The Foundation (1849-1858)

Historical Background of the Foundation of the Institute

The XIX century saw the birth of Saint Anthony Mary Claret and, with him, all of his immense work. Spain was immersed in political wars caused by the liberal and traditionalist parties. When the last Carlist groups had been crushed and the political upheaval had subsided, Fr. Claret decided to found his favourite work: the Congregation of Missionaries, Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The adverse laws of the liberal governments of Spain and the suppression of the religious orders had dismantled the traditional forms of evangelisation and the scarcity of preachers was a great challenge.

The Great Work

The idea of the foundation was not based on illusions; its realisation came from way back, and was born out of his zeal for the salvation of souls. Before the foundation, Fr. Claret had already offered himself to the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith in order to go and preach in non-Christian territories and he had exclaimed: “I thirst, I long to shed all my blood for the sake of Jesus Christ.”

He had earlier tried to create a Missionary Centre in Sallent in 1839, a “Fraternity of Mary of the Rosary” in San Juan de Oló in 1842, an “Apostolic Fraternity” in Vic in 1846, a “Fraternity of Jesus and Mary” in the Canaries in 1848. But toward three in the afternoon of 16 July 1849, Fr. Claret convoked in the Seminary of Vic Frs. Stephen Sala, Joseph Xifré, Dominic Fábregas, Manuel Vilaró and Jaime Clotet, some of whom did not know each other. He wanted to found a congregation of priests who would both be, and be called “Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”

He had already talked with them about the foundation. That sixteenth of July, when each of them had settled in his respective room, “with his own bed, table, chair, washstand and oil lamp,” they started the spiritual exercises in the process of which the Congregation would be founded. “At three o’clock we were all gathered in the above mentioned place of the Seminary.  Before we started the inauguration exercises Fr. Claret said: TODAY A GREAT WORK BEGINS. Fr. Manuel Vilaró answered, with a festive mood and a smile: What can we do, so young and so few? You will see, Fr. Claret replied; if we are few and young, so much the more will the power and mercy of God shine” (These are words taken down by Fr. Clotet). After the spiritual exercises, Fr. Claret was chosen as Superior.

The Congregation Is Born

Obviously Fr. Claret did not found a religious congregation of solemn vows, or simple vows either, since none of them pronounced any vow that day. This was a congregation of Diocesan Priests who started a new lifestyle, a community life, free from any diocesan commitment that would tie them down to any concrete place or ecclesiastical benefice. In this way, they could fully devote themselves to the preaching of the Word, especially by means of Popular Missions, Spiritual Exercises and catechesis.

One Year with the Founder

Shortly after the foundation, on August 5, the first big trial came: Fr. Claret was appointed Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba. In spite of this, Fr. Claret intensely devoted the time previous to his consecration to the formation of the members of the first missionary community. It could be said that this was the noviciate year of the Congregation. Their occupations were: mental and vocal prayer, divine office, conferences about catechising, preaching, hearing confessions, moral, mystical and ascetical theology… In the words of Fr. Claret, “In this college we live in community a truly poor and apostolic life.” He wanted his missionaries to be itinerant in the fashion of the Apostles; he did not even want them to engage themselves in public worship or the confessions in the Church of La Merced. For these tasks, he counted on two priests, his friends. When he departed for Cuba, he left Fr. Stephen Sala as Superior and Frs. Bernard Sala and Dominic Fábregas as consultors.

The Communities of Vic and Cuba

With the departure of the Founder, the community of Vic stagnated in its growth. Fr. Stephen Sala did not devote himself exclusively to the newly founded Institute. The Missionaries engaged themselves basically in giving Popular Missions and Spiritual Exercises and in the publication of pamphlets and leaflets.

By this time they were already staying in the convent of La Merced. The new revolution of 1854 plunged the Institute in greater difficulties yet. That year they worked among the cholera patients and dedicated themselves preferably to giving retreats and to the direction of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity.

Meanwhile, the Congregation lived a latent life in Cuba, around Fr. Claret, with different characteristics, but with the same rules and spirit. He had brought with him Fr. Manuel Vilaró, cofounder. On May 26, 1857, Fr. Claret was appointed confessor to Queen Isabel II.

Death of Fr. Stephen Sala

When the Founder was already in Madrid, Fr. Stephen Sala died on April 18, 1858. Shortly before, on June 27, 1857, the Constitutions of the Institute had been published with the bishop’s approval. At the death of Fr. Sala, the Congregation had one house, twelve priests and three helping brothers.