Roman Catholic Saint. The youngest of ten children, Francisco Coll y Guitart was born in Gombreny and receiving his education at the seminary of Vic, he joined the Order of Preachers in Gerona in 1830, where he received his religious habit, took his solemn vows and was ordained to the diaconate. When the Dominicans were expelled from their convent in Gerona in 1835 on governmental orders, Brother Francisco, although like his fellow brothers was obliged to live in 'extra conventum', was ordained priest the following year and lived his Dominican ministry in deep austerity. For forty years, he preached across Catalonia, and was named director of the Secular Order of Dominican Tertiaries in 1850. Six year later he founded the Congregation of the Dominican Nuns of the Annunciation for the care of the poor and the emarginated. By 1869 he himself was recovered by the nuns of his congregation after loosing his eyesight and later his mental faculties. Passing away on April 2, 1875 in Vic, at the age of 62, his body, clad in his Dominican habit was exposed in the chapel of his religious sisters and later buried in the local Cemetery. Today, his remains lie in the chapel of the motherhouse of his congregation. Pope John Paul II beatified Friar Francisco on April 29, 1979, whilst his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, canonized him on Sunday, October 11, 2009. His liturgical feast day is held on April 2.
Roman Catholic Saint. The youngest of ten children, Francisco Coll y Guitart was born in Gombreny and receiving his education at the seminary of Vic, he joined the Order of Preachers in Gerona in 1830, where he received his religious habit, took his solemn vows and was ordained to the diaconate. When the Dominicans were expelled from their convent in Gerona in 1835 on governmental orders, Brother Francisco, although like his fellow brothers was obliged to live in 'extra conventum', was ordained priest the following year and lived his Dominican ministry in deep austerity. For forty years, he preached across Catalonia, and was named director of the Secular Order of Dominican Tertiaries in 1850. Six year later he founded the Congregation of the Dominican Nuns of the Annunciation for the care of the poor and the emarginated. By 1869 he himself was recovered by the nuns of his congregation after loosing his eyesight and later his mental faculties. Passing away on April 2, 1875 in Vic, at the age of 62, his body, clad in his Dominican habit was exposed in the chapel of his religious sisters and later buried in the local Cemetery. Today, his remains lie in the chapel of the motherhouse of his congregation. Pope John Paul II beatified Friar Francisco on April 29, 1979, whilst his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, canonized him on Sunday, October 11, 2009. His liturgical feast day is held on April 2.
Bio by: Eman Bonnici
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