Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago

Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago (November 22, 1918 – July 13, 1963) was a layperson of the Roman Catholic Church, who was beatified on April 29, 2001 and who is popularly known among Puerto Ricans as "Beato Charlie".
==Early years==
Rodríguez Santiago, was the second of five brothers and sisters, born in Caguas, Puerto Rico to Manuel Baudilio Rodriguez and Herminia Santiago, both who came from large, Catholic families. He was baptized at the Sweet Name of Jesus Church in Caguas on May 4, 1919. Two of his sisters married, while another was a Carmelite nun. His only brother, Pepe Rodriguez was a Benedictine priest and the first Puerto Rican to become abbot of his monastery. He was a Hispanic man, who left his mark on the church
Rodríguez Santiago attended the Colegio Católico Notre Dame, located in Caguas.
At the age of 12, Rodríguez Santiago saved his cousin from a dog attack and was badly wounded receiving severe bites which led to serious intestinal problems. Later, these medical problems caused him to leave his educational studies at the University of Puerto Rico prior to graduation.
==Pastoral life==
Rodríguez Santiago worked as an Office clerk at Caguas, and at the University of Puerto Rico Agriculture Experiment Station. He was also a translator, who converted English documents to Spanish. With his salary, he published Liturgy and Christian Culture magazines and with the help of Father McWilliams, he founded a Liturgy Circle at Caguas. He organized the chorus Te Deum Laudamus with the help of Father McGlone.Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodriguez Santiago
Rodríguez Santiago became a Catholic lay minister. His principal apostolic work was at Catholic University Center, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico where he evangelized to students and teachers. He professed extreme devotion to the liturgy and worked to reverse the loss of liturgical customs that had been abandoned over generations. He expressed special concern over the Easter vigil, saying that it had lost its ancient character and gravitas. One of his favorite sayings about this feast was "This is the most important day of the year." This is now the motto on his tomb, which is located in the Cathedral of Caguas, Cathedral Dulce Nombre de Jesús.
==Death==
Rodríguez Santiago died at the age of 44 of intestinal cancer on July 13, 1963 "His passing to the eternal life was on July 13, 1963. He was 44 years old." My own translation from the Spanish of "Su paso a la vida eterna fue el 13 de julio de 1963." 
==Posthumous devotion==
In 1981, a 42-year-old mother was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma. She and her husband had been friends of Rodríguez Santiago during his college years and knew of his death from cancer. She prayed to Rodríguez Santiago for intercession on her behalf. After fully recovering, she publicly attributed her recovery to the miracle of intercession.
==Beatification==
In 1991, a priest from Spain, Rev. P. Mario Mesa, went to Puerto Rico to conduct a seminar. After learning about Rodríguez Santiago, he was authorized by the local bishop to take the story to the Vatican. In Rome, Meza initiated the process of inquiry that could lead to canonization. As a result of the findings from this investigation, it was decided that the process to canonize Rodríguez Santiago could be started.
On July 7, 1997, Pope John Paul II decreed Charlie's heroic sanctity and service in his life. The process took a major step on April 29, 2001, when Rodríguez Santiago was beatified by Pope John Paul II.
Rodríguez Santiago is the first Puerto Rican person, the first Caribbean-born layperson and the first layperson in the history of the United States to be beatified. In the entire Western Hemisphere, Rodríguez Santiago is only the second layperson to be beatified.
==Candidate for sainthood==
The probability for Rodríguez Santiago being recognized as a saint seems high, given recent changes in canon law and the popular devotion paid to him. The 1983 reform of the Catholic Church's canon law has streamlined the canonization procedure considerably compared to the process carried out previously. The new process was established by Pope John Paul II, in his apostolic constitution of January 25, 1983, Divinus Perfectionis Magister and by Pietro Cardinal Palazzini, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. In order for Rodríguez Santiago to pass from Blessed to Saint, one more miracle (confirmed by the Vatican) is necessary.
==Namesake==
* A school in Bayamón is named after him. The school, originally called "Escuela Superior Católica de Bayamón", was renamed in 2001: Colegio Beato Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago. Staff from the school witnessed the beatification ceremony.
==Relics==
Relics of Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez can be found at the Cathedrals of Caguas and San Juan. They are located in Caguas and Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
==See also==
*List of famous Puerto Ricans
*EWTN page in Spanish on Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
*El Trece es Buen Dia Obra Dramatica En Dos Actos By Alida Subira Echegaray (Spanish Book)
==References==
Category:1918 births
Category:1963 deaths
Category:Beatified people
Category:Puerto Rican religious leaders
Category:People from Caguas, Puerto Rico
Category:Puerto Rican Roman Catholics
Category:20th-century venerated Christians
es:Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago
nl:Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodriguez y Santiago