New Dominican Saint to be Canonized
July 15th, 2009 by Fr. Pius, OP
On February 16, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI announced the canonization of 10 new saints. Among those to be canonized was a Spanish Dominican priest, Bl. Francisco Coll y Guitart (1812-1875). Bl. Francisco is perhaps best known as the founder of the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Mass of Canonization is scheduled for October 11, 2009.
Below is a short biographical sketch of the life of this Dominican saint-to-be:
Francisco Coll y Guitart, O.P. was born on May 18, 1812 in Gombren (Cataluna) Spain. He joined the Minor Seminary of his home Diocese of Vic in 1822. In 1830, he joined the Dominicans in the Convent of Santo Domingo de Vic. He made religious profession in 1831 and was ordained a priest on May 28, 1836. He died in Vic on April 2, 1875. He was a popular preacher of missions in various dioceses of North Eastern Spain. Those who knew him characterized his life by his fervent zeal for preaching; he prayed long hours, studied, and dedicated a great deal of time to preparing the sermons for his missions. He believed in the efficacy of collaboration in preaching missions. Hence, he collaborated with diocesan priests, Jesuits, Claretians, Augustinians, and fellow Dominicans in preaching missions, and novenas. His missions were popular with Bishops and diocesan priests. He was a friend of Saint Anthony Mary Claret with whom he founded the “apostolic fellowship” for evangelization in 1846.
Fr. John Martin Ruiz-Mayorga translated this passage from Francisco Coll, O.P. Testimonios (1812-1931) ed. Vito T. Gomez Garcia, O.P. Valencia: HH. Dominicas de la Anunciata, 1993.
Bl. Francisco, pray for us!
