Canudas, so they gave me her husband's Christian name. My third name,
John, was my father's name. Later, out of devotion to Mary Most Holy, I added the sweet name of Mary,
my mother, my patroness, my mistress, my directress and my all, after Jesus. Thus my name is Anthony
Mary Adjutor John Claret y Clara. 6
6. I was one of eleven children, whom I shall list in order, giving the year of their birth:
1. My sister Rose, born in 1800. Formerly married, she is now a widow. She has always been hardworking,
upright, and pious. She is the one who has loved me the most. 7
2. My sister Marian was born in 1802 and died when she was two years old.
3. My brother John (1804) was heir to all our goods. 8
4. My brother Bartholomew (1806) died when he was two years old.
5. Myself (1807 or 1808).
6. One sister (1809) died shortly after birth.
7. My brother Joseph (1810) married and had two daughters who became Sisters of Charity or
Tertiaries. 9
8. My brother Peter (1813) died when he was four years old.
9. My sister Mary (1815) became a Tertiary Sister. 10
10. My sister Frances (1820) died when she was three years old.
11. My brother Manuel (1823) died when he was thirteen years old, after studying humanities in
3 The interpretation of a phrase in the Saint's birth record has given rise to a controversy as to whether he was born on December 23
or 24, 1807. The commoner and more probable opinion holds for December 23. (Cf. Autob., par. 3, note 1, B.A.C. edition, hereafter
referred to as Writings.)
4 Sallent is located about 51 kilometers from Barcelona. During the Saint's childhood it had a population of about 2,000. There
were many family-operated textile works in the vicinity. Water power from the river Llobregat, which flows through the town,
coupled with the drive of the hard-working inhabitants has made Sallent an expanding industrial center. Claret's episcopal coat
of arms includes a souvenir of his birthplace: "The bridge, the river and the waterfall indicate my birthplace, Sallent. My father
is from one side of the river, my mother from the other, and that is the symbolism of the sun, Claret, and the moon, Clara"
(Correspondence, Letter 145).
5 John Claret Xambo (December 22, 1774-April 11, 1854) was, like his ancestors, a weaver. Josephine Clara Rodoreda (September
10, 1771-October 25, 1842) came from a working-class family.
6 He added the name Mary to Anthony at the time of his episcopal consecration (October 6, 1850) and included her device on his
shield: "The name 'Mary' indicates my spiritual origin, for she is my mother and the patroness of the Church I was baptized in. Mary
saved me from the waves of the sea when I was a little boy, etc." (Correspondence, Letter 145).
7 Rose (1800-74) married Joseph Muntanola and had four children by him. She used to accompany Anthony to the shrine of
Fussimanya. (Cf. par. 49.)
8 John. Cf. par. 80.
9 Joseph (1810-70), who married Manuela Sola, had a factory in Olost where his brother was an occasional guest. (Cf. par. 121)
Joseph's two daughters, Dolores and Mary, became Carmelites of Charity.
10 Mary (1815-94) accompanied Anthony when he was made Administrator of the parish of Sallent. When he embarked on his fully
apostolic career, she entered the Carmelites of Charity, where she became Mistress of Novices. She was a witness in Vich at the
Informative Process for her brother's beatification and revealed many details of the psychology and virtues of Claret as a seminarian
and priest.
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