The apostolic missionary D. Antonio María Claret arrived in Gran Canaria on March 12, 1848, accompanied by D. Buenaventura Codina, who entered as the new bishop of this diocese of the Canary Islands. Bishop Codina wanted to begin his pontificate with general missions to the entire diocese. He began them in the cathedral on the 18th of this same month of March, with the bishop choosing the city of Telde as the second missionary centre, immediately continuing the missions here, in Agüimes, with his entry on foot, on March 31 of this year, and closing them the following June 27.

It was here in Agüimes, where the people called him S. Antonio María Claret for the first time, and where he celebrated the only festivity of Corpus Christi, during his stay in the Canary Islands. His time in the Canary Islands was so important that our compatriot Mr. Joaquín Artiles divided the history of the Canary Islands into two stages: before Father Claret’s time and after his stay among us.

The apostolic missionary D. Antonio Claret, shortly after his departure to the peninsula, founded the congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. A few months later he was appointed archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, where he suffered an attack when he came down from the pulpit. Queen Elizabeth II appointed him as her confessor; He attended the First Vatican Council and, upon being exiled, accompanied her into exile. He died in Fontfroide (France), on October 15, 1870, days before the death of the former parish priest of Agüimes, during the mission, D. Juan Pedro Saavedra. His body lies incorrupt in the temple of his name, in the city of Vich (Gerona). He was beatified by Pope Pius XI on February 25, 1934 and canonized by Pius on April 13, 1951.


It has been a gift from God that this furniture used by the apostolic missionary while he was in Agüimes has arrived to us. Upon arriving at this town, the great-great-grandparents of Mrs. María Encarnación Santana Rodríguez welcomed it into their home, jealous guardian of this relic, the only one of its kind on the island, where it remained for two days, until his great-great-grandfather and servant of God Antonio Vicente González, whose house is next to hers, found a larger and more independent house, on La Orilla (Shore), where all these furnishings were taken to, thus preparing a dignified residence for them.

You can see the bed, where Father Claret slept, the chest of drawers for his clothes, the trunk where he kept books and brochures that helped in the mission, a lantern for his walking, a small chest where he placed the rosaries and medals, which he gave away, a walking stick used by a fat priest who had broken his foot during the transfer to the house of La Orilla, and which got damaged, and Father Claret himself repaired with a tin plate; the stick still preserves the fixing, and a painting of the Crucified Christ that Father Clare sent from the peninsula to this family in gratitude for the attention provided during his stay in Agüimes.

“CASAS DE BETANIA” thanks Mrs. María Encarnación Santana Rodríguez for her intelligent gesture, donating this Claretian treasure to this museum, thus facilitating its artistic and devoted exhibition to those who visit this episcopal palace of the lords of Agüimes.

Villa de Agüimes, October 2000.

Editor’s note. We reproduce the text as it is currently displayed in Agüimes, being aware that anyone familiar with the life of Fr. Claret will find some errors in the data offered. Such errors do not affect the fact testified by various people about the use by Fr. Claret during his missionary stay in the Canary Islands of the furniture that is exhibited