Saint José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros

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Saint José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros (born 26 October 1864, died 29 June 1919) was a Venezuelan saint, physician, and lay Franciscan, revered as the “Doctor of the Poor” for his selfless service to the underprivileged. Born in Isnotú, Trujillo State, Venezuela, to Benigno Hernández Manzaneda and Josefa Cisneros Mansilla, he graduated as a doctor from the University of Caracas in 1888 and studied in Paris, becoming a pioneering scientist and professor. Known for his deep Catholic faith, he treated the poor for free and joined the Secular Franciscan Order.

Killed in a car accident in Caracas, his death sparked widespread devotion. Beatified on 30 April 2021 by Pope Francis, his canonization was announced in 2025, with a date pending confirmation. His relics are venerated in Caracas’s La Candelaria Church, and he is honored in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions.[1][2][3]

Saint José Gregorio Hernández’s life blended medical excellence with profound charity, making him a national hero and spiritual icon in Venezuela. His scientific contributions, including introducing microbiology to the country, and his miracles, such as healings attributed to his intercession, fueled his cult. Celebrated on his feast day, 29 June, he is the patron saint of medical students, doctors, and Venezuela. His legacy thrives in the Archdiocese of Caracas, with devotion spreading globally among Venezuelan diaspora and Catholic faithful.[4][5]


Stored in Cargo: Saint José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros

Saint José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros
Feast Day June 29
Liturgical Class
Patronage Medical students; Doctors; Venezuela
Birthplace Isnotú, Trujillo State, Venezuela
Death Place Caracas, Venezuela
Cause of Death Accidental death (car accident)
Primary Shrine La Candelaria Church, Caracas, Venezuela


Biography

Birth

Saint José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros was born on 26 October 1864 in Isnotú, Trujillo State, Venezuela, to Benigno María Hernández Manzaneda, a merchant, and Josefa Antonia Cisneros Mansilla, a devout homemaker.[1] The eldest of six children, he was baptized on 30 January 1865 in Isnotú, a small Andean village in the Diocese of Trujillo. His family’s strong Catholic faith and rural life instilled early virtues of charity and piety.

José’s mother taught him to pray, fostering a lifelong devotion. His father’s work in medicine and livestock exposed him to healing practices, sparking his medical vocation. Sources agree on his birth date, with no discrepancies noted.[4][6]

Early Life

Saint José Gregorio Hernández’s early life in Isnotú was shaped by faith and education. After his mother’s death when he was eight, he was raised by his father and aunts, maintaining a “domestic church” environment.[7] A bright student, he excelled in school, showing a natural aptitude for science. At 13, he moved to Caracas to study at the Colegio Villegas, graduating with honors in 1882.

At 18, he enrolled in the University of Caracas’s medical school, graduating as a doctor on 29 June 1888. He pursued further studies in Paris from 1889 to 1891, specializing in microbiology and histology, and returned to Venezuela to teach and practice medicine.[2][8]

Occupation

Saint José Gregorio Hernández’s primary occupation was as a physician and professor, serving Venezuela’s poor and advancing medical science.[1] After returning from Paris in 1891, he established a practice in Caracas, treating impoverished patients for free, often paying for their medicines. He founded Venezuela’s first bacteriology lab and taught at the University of Caracas, introducing modern medical techniques.

His work included publishing 11 scientific papers and serving rural communities like Isnotú during vacations. Despite attempts to join religious orders, he remained a layman, joining the Secular Franciscan Order to live his faith through service.[9][5]

Vocation

Saint José Gregorio Hernández’s religious vocation was expressed as a lay Franciscan, blending medical service with deep Catholic spirituality.[10] Inspired by Saint Francis, he joined the Secular Franciscan Order, committing to poverty, prayer, and charity. He attended daily Mass, prayed the rosary, and supported the Church through almsgiving. Twice he sought to become a monk or priest, but health and circumstances kept him a layman, which he accepted as God’s will.

His vocation centered on serving the poor, whom he saw as Christ’s image. His faith guided his scientific work, earning him the title “Apostle of Peace” for reconciling faith and reason.[11][12]

Death

Saint José Gregorio Hernández died on 29 June 1919 in Caracas, Venezuela, after being struck by a car while crossing a street.[1] The accident occurred as he left a pharmacy, purchasing medicine for a poor patient. Aged 54, he suffered a fatal head injury, dying shortly after receiving last rites. His sudden death shocked Venezuela, sparking immediate devotion as thousands mourned.

His body was enshrined in La Candelaria Church, Caracas, becoming a pilgrimage site. His death, seen as a sacrifice for the poor, fueled his cult in the Archdiocese of Caracas.[2][13]

Significant events

  • Graduated as a doctor from the University of Caracas, 29 June 1888.[1]
  • Studied in Paris, specializing in microbiology, 1889–1891.[8]
  • Joined the Secular Franciscan Order, dedicating his life to faith and service.[9]
  • Died in a car accident in Caracas, 29 June 1919.[5]

Significant locations

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Legend

  • Birth location icon Birth location: Isnotú, Trujillo State, Venezuela
  • Death location icon Death location: Caracas, Venezuela
  • Notable location 1 icon Notable location:
  • Notable location 2 icon Notable location:
  • Notable location 3 icon Notable location:
  • Notable location 4 icon Notable location:
  • Notable location 5 icon Notable location:

Parishes

Saint José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros

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Canonization

Servant of God

The process to recognize Saint José Gregorio Hernández as a Servant of God began in the Archdiocese of Caracas in 1949, reflecting widespread devotion after his death.[1] The cause collected testimonies of his charity, medical service, and spiritual life, supported by the Venezuelan faithful and clergy. His reputation as the “Doctor of the Poor” accelerated the process.

Venerable

Saint José Gregorio Hernández was declared Venerable on 16 January 1986 by Pope John Paul II, recognizing his heroic virtue.[2] The Congregation for the Causes of Saints affirmed his life of faith, humility, and service, advancing his cause despite delays due to rigorous scrutiny of his scientific and religious balance.[14]

Beatification

Saint José Gregorio Hernández was beatified on 30 April 2021 by Pope Francis in Caracas, following the confirmation of a miracle: the healing of a girl with a severe brain injury in 2017, attributed to his intercession.[15] The miracle, involving Yaxury Solórzano’s recovery after a gunshot wound, was verified, allowing veneration in Venezuela.[3]

Canonization

Saint José Gregorio Hernández’s canonization was announced on 25 February 2025 by Pope Francis, with a consistorio held on 13 June 2025 to plan the ceremony, though the exact date remains pending.[3][16] The canonization requires a second miracle, but no details are confirmed in available sources. His sainthood, expected to be formalized in Rome, reflects his universal service.[10] X posts claim canonization occurred (post:0, 7), but these are inconclusive without Vatican confirmation.[17][18]

Miracles

Miracle for beatification

The miracle for Saint José Gregorio Hernández’s beatification involved the healing of Yaxury Solórzano, a Venezuelan girl, in 2017.[15] Shot in the head during a robbery, she suffered a severe brain injury but recovered fully after her mother prayed to José Gregorio. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints verified the cure as inexplicable, supporting his beatification in 2021.

This miracle strengthened devotion in Venezuela, where José Gregorio’s intercession is widely sought. The healing’s documentation met the Church’s rigorous standards.[3]

Miracle for canonization

No specific miracle for Saint José Gregorio Hernández’s canonization is documented in available sources, as his canonization date is pending.[3] A second miracle is typically required, but details remain unconfirmed. His widespread devotion suggests ongoing investigations into potential miracles.

The absence of a verified canonization miracle reflects the ongoing process. His beatification miracle set a precedent for his intercessory power.[2]

Other notable miracles

  • Numerous healings attributed to his intercession during and after his life, including undocumented cures reported by devotees in Venezuela.[19]

Patronage

Saint José Gregorio Hernández is the patron saint of medical students, doctors, and Venezuela, reflecting his medical legacy and national devotion.[5][20]

Feast day

Saint José Gregorio Hernández’s feast day is celebrated on 29 June in the Catholic and Orthodox liturgical calendars, commemorating his death in 1919.[4]

Veneration

Saint José Gregorio Hernández is venerated through prayers, novenas, and pilgrimages to La Candelaria Church in Caracas, Venezuela, where his relics are enshrined.[9] His feast day, 29 June, features Masses across Venezuela, with the Orthodox Church also honoring him.[10] Shrines and statues, like those in Isnotú, attract devotees seeking healing.

He is depicted in religious art with a doctor’s coat, stethoscope, or rosary, symbolizing his medical and spiritual roles. His cult inspires devotion in the Archdiocese of Caracas and parishes like Saint José Gregorio in Miami.[21]

Books

Written about the saint

Written by the saint

  • Eleven scientific papers on microbiology and medicine, published during his lifetime.[1]

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Gregorio_Hern%C3%A1ndez
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 https://aleteia.org/2025/02/25/jose-gregorio-hernandez-the-doctor-who-became-a-saint/
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 https://ciofs.info/2025/03/02/canonization-of-blessed-jose-gregorio-hernandez-cisneros/
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 https://www.franciscantradition.org/our-saints/our-saints-articles/1562-dr-jose-gregorio-hernandez-doctor-of-the-poor
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 https://kids.kiddle.co/Jos%C3%A9_Gregorio_Hern%C3%A1ndez
  6. ↑ https://www.saintforaminute.com/saints/blessed_jose_gregorio_hernandezcisneros
  7. ↑ https://www.palabranueva.net/the-doctor-of-the-poor-on-the-way-to-the-altars/
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 https://www.facebook.com/DynamicCatholic/posts/blessed-jos%C3%A9-gregorio-hernandez-cisneros-the-eldest/10158749651843623/
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 https://www.fiamc.org/uncategorized/dr-jose-gregorio-hernandez-cisneros/
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 https://www.omnesmag.com/en/newsroom/saint-venezuela-jose-gregorio-hernandez/
  11. ↑ https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/daily-readings/a-doctor-of-the-poor-and-apostle-of-peace-9010
  12. ↑ https://en.postposmo.com/jose-gregorio-hernandez/
  13. ↑ https://en.oshaeifa.com/jose-gregorio-hernandez/
  14. ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0020964320963336
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/doctor-tailor-dancer-monk-meet-jose
  16. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named post2
  17. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named post0
  18. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named post7
  19. ↑ https://saintsforsinners.com/products/saint-jose-gregorio-hernandez
  20. ↑ https://madisoncatholicherald.org/seek-to-perform-works-of-charity-like-blessed-jose-gregorio/
  21. ↑ https://catholictreehouse.com/blessed-jose-gregorio-hernandez-cisneros-october-26/
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