Religious Figure. Born to deeply religious and devout parents, he was instructed in the doctrines of the catholic faith by his mother and grandmother since early childhood. At the age of 9, he was severely wounded by a rabid dog that had seized his 1-year-old cousin, and which he bravely fought to save the toddler's life. From age 13 onwards he suffered in stoic silence the pain of the terrible condition of ulcerative cholitis. His gastrointestinal illness eventually prevented him from finishing the degree he was pursuing at the University of Puerto Rico. However, he remained employed as an office assistant, serving at the same time as a laic of the Church. He dedicated innumerable hours of his spare time teaching Cathecism to school children and editing religious publications, often buying the supplies from his own humble income. Above all things, he fervently promoted the virtues of the Eucharist and the Paschal Vigil ("We live for that night", he would say). Gradually his health continued to decline, until he was diagnosed with terminal colorectal cancer. Towards the end, he experienced the "dark night of the soul", feeling abandoned by God, from which he emerged enlightened. He passed on peacefully on July 13th, 1963.
In 1982, a woman diagnosed with non-Hogdkins lymphoma, asked Charlie (as his friends used to call him) to intercede on her behalf. Shortly thereafter, she was declared completely cured without any sort of medical treatment. On July 7th, 1997, Charlie was declared Venerable by the Pope. He was Beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 29, 2001, making him the first Puerto Rican on his way to Sainthood.
In 1982, a woman diagnosed with non-Hogdkins lymphoma, asked Charlie (as his friends used to call him) to intercede on her behalf. Shortly thereafter, she was declared completely cured without any sort of medical treatment. On July 7th, 1997, Charlie was declared Venerable by the Pope. He was Beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 29, 2001, making him the first Puerto Rican on his way to Sainthood.
Religious Figure. Born to deeply religious and devout parents, he was instructed in the doctrines of the catholic faith by his mother and grandmother since early childhood. At the age of 9, he was severely wounded by a rabid dog that had seized his 1-year-old cousin, and which he bravely fought to save the toddler's life. From age 13 onwards he suffered in stoic silence the pain of the terrible condition of ulcerative cholitis. His gastrointestinal illness eventually prevented him from finishing the degree he was pursuing at the University of Puerto Rico. However, he remained employed as an office assistant, serving at the same time as a laic of the Church. He dedicated innumerable hours of his spare time teaching Cathecism to school children and editing religious publications, often buying the supplies from his own humble income. Above all things, he fervently promoted the virtues of the Eucharist and the Paschal Vigil ("We live for that night", he would say). Gradually his health continued to decline, until he was diagnosed with terminal colorectal cancer. Towards the end, he experienced the "dark night of the soul", feeling abandoned by God, from which he emerged enlightened. He passed on peacefully on July 13th, 1963.
In 1982, a woman diagnosed with non-Hogdkins lymphoma, asked Charlie (as his friends used to call him) to intercede on her behalf. Shortly thereafter, she was declared completely cured without any sort of medical treatment. On July 7th, 1997, Charlie was declared Venerable by the Pope. He was Beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 29, 2001, making him the first Puerto Rican on his way to Sainthood.
In 1982, a woman diagnosed with non-Hogdkins lymphoma, asked Charlie (as his friends used to call him) to intercede on her behalf. Shortly thereafter, she was declared completely cured without any sort of medical treatment. On July 7th, 1997, Charlie was declared Venerable by the Pope. He was Beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 29, 2001, making him the first Puerto Rican on his way to Sainthood.
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