San Antoni Maria Claret feast day observed

The Catholic Church commemorates the feast day of San Antoni Maria Claret, the founder of the Claretian family. Born in 1807 to a family in the textile industry, Claret initially focused on perfecting his knowledge of fabric manufacturing in Barcelona.

Following a spiritual transformation, he transitioned from a career in textiles to a life of religious service, eventually becoming a priest, missionary, and archbishop. He founded the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a congregation that currently operates in more than seventy countries.