Francisco Coll Guitart
Encyclopedia
Saint Francisco Coll Guitart (18 May 1812 - 2 April 1875) was a priest of the Order of Preachers and founded the Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin.
At a very young age (10 years old), he began his seminary studies in Vic, a major city in the province of Barcelona. He would eventually meet and became friends with Saint Anthony Mary Claret. In 1830, St. Francisco decided to join the Dominicans (Order of Preachers) at the Dominican convent in Girona (Gerona, Catalonia, Spain). The saint's studies for the priesthood and Dominican religious life were jeopardized with the suppression of Religious Orders that occurred in 1835 by the Spanish government. During this time, all religious were ejected from their properties and expected to live secular lives. St. Francisco, however, did not give up on his vocation. On March 28, 1836, he was ordained a Dominican priest. The saint's priestly ministry was all the more difficult due to the lack of community life and support of fellow friars that would have been expected before the suppression of religious orders.
From 1839-1850 he worked with the poor and sick. In 1850, St. Francisco was able to reopen a suppressed Dominican monastery, which gave him a base for his ministry. In 1854, he worked with those struck with cholera. Two years later, in 1856, he founded a congregation of Dominican sisters, known as the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (aka La Annunciata). This group of sisters was founded as a teaching congregation. By the time that the saint died, the congregation numbered 300 sisters, with 50 communities, a remarkable fact, given the hostile climate of Spain toward religious at that time. Today, members of this congregation work in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
While Saint Francisco was preaching in Sallent (a city in the province of Barcelona), he was struck blind. It was December 2, 1869. From that time on, his health grow steadily worse. He died on April 2, 1875. Before his death, the suppression of religious orders was lifted in 1872, which allowed Dominicans to return to Spain to resume their ministry and community life. They found that while they were gone, St. Francisco had maintained the structures of the Order, allowing ministry and community life to begin again immediately.
Saint Francisco's dedication to the Dominican way of life of study and preaching for the salvation of souls, even in the face of seemingly impossible odds was extraordinary. His legacy continues to grow, particularly through the work of the Annunciata Sisters.
His memorial is observed April 2, the day he died.
At a very young age (10 years old), he began his seminary studies in Vic, a major city in the province of Barcelona. He would eventually meet and became friends with Saint Anthony Mary Claret. In 1830, St. Francisco decided to join the Dominicans (Order of Preachers) at the Dominican convent in Girona (Gerona, Catalonia, Spain). The saint's studies for the priesthood and Dominican religious life were jeopardized with the suppression of Religious Orders that occurred in 1835 by the Spanish government. During this time, all religious were ejected from their properties and expected to live secular lives. St. Francisco, however, did not give up on his vocation. On March 28, 1836, he was ordained a Dominican priest. The saint's priestly ministry was all the more difficult due to the lack of community life and support of fellow friars that would have been expected before the suppression of religious orders.
From 1839-1850 he worked with the poor and sick. In 1850, St. Francisco was able to reopen a suppressed Dominican monastery, which gave him a base for his ministry. In 1854, he worked with those struck with cholera. Two years later, in 1856, he founded a congregation of Dominican sisters, known as the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (aka La Annunciata). This group of sisters was founded as a teaching congregation. By the time that the saint died, the congregation numbered 300 sisters, with 50 communities, a remarkable fact, given the hostile climate of Spain toward religious at that time. Today, members of this congregation work in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
While Saint Francisco was preaching in Sallent (a city in the province of Barcelona), he was struck blind. It was December 2, 1869. From that time on, his health grow steadily worse. He died on April 2, 1875. Before his death, the suppression of religious orders was lifted in 1872, which allowed Dominicans to return to Spain to resume their ministry and community life. They found that while they were gone, St. Francisco had maintained the structures of the Order, allowing ministry and community life to begin again immediately.
Saint Francisco's dedication to the Dominican way of life of study and preaching for the salvation of souls, even in the face of seemingly impossible odds was extraordinary. His legacy continues to grow, particularly through the work of the Annunciata Sisters.
His memorial is observed April 2, the day he died.