Francis was the second of three sons born to Matthew Sanchez Solano and Anna Jimenez on 10th March 1549 in Montilla, Spain. He joined the Friars Minor in 1569, was ordained in 1576, and spent thirteen years preaching and ministering to the sick. He sailed for South America in 1589, spending the rest of his life in Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Paraquay. A violinist, he composed and sang many songs in honour of the Divine Child and the Blessed Virgin Mary as a means of instructing in the faith. Francis died in Lima, Peru in 1610. He was canonised in 1726 by Benedict XIII and is known as the “Apostle of South America”.
First Reading: Rom. 10: 10-18; Gospel: Luke 10: 1-9
