Blessed Carlos Rodriguez

Episode 22

Carlos Manuel Rodriguez came from a humble but devout family in Puerto Rico. He suffered from a terrible illness for most of his life. He barely graduated high school and couldn’t complete college. But he had a deep love of Christ and of the Liturgy, particularly the Easter Vigil. He would say of that liturgy, “¡Vivimos para esa noche!”, “We live for that night!” He engaged in great catechetical works and organized groups at the University of Puerto Rico and in many parishes to discuss the liturgy. He believed that the faithful needed to be helped to learn about the liturgy, so they might know their faith better. He also advocated for small changes to the liturgy, including including the vernacular in places, and making it easier for the faithful to engage in full active participation. His health deteriorated in early 1963, when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He died in July 1963. Students who had learned from him carried on his legacy and eventually organized to promote his cause of canonization. A miracle was approved in 1999 which led to Pope John Paul II declaring him Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez in 2001. He is the first Caribbean layman to be beatified, and only the second layman in the western hemisphere.

Books

• The American Catholic Almanac

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