Under the slogan “An encounter with Holy Brother Pedro”, the temple of San Francisco El Grande, sanctuary of Brother Pedro, in the city of Antigua Guatemala, announced the official opening of the tomb of the first saint of Guatemala.
The Catholic community and devotees of Holy Brother Pedro de San José Betancur will be able to live this historical and spiritual moment on March 21, 22 and 23, on the occasion of the jubilee for the 400 years of his birth.
Fray Edwin Alvarado, in charge of the sanctuary, explained that this act is carried out within the framework of said commemoration, so it was decided, together with the Church, to carry out the official opening of the tomb, allowing faithful and pilgrims to approach with respect, pray, venerate, thank or ask for a miracle to the Guatemalan saint.
An act that celebrates the Jubilee of Brother Pedro
The commemoration activity will take place in the Temple of San Francisco El Grande, where the Holy Brother Pedro asked to be buried, as stated in his will. The schedule will be 6 to 18 hours on March 21, 22 and 23.
The church leader stressed that the reason for the opening is to formal the jubilee year, in honor of 400 years of the birth of Holy Brother Pedro, from whom you have baptism registration on March 21, 1626. Therefore, the celebration will conclude on May 21, 2026.
Alvarado explained that, according to the tradition of the Church, the spiritual birth is commemorated from the date of baptism, which has been chosen that day as the beginning of the jubilee, and not on March 19, real date of its birth.
Veneration and protocol in the visit to the grave
According to the protocols established by the organizers of the event, during the visit the faithful may venerate the remains of the Holy Brother Pedro, who are in a special urn, with their full and armed body, retaining their incorrupt bones, which has been a reason for astonishment and devotion over time, said Fray Edwin Alvarado.
In his grave you can also appreciate the baptism act of Brother Pedro and a significant photograph from Vilaflor de Tenerife, Spain, his place of origin.
The organizers of the event declared that during the visit it is prohibited to take photographs and videos. Income and exit protocols will be maintained to guarantee the respect and order of the devotional act.
Religious programming of the celebration
To commemorate this jubilee year of Holy Brother Pedro, Fray Alvarado announced that during these days several Eucharists will be held:
Friday, March 21:
- Masses at 6.30, 12 and 17.
- Pilgrimage from Calvary to the Temple of San Francisco, together with the educational community of Belén School, with a visit to the emblematic Casita de Belén, where the Holy Brother Pedro lived and died.
Saturday, March 22:
- Masses at 6.30, 12 and 17.
Sunday, March 23:
- Masses at 6.30, 8, 10, 12 and 16.30.
- Opening of the “Pilgrim Door”, special space for those who wish to perform their devotional step.
A legacy that remains
Fray Edwin Alvarado, in charge of the sanctuary, stressed that this act seeks to honor, venerate and thank the Holy Brother Pedro, remembering his spiritual legacy and the traces he left in the history of Guatemala.
A procession with the image of Holy Brother Pedro travels through the streets of Antigua Guatemala. (PHOTO FREE PRESS: PL hemeroteca)
Historical moments of the Holy Brother Pedro
- 1771: Pope Clemente XIV declares him venerable.
- 1817: His remains are transferred to the Chapel of the Third Order, due to the deterioration of the original temple.
- May 21, 1980: a private exhumation of its remains is carried out.
- June 22, 1980: Pope John Paul II declares Blessed.
- October 14, 1990: permission is granted for the canonical and scientific exhumation of its remains.
- October 28, 1990: His remains are transferred to the current burial in the chapel of the Veracruz.
Why does the jubilee start on March 21 and not 19?
Although many affirm that Brother Pedro was born on March 19, which would justify his full name, Pedro de San José Betancur, Fray Edwin Alvarado explained that the official celebration has been established on March 21, date of his baptism, as stated in his minutes, considered the most authentic and official document of his existence, at a time without birth records as the current ones.
This clarification has been fundamental for the Church and the ecclesiastical authorities, which consider that this date represents more accurately the beginning of their Christian life.
The desire of Holy Brother Pedro on his grave
In his will, specifically in point number 4, read by the ecclesiastical authorities of the Temple of San Francisco el Grande, Brother Pedro expressed his will with respect to the place where he wanted to be buried:
I command, then, that from the land of which I was formed, it is my will to be buried in the church of the convent of Mr. San Francisco, in the chapel of the burial.
That desire was fulfilled, and his remains currently rest in that place, where he worship and veneration today.