Jul 14, 2017

β›ͺ Saint Francis Solano

🌟 Saint Francis Solanus 🌟

Missionary of South America – The Singing Saint

πŸ“… Born: 10 March 1549, Montilla, CΓ³rdoba, Spanish Empire

⚰️ Died: 14 July 1610, Lima, Viceroyalty of Peru

πŸ™ Venerated in: Roman Catholic Church

✝️ Beatified: 20 June 1675 by Pope Clement X

πŸ‘‘ Canonized: 27 December 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII

πŸ›οΈ Major Shrine: Monastery of San Francisco, Lima, Peru

πŸ“… Feast Day: 14 July (24 July in Hispanic tradition)

πŸ‘• Attributes: Franciscan habit, crucifix, violin or harp

🌎 Patronage: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and invoked against earthquakes

β€œHe sang the Gospel with his life.”


Saint Francisco Solano (10 March 1549 – 14 July 1610), a Spanish Franciscan friar, was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726 for his virtues, sanctity, and missionary work in South America. Renowned for his piety, miracles, and zeal for souls, he is a celebrated figure in the Roman Catholic Church.

Early Life

Born in 1549 in Montilla, Andalusia, Spain, to devout parents, Francisco exhibited exemplary piety from youth, serving as a model for those around him. At 20, he joined the Franciscan Order, embracing a life of rigorous prayer, fasting, and penance. His zeal for spiritual perfection persisted through his novitiate, though his austere practices weakened his health. Ordained a priest in 1576, he was appointed master of novices due to his exceptional ability to guide others spiritually. Later, he served as a superior but resigned at his own request to focus on preaching. During a pestilence in Granada, he selflessly nursed the sick, even after contracting the disease himself, resuming his charitable work upon recovery. Aspiring to martyrdom, he sought to preach in Africa but was redirected to the American missions.

Missionary Work in the New World

In 1589, Francisco sailed to the Americas, landing in Panama and continuing to Peru. During the voyage, his ship struck a rock and began sinking. While the captain urged him to save himself, Francisco remained with the enslaved passengers, many of whom were non-Christians or burdened with sin. For three days, he preached, baptized, and absolved them, preparing them for potential death. Miraculously, they were rescued, though they suffered hunger on an island.

Assigned to TucumΓ‘n (modern northwest Argentina), Francisco spent years evangelizing indigenous peoples. Gifted with languages, he mastered the TucumΓ‘n tongue in just 14 days and was understood by diverse tribes despite speaking one language. His preaching, often accompanied by violin music, converted countless individuals and reformed sinners. In 1601, he was sent to Lima, Peru, to enforce stricter discipline in the Franciscan monastery. There, he preached in churches and streets, urging repentance. In a notable 1604 sermon in Lima’s marketplace, he warned of divine punishment for the city’s sins, likening it to the world’s vices described by Saint John. The inhabitants’ subsequent penance delayed God’s judgment, though a later earthquake and flood struck, as he had predicted. Similarly, he foretold divine vengeance on Trujillo, which was later destroyed by an earthquake due to its unrepented vices.

Miracles and Virtues

Francisco was graced with prophecy and miracles. He healed the sick by touch, raised a boy from death, and cured another of ulcers instantly. When locusts ravaged TucumΓ‘n, he drove them away with prayer and a blessing. In a waterless region, he led the people to dig, and a spring emerged, powering mills and gaining fame for its healing properties. His humility, patience, and austerity were profound; he mortified his body to the point of scrupulosity but was reassured by a divine vision of his heavenly reward. His reputation as a saint began in his novitiate and grew as he was hailed as an apostle for his tireless work.

Final Days and Death

In 1610, a fever confined Francisco to bed in Lima. Viewing his suffering as divine mercy, he offered thanks, keeping a crucifix before him and engaging in fervent prayer. In ecstatic moments, he quoted King David: β€œI have rejoiced in what has been told me: we shall go into the house of the Lord.” After receiving the last sacraments, he died on 14 July 1610, his final words being, β€œHonor and praise be to God!” During his illness, birds gathered at his window, singing beautifully, a phenomenon that peaked on the day of his death, witnessed by many as a divine sign honoring his lifelong praise of God.

Veneration and Legacy

Beatified in 1675 by Pope Clement X and canonized in 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII, Francisco’s feast is celebrated on 24 July in the Franciscan Order and 14 July in the United States. He is the patron saint of Montilla, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru. Mission San Francisco Solano in California, founded in 1823, bears his name. In Humahuaca, Argentina, a daily noon tradition features an animated statue of Francisco blessing the crowd from the city hall bell tower.

  1. Fear of Sin: Francisco’s declaration, β€œI would rather die than offend God,” reflects his view of sin as the greatest evil, far worse than death. Sin harms both soul and body, risking eternal misery, while death, for the prepared, leads to heaven. Reflect on your attitude toward sinβ€”do you fear it as Francisco did, or do you treat it lightly? Pray for enlightenment to detest sin and seek repentance.

  2. Sickness as Grace: Francisco saw his final illness as a divine gift, an opportunity to expiate sins or prepare for eternity. Sickness benefits the pious by purging punishment and the godless by prompting repentance. Consider illness a mercy, give thanks, and use it to grow spiritually, as Saint Augustine advises: β€œIf you are scourged by the pains of your disease, give thanks to the Almighty.”

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