Francis Solano was a Spanish Franciscan priest who gave his life to bringing the Gospel to native peoples and settlers in South America.
Life
Francis Solano was born in 1549 in Montilla, Spain. As a young man he joined the Franciscans and became a priest, and when plague struck Spain he devoted himself to caring for the sick.
In 1589 he was sent as a missionary to South America, where he preached the Gospel to native peoples in what is now northern Argentina and Paraguay. He learned native languages and lived close to the people, and tradition says he played the violin and shared the Gospel through song. In his later years he preached repentance to the people of Lima, Peru.
He died in Lima in 1610 and was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726.
Spirituality
Saint Francis Solano’s spirituality is joyful evangelization. Like Saint Francis of Assisi he lived in poverty and praised God for creation, and he did not hesitate to travel long roads to reach people. Respect for the language and culture of others was the foundation of his mission.
Reflection
In a faraway land, Saint Francis Solano shared the Gospel in the words and songs of the people there. Can I share God’s love with those around me through a joyful heart and kind words?