Saints of the Week

Saint Anthony Mary Claret

Virtue: Right Judgement

Feast Day: 24th October

Born in Sallent, Spain, Anthony worked as a missionary in Catalonia and the Canary Islands for ten years. In 1849, he started the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The institute is known as “the Claretians.”

Father Claret was appointed Archbishop of Santiago in Cuba. He founded the Teaching Sisters of Mary Immaculate.

At the request of Pope Pius XI, he returned to Spain and devoted himself to missionary work and the spreading of good literature.

Anthony also spread devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the Immaculate Heart of Mary by preaching and writings.

Anthony died in a Cistercian monastery in France on October 24, 1870. He was canonised by Pope Pius XII in 1950.

Saint: Winifred

Virtue: 3rd November

Feast Day: Innocence

Very few Saints have two feast days during the year. In Wales Winifred’s martyrdom is celebrated on June 22 and her death on November 3.

Winifred lived in Wales in the seventh century. Her Uncle Saint Beuno helped to nourish her desire to lead a life of virtue and holiness.

According to legend, a chieftain named Caradog became enraged when Winifred spurned his advances. As she tried to flee, he seized her and cut off her head.

Then Saint Beuno implored God to restore Winifred’s life and his prayer was answered.

Winifred later became a nun and then abbess at the convent of Gwytherin. Fifteen years after her miraculous restoration to life, she died around 650.

When Winifred was martyred at the place where her head fell, a spring gushed forth. This was called Holy Well. It became a favourite site for pilgrimage where many cures have been reported over the centuries. 

Devotion to Saint Winifred grew rapidly, and six ancient churches in Wales were dedicated to her.