Claretians

Congregation of Missionary Sons
of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Congregatio Missionariorum Filiorum Immaculati Cordis Beatae Mariae Virginis
AbbreviationCMF
NicknameClaretians
Formation16 July 1849
(175 years ago)
 (16 July 1849)
FoundersAntonio María Claret, C.M.F.
Esteban Sala, CMF
José Xifré, CMF
Founded atBarcelona, Catalonia, Spain
TypeClerical religious congregation of pontifical right for men
HeadquartersVia del Sacro Cuore di Maria 5, Rome, Italy
Membership (2020)
3,034 members (2,239 priests)
motto
Latin: Silii Ejus Beatissimam Predicaverunt
English: His disciples preached the Beatitudes
Superior General
Fr. Mathew Vattamattam, CMF
Main organ
Commentarium pro Religiosis et Missionariis
Parent organization
Catholic Church
Websiteclaret.org

The Claretians, officially named the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Latin: Congregatio Missionariorum Filiorum Immaculati Cordis Beatae Mariae Virginis; abbreviated CMF), is a Catholic clerical religious congregation of Pontifical Right for men headquartered in Rome. It was founded on July 16, 1849, by Fr. Antonio María Claret y Clará, C.M.F. They are active as missionaries worldwide, in 70 countries on five continents. The number of Claretian priests and brothers is at more than 3,000.[year needed][1] The Congregation has a particular devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary[1] and members have published extensively in Mariology.[2]

  1. ^ a b "Who is a Claretian?", St. Thomas Province of the Clarentians
  2. ^ O'Carroll, Michael. Theotokos: A Theological Encyclopedia of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2000 ISBN 9781579104542