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Profile
Second of five children born to Manuel Baudilio Rodriguez and Herminia
Santiago; one of his sisters is a Carmelite nun, one brother a Benedictine
monk, the first Puerto Rican to be an abbot. At age 6, the family store
and home were burned to the ground; they moved in with his mother's
family, and Carlos spent time with his pious maternal grandmother
Alexjandrina Esteras. At age 9 he wrestled a rabid dog that had snatched
up his 1-year-old cousin, and was badly wounded in the fight; the cousin
is now his 70's. Suffered from ulcerative colitis from age 13, which
interrupted a brilliant scholarly career; he completed high school, but it
was several years before he could move on to college.
Carlos never passed up a chance to serve as an altar boy. Worked as an
office clerk until 1946. Tried to attend the University of Puerto Rico,
but his health prevented it. After a few lessons, he taught himself to
play piano and organ. Loved to spend days hiking in the countryside.
Office clerk at Caguas, and at the University of Puerto Rico Agriculture
Experiment Station. Translator, converting English documents to Spanish.
Used his translating skills to write, and his modest salary to publish
Liturgy and Christian Culture magazines. With the help of Father
McWilliams, he founded a Liturgy Circle at Caguas. With Father McGlone, he
organized the chorus Te Deum Laudamus.
His principal apostolic work was at Catholic University Center, Rio
Piedras, Puerto Rico where he evangelized to students and teachers.
Organized another Liturgy Circle (Circulo de Cultura Christiana: Christian
Culture Circle). Published Christian Life Days to help university students
enjoy liturgical seasons. Member of the Brotherhood of Christian Doctrine,
Holy Name Society, and Knights of Columbus. Taught catechism to high
school students. Encouraged liturgical renewal among clergy and laity;
worked for active participation of the laity, the use of vernacular
language, and devotion to the Paschal Vigil - all prior to Vatican II.
His health declined further; he suffered from rectal cancer, and the
misery of aggressive surgery in 1963. At one point he felt himself
abandoned by God, but soon rediscovered his faith, and his enthusiasm.
Puerto Rico's first blessed.
Born
22 November 1918 at Caguas, Puerto Rico
Died
13 July 1963 of cancer
Venerable
7 July 1997 by Pope John Paul II
Beatified
29 April 2001 by Pope John Paul II; the miraculous cure of a patient's
non-Hodgkins malignant lymphoma in 1981 is attributed to him; his Cause is
unique, being carried forward by the laity.
Canonized - pending
Readings
We need Catholics who are alert to the present moment...modern Catholics
who know how to nourish themselves in the past but whose eyes are fixed on
the future.
Blessed Carlos
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