Saint Francis Ferdinand de Capillas
Spanish Dominican priest, the first martyr within the Chinese empire
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Martyr, Priest, Missionary
- Life
- 1607 – 1648
- Era
- 17th century
- Feast
- 15 January
- Countries
- Spain, China
Life story
Francis Fernández de Capillas was born in August 1607 at Baquerín de Campos in Palencia, Spain; sources give 14 or 15 August. At 17 he entered the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) and received the habit at the priory of St Paul in Valladolid.
He landed in Manila in February 1631 as a deacon and was ordained a priest shortly after. He worked about a decade in Tuao in the Cagayan Valley on Luzon. After the provincial chapter of 1641 in Manila he was transferred to the Dominican mission in Taiwan, one of the last Spanish missionaries there before the Dutch expelled them in 1642.
In 1642 he arrived in China, in Fujian province, and preached in Fogan (Fu'an) and nearby areas. On 13 November 1647, while returning from Fogan, he was captured.
He was sentenced to death on 15 January 1648 and beheaded that same day, and is regarded as the first martyr within the Chinese empire. Pius X beatified him on 2 May 1909, and John Paul II canonized him on 1 October 2000 among the 120 Martyrs of China.
Works and witness
- Entered the Dominicans at 17 in Valladolid
- Arrived in Manila in February 1631 and worked about ten years in Cagayan
- Missionary in Fujian from 1642
- Captured on 13 November 1647; beheaded on 15 January 1648
Saints from the same country
References
- Asia Harvest, "1648 - Francisco de Capillas"
- Encyclopedia.com, "Capillas, Francis de, Bl."
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.