Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur

Peter of Betancurt ( 19 * March or March 21, 1626 in Vilaflor, † April 25, 1667 in Antigua Guatemala, full name San Pedro de San Jose Betancur ) is the only saint who was born in the Canary Islands. It is also called Hermano Pedro (German brother Peter ).

Life

Until 1649 Peter of Betancurt lived as a goatherd in Tenerife, first in his native Vilaflor, later in a cave between the present and the El Medano Tenerife South Airport. This year, he left Tenerife to move to Guatemala. In 1653 he began a training of priests in the Jesuit College, but the training broke off, because it satisfies the requirements did not feel grown. 1653 he joined the Third Order of the Franciscans and was active from now on as a missionary in hospitals and prisons, as well as the unemployed and slaves. With donations he opened the hospital "Our Lady of Bethlehem " and later a school for the poor, a homeless shelter, a hostel for priests and an oratorio. The men and women who joined him to Bethlehem brothers or sisters called.

On 30 July 2002, he was canonized by John Paul II in Guatemala City.