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Francisco Coll GuitartCatholic saint, priest of the Dominican order
Date of Birth: 18.05.1812
Country:  Spain |
Content:
- Saint Francis Coll y Guitart: A Dominican Saint
- Embracing the Dominican Order
- Priestly Ministry
- Missionary Work and Founding the Dominican Sisters
- Later Years and Sainthood
Saint Francis Coll y Guitart: A Dominican Saint
Early Life and EducationFrancis Coll y Guitart was born on May 18, 1812, in Gombrèn, Catalonia, Spain. He was the tenth child of a devoutly Catholic family. At the age of 10, Francis began his studies at the seminary in the Catalan city of Vic. During his youth, he formed a close friendship with Saint Anthony Mary Claret.
Embracing the Dominican Order
In 1822, Francis entered the seminary, despite the growing anti-clericalism in Spain. Within the seminary, he became captivated by the teachings of the Dominican Order and aspired to join the Order of Preachers. He continued his studies until 1830 when he entered the novitiate of the Dominican monastery in Girona without receiving priestly ordination. After taking his vows the following year, he remained at the monastery, where he quickly gained respect for his intelligence, piety, and steadfast faith.
Priestly Ministry
On April 4, 1835, Francis was ordained as a deacon. However, due to the outbreak of the Carlist Civil War, the government, which viewed the clergy and monks as supporters of the Carlists, closed almost all monasteries and expelled their inhabitants. The Dominican monastery in Girona was closed within months of his ordination.
Despite these persecutions, Francis did not abandon his vocation. On March 28, 1836, he was ordained a priest in Solsona.
Missionary Work and Founding the Dominican Sisters
From 1839 to 1850, Francis dedicated himself to preaching, teaching catechism, and caring for the poor and sick. In 1850, he was appointed as the leader of the Third Dominican Order in Catalonia. He was instrumental in the reopening of the monastery in Girona that same year, which became the center of his activities.
In 1854, Francis and his companions played a crucial role in fighting a cholera epidemic. In 1856, he founded the female religious congregation of the Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation of Our Lady. By the time of his death in 1875, the congregation had grown to 50 communities throughout Spain, despite the hostility of the authorities towards religion and monasticism.
Later Years and Sainthood
In 1869, Francis lost his sight, but he continued to preach and travel throughout Catalonia. He died on April 2, 1875.
Francis Coll y Guitart was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 27, 1979, and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 11, 2009.
