For now, Guatemala has a recognized saint: Saint Peter of San José de Betancur, born in the Canary Islands in 1626, whose work was carried out in Guatemala.
This act was proclaimed during the third visit of Pope John Paul II to Guatemala, at the Hipódromo del Sur. Brother Pedro of San José de Betancur was proclaimed a saint on Tuesday, July 30, 2002, before more than 700 thousand faithful, in an unprecedented ceremony.
Under a gray sky, with the image of the blessed in the background, placed between two columns and decorated with thousands of white roses, in a liturgical act that put an end to a beatification and canonization process that lasted 304 years.
At the age of 23, the holy Brother Pedro wanted to embark on a journey to American lands and arrived in the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala on February 18, 1651. Upon arrival, he wore the habit of a Franciscan tertiary and dedicated most of his life to the care of the sick and helpless of Santiago de Guatemala.
This man left countless works in Guatemalan lands, such as being the first literacy teacher in Guatemala, the construction of a hospital for convalescents, the introduction of traditional inns and births, and the construction of El Calvario de Antigua, the convent of Our Lady of Belén and the Bethlemite Order in its male and female branches. This was the first religious order founded in America.
He died on April 25, 1667. Traditionally, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of his saints on the date of his death, but the feast of Brother Peter is celebrated every April 24, since the 25th is dedicated to the apostle Saint Mark. The cobbled streets of our city once again witness the walk of the Holy Brother Peter.
We commemorate 400 years of the birth of the protector of the poor on March 19 and his baptism into his Christian life on March 21, 1626. His legacy of humility and extreme charity will have different activities and among them, processional tours including that of Felipe Apóstol in the village of San Felipe de Jesús, on April 25 and 26, as well as on May 2.
Saturday April 25
At 6 p.m. there will be a procession that will have a route that leaves from 7th. Calle Poniente, in San José el Viejo, heading to the Cathedral and plans to return at 9 p.m.
Sunday 26
The image of Brother Pedro will leave the Temple of San Francisco the Great at 11 a.m. and the return is expected at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday May 2
One day before the celebration dedicated to San Felipe, the image will go out in procession from the temple of San Felipe de Jesús.
