By CatholicVote | Created at 2025-03-03 22:10:52 | Updated at 2025-03-04 04:12:32
6 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // Pope Francis recently authorized the canonization of Blessed José Gregorio Hernández, a Venezuelan physician renowned for his dedication to the poor, making him the nation’s first saint.
Known as the “doctor of the poor,” Hernández spent his life serving those who had no one else to care for them. Born in 1864 in the small Venezuelan town of Isnotú, he excelled in his studies, eventually traveling to Europe to train in bacteriology, which was a cutting-edge field at the time.
Upon returning to Venezuela, Hernández became a prominent figure at the José María Vargas Hospital in Caracas. While there, he founded the nation’s first bacteriology laboratory and was among the 35 founding members of the Venezuelan Academy of Medicine in 1904.
Despite his academic accomplishments, Hernández’ heart was always with the most vulnerable, giving free medical treatment and offering not only healing but also spiritual comfort to those in need.
Hernández’s deep faith led him to join the Third Order of Saint Francis as a layman. He made two attempts to enter the priesthood but was hindered by health issues. Despite these challenges, he remained a daily communicant with a rich prayer life.
During a general audience in 2023, Pope Francis reflected on Hernández’s legacy, saying that Christians are called not just to talk about problems but to “get their hands dirty” in addressing them.
“It was natural for him to care for those who were begging on the streets and were in dire need of the love he freely received from Jesus every day,” Pope Francis said. “This is where he drew strength from: intimacy with God.”
The Pope also noted that Bl. Hernández’s devotion to caring for others was rooted in his own recognition of his need for grace.
Hernández died on June 29, 1919, after being struck by a car while delivering medicine to an impoverished patient. He succumbed to a head injury sustained in the accident. An estimated 20,000 people attended his funeral.
The process for his canonization began in 1949. He was declared venerable in 1986 and beatified in April 2021 after the Vatican recognized a miracle attributed to his intercession — the healing of a young girl who had been shot in the head.
