Peter of Betancurt
Peter von Betancurt (born March 19 or March 21, 1626 in Vilaflor , † April 25, 1667 in Antigua Guatemala ; full name San Pedro de San José Betancurt ) is the first saint to be born in the Canary Islands . He is also called Hermano Pedro (German brother Peter).
Life
Until 1649, Peter von Betancurt lived as a goatherd on Tenerife , first in his birthplace Vilaflor, and later in a cave between today's El Médano and Tenerife South Airport . That year he left Tenerife to move to Guatemala . In 1653 he began training as a priest in the Jesuit college, but broke off the training because he did not feel up to the demands. In 1653 he joined the Third Order of the Franciscans and from then on worked as a missionary in hospitals and prisons as well as among the unemployed and slaves. With donations he opened the hospital “Our Lady of Bethlehem” and later a school for the poor, a home for the homeless, a hostel for priests and an oratory . The men and women who joined him called themselves Bethlehem Brothers and Sisters, respectively.
He was canonized by John Paul II in Guatemala City on July 30, 2002 .
Hermano Pedros Cave on Tenerife 28 ° 3 ′ 5.6 ″ N , 16 ° 33 ′ 12.3 ″ W.
Monument to Hermano Pedros in Hermano Pedros cave (Tenerife)
Grave in the Church of San Francisco in Antigua Guatemala
credentials
- ↑ San Pedro de San José de Betancourt. Sitio web de las Siervas de los Corazones Traspasados de Jesús y María.
- ↑ Pedro de San José Betancurt, Santo
Web links
- Entry in the dictionary of saints
- Website of the company Obras Sociales with the biography of Peter von Betancurts
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Betancurt, Peter von |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Hermano Pedro; Betancur, San Pedro de San José (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Missionary and saint |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 19, 1626 or March 21, 1626 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Vilaflor |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 25, 1667 |
| Place of death | Guatemala City |