Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodriguez Santiago

Biography

Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodriguez Santiago was born on November 22, 1918, in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He was the second of five children to Manuel Baudilio Rodriguez and Herminia Santiago. Growing up in a devout Catholic family, Carlos was deeply influenced by his pious upbringing. His sister became a Carmelite nun, while one of his brothers became the first Puerto Rican abbot as a Benedictine monk.

At the age of six, tragedy struck when their family store and home burned down, forcing them to move in with Carlos' mother's family. During this time, Carlos spent a significant amount of time with his maternal grandmother, Alexjandrina Esteras, who played a crucial role in shaping his spiritual life.

A remarkable incident occurred when Carlos was just nine years old. He fearlessly wrestled a rabid dog that had snatched up his one-year-old cousin. Despite sustaining serious injuries, Carlos successfully saved his cousin's life. This incident showcased his bravery and selflessness from a young age.

Carlos faced health challenges from an early age, as he suffered from ulcerative colitis starting at the age of thirteen. This condition interrupted his promising academic career. Despite the setbacks, he managed to complete high school, although it took several years before he could pursue college due to his health limitations.

Throughout his life, Carlos never missed an opportunity to serve as an altar boy. He worked as an office clerk until 1946 and attempted to attend the University of Puerto Rico. However, his health prevented him from continuing his studies at the time. In his spare time, Carlos taught himself to play the piano and organ, and he found solace in spending days hiking in the countryside.

Carlos worked as an office clerk at Caguas, Puerto Rico, and later at the University of Puerto Rico Agriculture Experiment Station. Utilizing his skills as a translator, he converted English documents to Spanish and began writing and publishing the magazines Liturgy and Christian Culture, with his modest salary. Alongside Father McWilliams, he founded a Liturgy Circle in Caguas and, together with Father McGlone, organized the chorus Te Deum Laudamus.

His principal apostolic work took place at the Catholic University Center in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. There, Carlos evangelized to students and teachers, organizing a Liturgy Circle called the Circulo de Cultura Christiana (Christian Culture Circle). His dedication to the liturgical seasons led him to publish Christian Life Days, aimed at helping university students deepen their faith and spiritual practice.

Carlos actively participated in various religious organizations, including the Brotherhood of Christian Doctrine, Holy Name Society, and the Knights of Columbus. He taught catechism to high school students, promoting liturgical renewal among clergy and laity alike. Even before the reforms of Vatican II, Carlos advocated for the active participation of the laity, the use of vernacular language, and devotion to the Paschal Vigil.

As the years went by, Carlos's health continued to decline. He battled rectal cancer and underwent aggressive surgery in 1963, which brought immense suffering. During this time, he experienced a moment of feeling abandoned by God, but soon rediscovered his faith and enthusiasm, becoming an example of joy in the midst of suffering for all those around him.

Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodriguez Santiago passed away on July 13, 1963, in Caguas, Puerto Rico, due to his ongoing battle with cancer. Throughout his life, he exhibited unwavering faith, selflessness, and dedication to the Catholic Church. Recognizing his virtuous life and the miraculous cure of a patient's non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma attributed to his intercession in 1981, Pope John Paul II beatified Carlos on April 29, 2001. He holds the distinction of being the first Puerto Rican blessed and the first Caribbean layman to be beatified. His feast day is celebrated on July 13th in the Martyrology and on May 4th in Puerto Rico, based on the day of his baptism.