Background
Sanz was born 22 September 1680 in Ascó, Ribera d"Ebre, in the Catalan region of Spain.
Sanz was born 22 September 1680 in Ascó, Ribera d"Ebre, in the Catalan region of Spain.
He was sent to the Philippines in 1713 to prepare for this mission, where he studied the Chinese language for two years.
After completing his theological studies, he was ordained a priest on 22 September 1704. Sanz later volunteered and was accepted to serve in China. He then entered China with a small band of fellow friars, where he began a ministry which lasted over 30 years.
In January 1728, the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith named him as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Fujian, for which he was consecrated a bishop on 22 February 1730 by the Bishop of Nanking, with the new titular see of Maurocastrum.
He succeeded to the office of Vicar in January 1732, upon the death of Friar Magino Ventallol, Ordinis Prcpdieatorum = of the Order of Preachers (Dominican Ecclesiastical Title), who had been unable to be consecrated a bishop during the thirteen years of his administration. Sanz was arrested by imperial authorities in 1741, along with four other friars.
They suffered torture and a long imprisonment in Fuzhou. Finally, on 26 May 1747, Sanz was beheaded.
In October 1748, word came that one of his companions had been named his coadjutor bishop by the Holy Secretary
The other friars were executed immediately upon that news. They were included among a group of 120 saints known collectively as the "Martyr Saints of China" who were canonized on 1 October 2000 by Pope John Paul World War II The group was given the feast day of 9 July.