1/16/22 – St Francis de Capallis O.P.

Today is the Feast of the Protomartyr of China, St Francis de Capillas OP.

Experiencing a call to priesthood and the missions, Francis, deeply devoted to the Blessed Virgin, became a Dominican. Fortified with the rosary, Francis, when he was barely 20 sailed to the Phillipines where he evangelised.

After ten years, Francis was sent to Taiwan and not long after he left to join a veteran Dominican in mainland China. Preaching the Gospel, and instilling a love of Our Lord and His Mother, drew many people to baptism.

A true son of St Dominic, he shared Our Lady’s rosary with everyone. With the rosary, Our Lady brought to bloom the seed that he as a missionary could only plant.

With the arrival of Manchurian forces, he was persecuted for his faith and for sharing it with so many people. His treatment was severe, he was repeatedly beaten even to having his ankles crushed.

Thrown into a filthy prison, he continued his mission teaching and praying the rosary which he taught to his fellow prisoners.Shortly before he was beheaded he wrote: “I am here with other prisoners and we have developed a fellowship. They ask me about the Gospel of the Lord. I am not concerned about getting out of here because here I know I am doing the will of God. They do not let me stay up at night to pray, so I pray in bed before dawn.

I live here in great joy without any worry, knowing that I am here because of Jesus Christ. The pearls I have found here these days are not always easy to find.” (Dominican Saints)