Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago (2023) - Catholic Coloring Page

Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodríguez Santiago, also known as "Blessed Charlie", was a Catholic catechist and liturgist from Puerto Rico who was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2001. He was the first Puerto Rican and Caribbean-born layperson to be beatified. Rodríguez was born in Caguas in 1918 and suffered from ill health, which prevented him from becoming a priest. Instead, he dedicated himself to promoting a greater understanding of the Catholic faith and liturgy. He organized discussion groups, published articles on liturgical subjects, and taught catechism to high school students. He also promoted the use of the vernacular, active participation of the laity in prayer, and the observance of the Paschal Vigil. Rodríguez died in 1963 at the age of 44 from rectal cancer. He is buried in the Cathedral of Caguas, and his tomb bears the motto "Vivimos para esa noche" (We live for that night), referring to his love for the Easter vigil.