New SSPX mission for north Florida
The SSPX's USA District Office proudly announces the opening of the new St. Anthony Mary Claret Mission in northern Florida. Located at Miramar Beach, half-way between Pensacola and Panama City Beach, it offers the Mass of All Time for those in the Everglades State's panhandle.
The mission is currently offering Mass at the Marriot Courtyard at Sandestin on selected weekdays. The Mass times schedule and contact information can be found on the Chapels page under the Florida section. The mission is being serviced by priests from St. Thomas More Priory in Sanford (Orlando), Florida.
Who is St. Anthony Mary Claret?
St. Anthony Mary Claret (1807-1870) was born in Spain and founded the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (known after him as the Claretians).
He was appointed the archbishop of Santiago, Cuba, where he worked to improve the seminary and gave spiritual missions throughout his entire diocese. He also made many efforts made to improve the livelihood of his faithful, from establishing trade schools to even writing books on improved agricultural methods, while his work with the poor was legendary. He was later recalled to Spain to act as the personel confessor to Queen Isabella II, where he continued to assist the poor and promote advancements in the fields of education and science.
Exiled from Spain in 1868 after Queen Isabella was dethroned by revolutionaries, he accompanied the Spanish Court first to Paris for a time, then went to Rome in 1869 to help prepare the First Vatican Council. Ill health though required the holy Archbishop Anthony Claret to return to the French Pyrennes, where he passed away at the Cistercian abbey in Fontfroide, Narbonne on October 24, 1870.
St. Anthony was canonized by Pope Pius XII on May 7, 1950 and his feast day is on October 23rd.
