Carlos Manuel Rodríguez
Encyclopedia
Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago (November 22, 1918 – July 13, 1963) was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico
. Rodríguez was a layperson
of the Roman Catholic Church, who was beatified
on April 29, 2001. He is the first Puerto Rican
, the first Caribbean
-born layperson and the first layperson in the history of the United States to be beatified.
. His only brother, Pepe Rodriguez is a Benedictine priest
and the first Puerto Rican to become abbot
of his monastery
.
Charlie attended the Colegio Católico Notre Dame
, located in Caguas.
At the age of 12, Rodríguez saved his cousin from a dog attack. He was badly wounded in the attack, receiving severe bites which led to serious intestinal problems. Later, these medical problems caused him to leave university prior to graduation
.
. He professed extreme devotion to the liturgy
and worked to reverse the loss of liturgical customs that had been abandoned over generations. He expressed special concern over the Easter vigil
, saying that it had lost its ancient character and gravitas
. One of his favorite sayings about this feast was "VIVIMOS PARA ESA NOCHE" (We shall live for this night). This is now the motto
on his tomb, which is located in the Cathedral
of Caguas, Cathedral Dulce Nombre de Jesús
.
malignant
lymphoma
. She and her husband had been friends of Rodríguez during his college years and knew of his death from cancer. She prayed to Rodríguez for intercession
on her behalf. After fully recovering, she publicly attributed her recovery to the miracle of intercession.
In 1991, a priest
from Spain, Rev. Mauro Meza, went to Puerto Rico to conduct a seminar. After learning about Rodríguez, he was authorized by the local bishop
to take the story to the Vatican
. In Rome, Meza initiated the process of inquiry that could lead to canonization. As a result of the findings from this investigation, it was decided that the process to canonize Rodríguez could be started.
On July 7, 1997, Pope John Paul II
decreed Charlie's heroic sanctity and service in his life. The process took a major step on April 29, 2001, when Rodríguez was beatified by Pope John Paul II.
Rodríguez is the first Puerto Rican person, the first Caribbean
-born layperson and the first layperson in the history of the United States to be beatified. In the entire Western Hemisphere
, Rodríguez is only the second layperson to be beatified.
seems high, given recent changes in canon law
and the popular devotion paid to him. The 1983 reform of the Catholic Church's canon law has streamlined the canonization procedure considerably compared to the process carried out previously. The new process was established by Pope John Paul II, in his apostolic constitution
of January 25, 1983, Divinus Perfectionis Magister and by Pietro Cardinal Palazzini, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
. For Rodríguez to pass from Blessed to Saint, one more miracle (confirmed by the Vatican) is necessary.
Fundacion Carlos M Rodriguez
Círculo Carlos M. Rodríguez
PO Box 360748
San Juan, P.R. 00936-0748
Caguas, Puerto Rico
Caguas , founded in 1775, is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey....
. Rodríguez was a layperson
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
of the Roman Catholic Church, who was beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
on April 29, 2001. He is the first Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
, the first Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
-born layperson and the first layperson in the history of the United States to be beatified.
Early years
Rodríguez was the son of Manuel Baudilio Rodriguez and Herminia Santiago, both from large, Catholic families. He was baptized at the Sweet Name of Jesus Church in Caguas on May 4, 1919. Rodríguez was the second of five brothers and sisters. Two of his sisters married, while another is a Carmelite nunCarmelites
The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites is a Catholic religious order perhaps founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, hence its name. However, historical records about its origin remain uncertain...
. His only brother, Pepe Rodriguez is a Benedictine priest
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
and the first Puerto Rican to become abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of his monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
.
Charlie attended the Colegio Católico Notre Dame
Colegio Católico Notre Dame
Colegio Católico Notre Dame is a coeducational Roman Catholic school located in Caguas, Puerto Rico. Notre Dame is composed of a pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, elementary school, a middle school, and a high school...
, located in Caguas.
At the age of 12, Rodríguez saved his cousin from a dog attack. He was badly wounded in the attack, receiving severe bites which led to serious intestinal problems. Later, these medical problems caused him to leave university prior to graduation
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
.
Pastoral life
At university, Rodríguez became a Catholic lay ministerMinister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
. He professed extreme devotion to the liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
and worked to reverse the loss of liturgical customs that had been abandoned over generations. He expressed special concern over the Easter vigil
Vigil
A vigil is a period of purposeful sleeplessness, an occasion for devotional watching, or an observance...
, saying that it had lost its ancient character and gravitas
Gravitas
Gravitas was one of the Roman virtues, along with pietas, dignitas and virtus. It may be translated variously as weight, seriousness, dignity, or importance, and connotes a certain substance or depth of personality.-See also:*Auctoritas...
. One of his favorite sayings about this feast was "VIVIMOS PARA ESA NOCHE" (We shall live for this night). This is now the motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
on his tomb, which is located in the Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of Caguas, Cathedral Dulce Nombre de Jesús
Cathedral Dulce Nombre de Jesus
Cathedral Dulce Nombre de Jesús is a cathedral of Roman Catholic denomination located on Corchado Street in Caguas, Puerto Rico. It is located in front of Plaza Palmer in the center of town, and next to the Colegio Católico Notre Dame Elementary. There are only five cathedrals in Puerto Rico and...
.
Death
Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez died at the age of 44 of intestinal cancer on July 13, 1963Posthumous devotion
In 1981, a 42 year-old mother was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin'sHodgkin's lymphoma
Hodgkin's lymphoma, previously known as Hodgkin's disease, is a type of lymphoma, which is a cancer originating from white blood cells called lymphocytes...
malignant
Malignant
Malignancy is the tendency of a medical condition, especially tumors, to become progressively worse and to potentially result in death. Malignancy in cancers is characterized by anaplasia, invasiveness, and metastasis...
lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
. She and her husband had been friends of Rodríguez during his college years and knew of his death from cancer. She prayed to Rodríguez for intercession
Intercession
Intercession is the act of interceding between two parties. In both Christian and Islamic religious usage, it is a prayer to God on behalf of others....
on her behalf. After fully recovering, she publicly attributed her recovery to the miracle of intercession.
Beatification
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
from Spain, Rev. Mauro Meza, went to Puerto Rico to conduct a seminar. After learning about Rodríguez, he was authorized by the local bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
to take the story to the Vatican
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
. In Rome, Meza initiated the process of inquiry that could lead to canonization. As a result of the findings from this investigation, it was decided that the process to canonize Rodríguez could be started.
On July 7, 1997, Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
decreed Charlie's heroic sanctity and service in his life. The process took a major step on April 29, 2001, when Rodríguez was beatified by Pope John Paul II.
Rodríguez is the first Puerto Rican person, the first Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
-born layperson and the first layperson in the history of the United States to be beatified. In the entire Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
, Rodríguez is only the second layperson to be beatified.
Candidate for sainthood
The probability for Rodríguez being recognized as a saintSaint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
seems high, given recent changes in canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
and the popular devotion paid to him. The 1983 reform of the Catholic Church's canon law has streamlined the canonization procedure considerably compared to the process carried out previously. The new process was established by Pope John Paul II, in his apostolic constitution
Apostolic constitution
An apostolic constitution is the highest level of decree issued by the Pope. The use of the term constitution comes from Latin constitutio, which referred to any important law issued by the Roman emperor, and is retained in church documents because of the inheritance that the canon law of the...
of January 25, 1983, Divinus Perfectionis Magister and by Pietro Cardinal Palazzini, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Congregation for the Causes of Saints
The Congregation for the Causes of Saints is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the complex process that leads to the canonization of saints, passing through the steps of a declaration of "heroic virtues" and beatification...
. For Rodríguez to pass from Blessed to Saint, one more miracle (confirmed by the Vatican) is necessary.
Namesake
- A school in Bayamón is named after him, with the blessed title. The school, originally called Escuela Superior Católica de Bayamón, was renamed in 2001: Colegio Beato Carlos Manuel Rodríguez. Staff from the school witnessed the beatification ceremony.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- EWTN page in Spanish on Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
- El Trece es Buen Dia Obra Dramatica En Dos Actos By Alida Subira Echegaray (Spanish Book)
Report Favors to
Report any favors which are granted through the intercession of Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez toFundacion Carlos M Rodriguez
Círculo Carlos M. Rodríguez
PO Box 360748
San Juan, P.R. 00936-0748