José Gregorio Hernández

2025-10-27T03:57:50Z

2600:1700:1151:DED0:7572:4B99:941A:6334:

{{Short description|Venezuelan physician and Franciscan tertiary declared a saint by the Catholic Church}}
{{family name hatnote|Hernández|Cisneros|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox saint
|honorific_prefix= [[Canonization|Saint]]
|name = St. José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros, [[Secular Franciscan Order|O.F.S.]]
|honorific_suffix=
|image = José Gregorio Hernández.jpg
|birth_name =
|birth_date = 26 October 1864
|birth_place = [[Isnotú, Trujillo, Venezuela|Isnotú]], [[Trujillo State|Trujillo]], [[Venezuela]]
|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1919|06|29|1864|10|25}}
|death_place = [[Caracas]], Venezuela
|titles = [[Saint]]
|attributes = Doctor's coat
|patronage = {{unbulleted list|Medical students|Diagnosticians|Doctors|Medical patients }}
|venerated_in = [[Catholic Church]] (Venezuela)
|feast_day = [[26 October]]
|beatified_date = 30 April 2021
|beatified_place = Colegio La Salle La Colina, [[Caracas]], [[Venezuela]],
|beatified_by = Archbishop [[Aldo Giordano]]
| canonized_date = 19 October 2025
| canonized_place = [[Saint Peter's Square]], [[Vatican City]],
| canonized_by = [[Pope Leo XIV]]
}}

'''José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros''', [[Secular Franciscan Order|O.F.S.]]({{IPA|es|xoˈse ɣɾeˈɣoɾjo eɾˈnandes|lang}}; 26 October 1864 – 29 June 1919) was a Venezuelan [[physician]] and active member of the [[Third Order of Saint Francis]]. Born in [[Isnotú, Trujillo, Venezuela|Isnotú]], [[Trujillo State]], he became a highly renowned doctor, more so after his death.<ref name="Fern">Fernández Juárez, Gerardo (2004). [https://books.google.com/books?id=DE6pY4e5VNAC&dq=Jos%C3%A9+Gregorio+Hern%C3%A1ndez&pg=PA216 ''Salud e interculturalidad en América Latina: perspectivas antropológicas'']. Editorial Abya Yala. {{ISBN|9978-22-463-7}} {{in lang|es}}</ref> Known for his many acts of charity for the poor of his society and his dedicated life of faith, he was [[Beatification|beatified]] by the [[Catholic Church]] in 2021 by [[Pope Francis]], who later approved his [[canonization]] in early 2025.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=25 February 2025 |title=First Venezuelan saint: Pope Francis approves canonization of Dr. José Gregorio Hernández |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/262423/first-venezuelan-saint-pope-francis-approves-canonization-of-dr-jose-gregorio-hernandez |access-date=25 February 2025 |work=[[Catholic News Agency]]}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-06-13 |title=Ordinary Public Consistory for the vote on Causes for Canonization, 13.06.2025 |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2025/06/13/250613a.html |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=press.vatican.va}}</ref> He was canonized by [[Pope Leo XIV]] on 19 October 2025, one of the first two citizens of that nation to be so recognized by the Catholic Church.

== Early life and education ==
José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros was born on 26 October 1864 in [[Isnotú]], a small village in the [[Trujillo (state)|State of Trujillo]] in Venezuela. He was one of the six children of Benigno María Hernández y Manzaneda and Josefa Antonia Cisneros y Mansilla. His mother was descended from a notable family of Spain, being related to the famed 15th-century [[Cardinal Cisneros]], a major figure in Spanish history.

Hernandez spent the entirety of his childhood in his hometown, where his mother worked as a housekeeper and his father sold pharmaceuticals and livestock. Hernández was [[baptized]] on 30 January 1865 in what is now the parish Church of Niño Jesús de Escuque.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Aguirre-Lora|first=María Esther|date=20 January 2016|title=Reseña del libro La Educación Socialista en Chihuahua 1934-1940, una mirada desde la Escuela Normal del Estado, de Jesús Adolfo Trujillo Holguín|journal=Revista Iberoamericana de Educación Superior|volume=7|issue=18|doi=10.22201/iisue.20072872e.2016.18.182|issn=2007-2872|url=https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=299143567010 |doi-access=free}}</ref> He received the [[sacrament of Confirmation]] on 6 December 1867 from the [[Archdiocese of Mérida in Venezuela|Bishop of Mérida]], {{ill|Juan Hilario Bosset Castillo|es}}.<ref>{{Cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306163324/https://reportecatolicolaico.com/2014/10/1171/|archivedate=6 March 2016|url=https://reportecatolicolaico.com/2014/10/1171/|title=José Gregorio Hernández: Notas Biográficas |work=Reporte Católico Laico|author=mackyar|language=es}}</ref>

At the age of thirteen, José Gregorio told his parents of his desire to go to law school and become a lawyer, but was persuaded by his mother to pursue a career in medicine instead. In 1878, he set off on the long and difficult journey from the Andes Mountain Range in Trujillo to Caracas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://es.catholic.net/op/articulos/22833/dr-jose-gregorio-hernandez.html|title=Dr. José Gregorio Hernández|website=Catholic.net|language=es|access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref> He enrolled in ''Colegio Villegas'', one of the country's most prestigious schools at the time, where, in 1882, he graduated with a baccalaureate in philosophy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://es.catholic.net/op/articulos/22833/dr-jose-gregorio-hernandez.html|title=Dr. José Gregorio Hernández|website=Catholic.net|language=es|access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref>

After completing his high school education, Hernández enrolled in the [[Central University of Venezuela]] in [[Caracas]] to begin his medical studies. Throughout his six years at the university, he was described by his professors as a student of outstanding academic performance and conduct.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://diariodelosandes.com/index.php?r=site/noticiasecundaria&id=4115#sthash.OhIy38Fs.dpuf|website=diariodelosandes.com|access-date=20 February 2020 |title=Inicio }}</ref>

== Career ==
In 1888, Hernández graduated as a [[Medicine|medical doctor]] from the Central University of Venezuela. The Venezuelan government awarded him a grant to continue his studies in Europe. Hernández traveled to Paris, where he studied other fields of medicine such as [[bacteriology]], [[pathology]], [[microbiology]], [[histology]], and [[physiology]]. Following his return to Venezuela, he became a leading doctor at the ''Hospital José María Vargas''.{{cn|date=August 2022}} Between 1891 and 1916, he dedicated himself to teaching, to medicine, and to religious practice.

During this period, however, Hernandez made two attempts to begin studies for the priesthood, but his fragile physical condition ultimately stood in his way: In July 1908, he entered the [[Certosa di Farneta|Farneta Charterhouse]] near [[Lucca]], Italy, to explore his [[religious vocation]] as a [[hermit]] of the [[Carthusian Order]], leaving the following April. In 1913, in a further attempt, Hernandez enrolled as a [[seminarian]] at the [[Pontifical Latin American College]] in Rome, but again, health problems obliged him to return to Venezuela. There he turned to the life of a Franciscan tertiary to fulfill his religious calling.

During his practice of medicine, Hernández treated the poor for free and even bought them medicines with his own money.{{cn|date=August 2022}} Among his scientific publications are ''The Elements of Bacteriology'' (1906), ''About the Angina Pectoris of Malaric Origin'' (1909), and ''The Elements of Philosophy'' (1912).{{cn|date=August 2022}}

With the arrival in 1918 of the highly contagious [[Spanish flu]] in Venezuela, Hernández treated patients in Caracas who had caught it. Hernández died in 1919, after being struck by a motorist.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Valderrama|first=Shalym|date=19 June 2020|title=Venezuela celebrates beatification of 'doctor of the poor'|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-church-idUSKBN23Q3EC|access-date=20 June 2020}}</ref>

His major relics are venerated in the ''La Candelaria'' Catholic Church in Caracas.<ref>{{cite web|title=Places of Worship in Caracas|url=http://www.gpsmycity.com/tours/places-of-worship-in-caracas-3170.html|accessdate=22 October 2014|website=City Walk|publisher=GPSmyCity.com|archive-date=21 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821002120/http://www.gpsmycity.com/tours/places-of-worship-in-caracas-3170.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Beatification ==
After his death, Hernández's fame began to spread. Claims were made around the country that miracles had been experienced in cases where his intercession before God had been invoked.<ref name="Fern" /><ref name="Dineen">Dinneen, Mark (2001). [https://books.google.com/books?id=hdh52tIpY9UC&q=%22Jose+Gregorio+Hernandez%22 ''Culture and customs of Venezuela''], Greenwood Publishing Group, pp. 32-34. {{ISBN|0-313-30639-7}}</ref> Eventually, his name became known all over [[Latin America]] and [[Spain]]. His healing help is often invoked by both doctors and patients. He is also called upon for protection during overland journeys.

In 1949, Venezuelan [[Catholic Church]] officials began the process of determining whether or not Hernández was eligible for sainthood. In 1985, the [[Holy See]] granted him the title of ''[[Venerable]]''. The next step in the process for Hernández was that of beatification.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Neuman|first1=William|date=1 October 2014|title=Venezuelans Seek Sainthood For Beloved Folk Hero, José Gregorio Hernández|work=Huffington Post|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/01/venezuela-saint-jose-hernandez_n_5914264.html|accessdate=22 October 2014}}</ref>

In August 2014, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Venezuela called on all Catholics to attend Mass and thank God "for the life and example of this great Venezuelan, with great hope and implore the grace of his speedy beatification" on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Hernández' birth, Sunday, 26 October 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Savino|first1=Jorge Uros|title=Message from the President of the CEV with the 150th birthday of the venerable Dr. Jose Gregorio Hernandez Cisneros|url=http://www.cev.org.ve/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=86:mensaje-de-la-presidencia-de-la-conferencia-episcopalvenezolana-con-motivo-de-los-150-anos-del-nacimiento-del-venerable-dr-jose-gregorio-hernandez-cisneros&catid=2:noticias&Itemid=106|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141022161822/http://www.cev.org.ve/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=86:mensaje-de-la-presidencia-de-la-conferencia-episcopalvenezolana-con-motivo-de-los-150-anos-del-nacimiento-del-venerable-dr-jose-gregorio-hernandez-cisneros&catid=2:noticias&Itemid=106|url-status=usurped|archive-date=22 October 2014|website=Bishops Conference of Venezuela|publisher=Servicios Educativos C.A.|accessdate=22 October 2014}}</ref>

In June 2020, [[Pope Francis]] decided in favor of the beatification of José Gregorio Hernández, after the recovery of a girl who had been shot in the head, which was recognized as a miracle attributed to him.<ref name=":0" /> The solemn proclamation was made at a Mass celebrated on 30 April 2021 in the church of the Collegio La Salle of [[Caracas]] by the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop [[Aldo Giordano]].<ref>{{cite web |date=2021-05-04 |language=en-gb |title=In Venezuela, a quest for sainthood offers proof of miracles |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2021/05/in-venezuela-a-quest-for-sainthood-offers-proof-of-miracles |website=National Geographic}}</ref>

== Canonization ==
On 25 February 2025, Pope Francis announced that Hernández will be canonized.<ref name=":1" /> On 13 June 2025, in the first ordinary public [[Papal consistory|consistory]] of [[Pope Leo XIV]], it was decreed that Hernández would be canonized on 19 October 2025, along with six other blesseds.<ref name=":02">{{cite web|access-date=2025-06-13 |date=2025-06-13 |language=es-ES |last=Exaudi Redacción |title=El Papa León XIV canonizará a Carlo Acutis y a Pier Giorgio Frassati el 7 de septiembre |url=https://www.exaudi.org/es/el-papa-leon-xiv-canonizara-a-pier-giorgio-frassati-y-carlo-acutis-el-7-de-septiembre/ |website=Exaudi}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> He was canonized on October 19, 2025 by Pope Leo XIV in a multitudinous event at the St. Peter's Square in [[Vatican City]], [[Rome]], becoming the first Venezuelan saint. <ref name="IndependentCanon">{{cite web|access-date=2025-10-21 |date=2025-10-19 |language=en |periodical=[[The Independent]] |title=Pope Leo makes beloved 'doctor of the poor' Venezuela's first saint |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-leo-jose-gregorio-hernandez-saint-b2848028.html}}</ref> He was canonized along with [[Carmen Elena Rendiles Martínez]], making them the first saints of Venezuela.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267259/pope-leo-xiv-canonizes-7-new-saints-including-first-from-venezuela-and-papua-new-guinea |title=Pope Leo XIV canonizes 7 new saints, including first from Venezuela and Papua New Guinea |website=[[Catholic News Agency]]|access-date=2025-10-19 |date=2025-10-19 }}</ref>

==Legacy==
[[Image:Jose gregorio Hernandez Statue-Guacatra.jpg|thumb|250px|A statue of Dr. José Gregorio Hernández in [[Guacara]], Venezuela]]
Saint José Gregorio Hernández is also revered by Venezuela's alternative and syncretic religion, the cult of [[María Lionza|Maria Lionza]].<ref name="Dineen"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Cahana|first1=Kitra|title=The Cult of Maria Lionza|url=http://www.reportagebygettyimages.com/features/the-cult-of-maria-lionza/|website=Reportage by Getty Images|publisher=Getty Images Inc.|accessdate=22 October 2014}}</ref> Historian Steven Palmer also has drawn parallels between the Hernández cult and that of the assassinated [[Costa Rica]]n physician and politician [[Ricardo Moreno Cañas]].<ref name="Palmer">Palmer, Steven Paul (2003). [https://books.google.com/books?id=xY7vaKIbdT4C&q=%22Jos%C3%A9+Gregorio+Hern%C3%A1ndez%22 ''From popular medicine to medical populism: doctors, healers, and public power in Costa Rica, 1800-1940'']. Duke University Press, p. 217. {{ISBN|0-8223-3047-4}}</ref>

A private university in [[Maracaibo]], Universidad Dr. José Gregorio Hernández, founded in 2003, is named for him.<ref>{{in lang|es}}, [[Universidad Dr. José Gregorio Hernández]], [http://www.ujgh.edu.ve/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=76 Historia], accessed 30 May 2012</ref> In 2011, Hernández's birthday, 26 October, was declared a "day of national celebration".<ref>{{in lang|es}} ''[[El Nacional (Caracas)|El Nacional]]'', 25 October 2011, [http://www.el-nacional.com/noticia/6668/16/Ch%C3%A1vez-decret%C3%B3-26-de-octubre-D%C3%ADa-de-J%C3%BAbilo-Nacional-por-natalicio-de-Jos%C3%A9-Gregorio-Hern%C3%A1ndez.html Chávez decretó 26 de octubre Día de Júbilo Nacional por natalicio de José Gregorio Hernández]</ref>

Hernández is also an important folk figure and is commonly portrayed in [[naïve art]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://elucabista.com/2017/03/24/visita-la-exposicion-jose-gregorio-hernandez/|title=La UCAB albergará exposición artística sobre José Gregorio Hernández|date=24 March 2017|work=elucabista.com|access-date=25 September 2017|language=es-ES}}</ref>

==Publications==
* 1893 - ''Sobre el número de glóbulos rojos''. Gaceta Médica de [[Caracas]].
* 1894 - ''Sobre angina de pecho de naturaleza paludosa''. Gaceta Médica de Caracas.
* 1910 - ''Lecciones de bacteriología''. Gaceta Médica de Caracas.
* 1910 - ''Lesiones anatomo–patológicas de la pulmonía simple o crupal''. Gaceta Médica de Caracas.
* 1910 - ''De la nefritis a la fiebre amarilla''. Gaceta Médica de Caracas.
* 1913 - ''Renuncia ante la Academia Nacional de Medicina''. Gaceta Médica de Caracas.
* 1918 - ''Nota preliminar acerca del tratamiento de la tuberculosis por el aceite de Chaulmoogra''. Gaceta Médica de Caracas.
* 1922 - ''Elementos de bacteriología''. 2.ª edición: Caracas. El Cojo.
* 1959 - ''Elementos de filosofía''. 3.ª edición: Caracas. Bibliográfica Venezolana.
* 1968 - ''Obras completas''. Caracas. Universidad Central de Venezuela.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tiwy.com/pais/venezuela/jose_gregorio_hernandez/eng.phtml José Gregorio Hernández Biography]

==See also==
{{portal bar|Biography|Catholicism|Venezuela}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hernandez, Jose Gregorio}}
[[Category:1864 births]]
[[Category:1919 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century Venezuelan physicians]]
[[Category:Central University of Venezuela alumni]]
[[Category:Folk saints]]
[[Category:Venezuelan people of Canarian descent]]
[[Category:Venezuelan Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:People from Trujillo (state)]]
[[Category:19th-century venerated Christians]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in Venezuela]]
[[Category:Pedestrian road incident deaths]]
[[Category:Venezuelan people of Spanish descent]]
[[Category:Venerated Catholics by Pope John Paul II]]
[[Category:Venezuelan beatified people]]
[[Category:Beatifications by Pope Francis]]
[[Category:20th-century Venezuelan physicians]]
[[Category:Canonizations by Pope Leo XIV]]
[[Category:Venezuelan Roman Catholic saints]]

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José Gregorio Hernández