We celebrate the 400^th anniversary of the birth of Antigua’s Saint, Pedro de San José de Betancur (March 1626 – 25 April 1667). The Franciscans, will open his tomb located inside San Francisco El Grande Church to the devout, for the first time, on March 21, 22 and 23^rd 2025.

Born in Vilaflor on the island of Tenerife, he was a shepherd as a child and went to New Spain in 1649 arriving later in Santiago de Guatemala (known now as La Antigua Guatemala). In 1653, he enrolled in the Jesuit Colegio de San Borja to study for the priesthood but, three years later, he withdrew from the school.

He is well known for founding a small hospital for the convalescing poor in 1658 which grew as he received funds from local grantors. Soon after a shelter was developed for the homeless, a school for the poor, an oratory, and an inn for priests. He is noted for walking the streets of the colonial capital ringing his bell and calling out ““Remember, brethren, that we have but one soul, and if we lose it, we do not regain it.” Hermano Pedro, a tertiary of the Franciscan order, later founded the Order of Our Lady of Bethlehem. He is attributed with promoting nativity scenes and posada processions in Guatemala which have become a significant custom today.

The esquisuchil tree he planted at El Calvario Church gardens in 1655, known for its medicinal quality, was declared Cultural Property of the Nation in 2004. Due to a fungus, the tree fell in 2020 only to sprout again!

Hermano Pedro died on April 25, 1667, at the age of forty-one. We celebrate his day on that day and also remember him on June 22^nd which was declared “Día de la Paz” by the Guatemalan Congress in 1980.

His tomb was last opened in private in 1979 by Fray Augusto Ramírez Monasterio to confirm his remains were there prior to his beatification. Seminarians were walking by, including Ignacio Ochoa, who shares memories of when they passed by the thick, closed church walls that night: “I was there present that day when the door of his tomb got opened. The odor of sanctity, scent of lilies and roses emanates and the whole of Saint Francis Church was filled with that scent.” The seminarian, Guillermo Bonilla, was so moved that he later founded the Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro, which is one of the most important hospitals & clinics in the country today.

Hermano Pedro was venerated in by Pope Clemente XIV on July 25, 1771. He was beatified on June 22, 1980 and canonized on July, 30 2002 by Pope John Paul II becoming Santo Hermano Pedro de San Jose de Betancur.

His legacy is vibrant today in Antigua. Always known to represent “humility and helping the poor”, many have received miracles and inspiration from him over the centuries.