Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago (known as Charlie) (November 22, 1918 - July 13, 1963) was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico. November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... July 13th is the 194th day (195th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 171 days remaining. ... Events January-February January 11 - The Whisky A Go-Go night club in Los Angeles, the first disco in the USA, is opened. ... Caguas (founded in 1775) is a municipality located in the eastern central area of Puerto Rico. ...

At the age of 12, Charlie saved his cousin from a dog attack. He himself, however, was badly wounded in the attack, receiving severe bites, which led to serious intestinal problems. Later, these problems were to cause him to leave his university studies.

Charlie, however, became a University Pastor, as a result of his dedication to the Catholic Church, in which he found work. He was extremely devoted to the liturgy, and became a major figure on the island for the changes being proposed to remove developments that had come about over centuries, causing it to lose much of its effect. One of these was the renewal of the Easter vigil, which had lost its ancient character. 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. The Roman Catholic Church believes its founding was based on Jesus appointment of Saint Peter as the primary church leader, later Bishop of Rome. ... From the Greek word λειτουργια, which can be transliterated as leitourgia, meaning the work of the people, a liturgy comprises a prescribed religious ceremony, according to the traditions of a particular religion; it may refer to, or include, an elaborate formal ritual (such as the Catholic Mass), a daily activity... Easter is the most important holiday of the Christian year, observed in March, April, or May each year to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead after his death by crucifixion (see Good Friday), which Christians believe happened at about this time of year around AD 30-33. ... A vigil (from the Latin vigilia, wakefulness) is a period of sleeplessness, an occasion for devotional watching or observance. ... A motto is a phrase or collection of words intended to describe the motivation or intention of a sociological grouping or organization. ... A cathedral is a Christian church building, specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy (such as the Roman Catholic Church or the Anglican churches), which serves as the central church of a bishopric. ...

Charlie died at the age of 45 of intestinal cancer, but he gained fame after his death. In 1981, a 42 year-old mother was diagnosed with the same disease that had taken Charlie's life, and she allegedly started praying to him that he might ask God to cure her. She and her husband had been friends of Charlie during his college years, and had known of his death as a consequence of cancer. After fully recovering, she attributed the miracle to Charlie. When normal cells are damaged or old they undergo apoptosis; cancer cells, however, avoid apoptosis. ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... The term God is ordinarily used to designate a singular, universal Supreme Being. ...

In 1991, a priest from Spain, the Reverend Mauro Meza, went to Puerto Rico to conduct a seminar. After learning about Charlie, he was authorized by the local bishop to take Charlie's story to the Vatican, where a process of inquiry regarding the possibility of his canonization was initiated. As a result of the findings from this investigation, it was decided that the process to canonize Charlie could be started, a process that took a major step on April 29 of 2001, when Charlie was beatified by Pope John Paul II, the first citizen of Puerto Rico to be so honored. 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who holds a specific position of authority in any of a number of Christian churches. ... Canonization is the process of making someone into a saint and involves proving that a candidate has lived in such a way that he or she is worthy of sainthood. ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In Catholicism, beatification (from Latin beatus, blessed, via Greek μακαριος, makarios) is a recognition accorded by the church of a dead persons accession to Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name (intercession of saints). ... His Holiness Pope John Paul II, officially in Latin , born Karol Józef Wojtyla [1] (May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005), was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church for almost 27 years, from 16 October 1978 until his death. ...

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans