Francis Solano, Saint

FRANCIS SOLANO, Saint. - Famous Spanish Franciscan missionary, b. at Montilla (Andalusia), on 10 March 1549, d. at Lima (Peru) on 14 July 1610. He entered the Franciscan order in 1569. Ordained a priest, he devoted himself to preaching. While he wished to go to the mission in Morocco, he was assigned to that of Tucumán (1589).

Having arrived, after an arduous journey, at Lima (1590), he continued on foot the journey of 700 leagues, across the Cordillera, as far as Tucumán. He devoted himself with great ardor to the conversion of the Indians, whom he knew how to attract and endear to himself with gentleness and also with the sound of a violin accompanied by his fine voice. For one year he was superior of that mission. After 12 years of intense work (1590-1602) he was recalled to Lima, where he was guardian of a Retreat (Recoleta) and then at Truxillo. Worn out by the labors of preaching and by penances, he spent his last years (1606-10) in the infirmary of the great convent of St. Francis at Lima, where he died a holy death on the feast day of St. Bonaventure, whom he venerated with particular devotion. Clement X beatified him in 1675, and Benedict XIII canonized him on 27 Dec. 1726. Feast on 13 July.

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