![[Saint Francis Solano]](saintf32.jpg "23kb jpg painting of 'Saint Francis of Solano Baptizing Indians', János Lukács Kracker, 1770, oil on canvas, Bishopric Seminary, Eger, Hungary")
Francis Solanus Thaumaturgus of the New World Wonder Worker of the New World
Missionary to South America with Father Balthazar Navarro in 1589. After some time in Panama they took ship to travel south. The ship carried slaves, and Francis worked to evanglize them. During a strong storm, the ship ran aground. The captain abandoned the ship and its slave cargo to the rocks, but Francis stayed, baptizing them just before the ship broke apart on the rocks. Francis kept his little flock together and safe for three days until help arrived.
He spent the rest of his life as a missionary, travelling throughout South America, but especially around Lima, working with the natives and Spanish colonists. Reputed to have converted 9,000 natives during a single sermon. Learned many native languages and dialects quickly, and it is said that he preached to tribes of different tongues in one language and was understood by all. Could play the lute, and was known to play and sing before the altar. Noted healer. Custos of the Franciscan convents in Tucuman and Paraguay. Elected guardian of the Franciscan convent in Lima. Foretold both the destruction of Truxillo by an earthquake, and his own death.
Argentina Bolivia Chile Paraguay Peru
Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate Catholic Encyclopedia, by Stephen M Donovan Catholic Online Google Directory History of the Franciscan Movement Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson