Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodriguez Santiago: Puerto Rico's First Blessed!

The Catholic Church remembers today Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodriguez Santiago! He is the first (surely not the last) blessed to come from Puerto Rico! Most of the following comes from the site savior.org:

He was the 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. He was known as Charlie (or Chali) by his friends! When he was 6 the family store and home were burned to the ground and the family moved in with his mother's family. 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, 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.

He was an office clerk at Caguas, and at the University of Puerto Rico Agriculture Experiment Station. Carlos was a translator, converting English documents to Spanish. He 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). He published Christian Life Days to help university students enjoy liturgical seasons. Carlos was a member of the Brotherhood of Christian Doctrine, Holy Name Society, and Knights of Columbus. He taught catechism to high school students and encouraged liturgical renewal among clergy and laity. He 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 and he suffered from rectal cancer. He went through the misery of aggressive surgery in 1963 and at one point he felt himself abandoned by God. However he soon rediscovered his faith and his enthusiasm.