Hernández, called the “doctor of the poor”, thus becomes the first Venezuelan to receive the maximum recognition of holiness and ninth in Latin America, after a process of verification of miracles of more than 70 years, which began in 1949.
The papal decision was based on the overflowing devotion and interest in the figure of Hernández “who grew exponentially in recent years both in his native country and in the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean,” according to the Vatican’s message. The consideration of “miracles” was not specified.
The news of the canonization filled the Catholic Venezuelans with joy, both in the country and abroad where many are exiled, because for many years sanctification was expected with faith.
Gift for the Church
The Venezuelan cardinal and archbishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of Caracas, Baltazar Porras, one of the promoters of the canonization, considered the fact as “a gift for the universal church.”
In addition to Hernández, the Pontiff approved the request for canonization of Blessed Bartolo Longo, founder of the Sanctuary of Pompeya, as well as the
New venerables except d’Acququo, a carabinero who offered his life to save a group of people from Nazi reprisals, according to the statement.
It is expected that the Pontiff, who remains in the Gemelli Hospital in Rome for 15 days for bilateral pneumonia with slight improvements, summon a Consistory of Cardinals to set the date of the celebration of these canonizations.
The Vatican reported that Pope Francis met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, number two of the Holy See and former Apostolic Nunciation in Venezuela (2009-2013), to manage decisions.
José Gregorio Hernández, Santo de Venezuela
José Gregorio Hernández, born in the population of Isnotu in the Venezuelan Andes on October 26, 1864 and the oldest of six children of a humble couple, became a doctor at the Central University of Venezuela, in Caracas, at an early age and specialized in France.
Back to Venezuela, the doctor dedicated himself to healing sick with deep religious vocation and delivery. Not only did five languages spoke well, in addition to Latin and Hebrew, but also attributed the introduction of the microscope in Venezuela, according to biographical notes.
He was recognized as a scientific researcher, founder of the First Chair of Bacteriology in America, and also one of the promoters of the National Academy of Medicine. In addition, he studied philosophy and music.
After returning to the country, he began his religious path that took him to the monastery with the name of Brother Marcelo, and then to enter the Santa Rosa de Lima Seminary, but a disease forced him to devote himself entirely to medicine.
After death overwhelmed by a car in a street on June 29, 1919, José Gregorio Hernández left a legacy of dedication and healing of people with serious health breaks, so the parishioner began to invoke him with prayers in his requests. Some of those would then be considered “miracles.”
Since then, the Catholic Church began the canonization process to declare it holy. In 1972, the Holy See recognized that Hernández “lived a virtuous and exemplary life of Catholics,” according to reports, and Pope Paul VI granted him the title of God’s servant, the first requirement for canonization.
In 1986, he was declared “venerable” by John Paul II and in 2021 Blessed by Francisco, who on Tuesday raised him to be holy of the Catholic Church.
His remains are venerated in the Church of Our Lady of the Candelaria, in the center of Caracas.
Holy for devotion
Although over the years the Vatican received numerous facts considered miracles, Pope Francis valued in his decision the devotion extended by the world towards José Gregorio as a good man, also recognized as a symbol of union of Venezuelans.
Cardinal Porras states that during his trips through Latin America and Europe he found that “José Gregorio arrived by osmosis”, in a process of deep propagation of faith and belief in its virtues.
“All this devotion has been proven through letters and testimonies of religious, religious leaders and personalities of the world who have attesting that in their church, diocese or community, José Gregorio Hernández has a lot of devotees and followers who admire him and entrust him to him,” adds the priest and journalist Honegger Molina, responsible for the communications of Cardinal Porras.
Emphasizes the significance of the canonization decree.
“José Gregorio Hernández is a man out of the ranks of the faithful, and that tells us that believers, Christians can reach holiness; also that there is faith and it is possible to build societies from human values through transcendence ”.
“In addition, it shows that José Gregorio is an example to follow not only in the religious sphere, but also, professionals and as a citizen, with an integrative message and unquestionable news,” he adds.
In Venezuela, devotion and faith in “The doctor of the poor” as Salvador de Lives grows every day and shows it recent studies.
An investigation into “The popular belief in José Gregorio Hernández”, made by specialists Roberto Briceño-León and Alberto Camardiel, of the Social Sciences Laboratory (LACSO) and published in 2021, revealed that 70% of those consulted in Venezuela confessed to believe in the doctor as a saint. Just 29% said no.
The survey in 1,200 households distributed throughout the country was completed in early 2020, shortly before the quarantine by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Just a miracle
In the decision that elevates José Gregorio to the status of Santo, only a miracle of the two that the Vatican Theological Commission had approved four years ago.
This is that of the healing of the Yaxury Solórzano Ortega, 10 years of age, who was mortally injured with a bullet on the head, on March 10, 2017 when armed men assaulted their father.
This fact, which led José Gregorio to be designated Blessed, is now the base miracle that allows him to reach holiness, says Molina.
“Without that first miracle, the process could not have continued to the altars that were worked through the fame of holiness through the support of its universally extended devotion.”
The second miracle, which had appeared from Miami to support canonization as a saint, was “fooled.”
