Skip to content

St. Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur

  1. Catholic Online
  2. Saints & Angels

Author and Publisher - Catholic Online

Image of St. Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur

Facts

Feastday: April 18
Patron of Canary Islands and Guatemala
Birth: 1626
Death: 1667
Beatified By: June 22, 1980 by Pope John Paul II
Canonized By: July 30, 2002, Guatemala City, Guatemala by Pope John Paul II

We ask you, humbly, to help.

Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >
The son of a poor family of the Canary Islands, Peter de Betancur in his youth worked as a shepherd, finding in nature an incentive to prayer. Intent to serve the poor in the New World, he embarked on an arduous journey to Guatemala that ultimately left him penniless. In Guatemala City, Peter entered a Jesuit college through the assistance of a Franciscan friar, but soon left after failing in his studies. The friar then invited Peter to become a Franciscan brother, but the young man declined, feeling that God willed for him to remain in the world. Instead, Peter became a Third Order Franciscan, devoting himself to the service of African slaves, Native Americans, and other needy individuals. As a penance, each night he went out to carry a heavy cross through the streets. Peter later founded a congregation for the care of the poor, the Bethlehemite Brothers and Sisters. Deeply devoted to the Christ Child, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the relief of the souls in purgatory, Peter was a promoter of the Franciscans' rosary of the Seven Joys of Mary, and instituted a weekly rosary procession in Guatemala City. He died on April 25, 1667.

St. Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur Comments

More Saints

Browse Saints by Category

Saint of the Day

Image of St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

It would be easy to concentrate on the mystical experiences God gave this saint, rather than on her life. In fact, it would be difficult to do differently, so overwhelming were those gifts from God. ... continue reading

More Saint of the Day
May 2019
S M T W T F S
1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031

Saint of the Day by E-Mail

Saint of the Day newsletter icon

Learn about the lives of the saints and other saint resources, including a calendar, over 5,000 saint biographies, our most popular saints, and a list of patron saints. 7 days / week. See Sample

Required

Optional

Female Saints

Image of St. Bernadette

St. Bernadette

St. Bernadette was born in Lourdes, France on January 7, 1844. Her parents were very poor and she was the first of nine children. She was baptized at St. Pierre's, the local parish church, on January 9. As a toddler, Bernadette contracted cholera and suffered extreme ... continue reading

More Female Saints
More Female Saints
St. Mechtildis of Helfta
St. Medana
St. Melangell
St. Melania
All Female Saints
Saint Calendar
Saint Feast Days
Saint Fun Facts

Angels

Image of St. Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel

Saint Michael the Archangel isn't a saint, but rather he is an angel, and the leader of all angels and of the army of God. This is what the title "Archangel" means, that he is above all the others in rank. St. Michael has four main responsibilities or offices, as we ... continue reading

Image of St. Gabriel, the Archangel

St. Gabriel, the Archangel

St. Gabriel is an angel who serves as a messenger for God to certain people. He is one of the three archangels. Gabriel is mentioned in both the Old and the New Testaments of the Bible. First, in the Old Testament, Gabriel appears to the prophet Daniel to explain his ... continue reading

Angel Resources
What are angels?
Do they really exist?
Why did God Create Angels?
Angels with Names
Guardian Angels
Man lower than Angels?
Angels of the Church
The Fallen Angels
The Nine Choirs of Angels
Angel Encounters
Angels in the Bible
Prayers to the Angels

Saints Fun Facts

Saints Fun Facts for St. Felix of Nola

St. Felix of Nola

Felix was the son of Hermias, a Syrian who had been a Roman soldier. He was born on his father's estate at Nola near Naples, Italy. On the death of his father, Felix distributed his inheritance to the poor, was ordained by Bishop St. Maximus of Nola, and became his ... continue reading

Saints Fun Facts for St. Fidelis

St. Fidelis

Bishop of Merida, Spain, trained by his predecessor, St. Paul. He was originally from the East. continue reading

Christian Saints & Heroes

Image of Vincent was born in the Third Century in Huesca, Spain and born again to eternal life only four days into the fourth century. He lived in Saragossa where he served the holy Bishop Valerius as a Deacon.He was one of the scores of Christians who suffered brutal persecution under the evil Roman emperor named Diocletian. Diocletian is associated with the last of the ten persecutions of the nascent undivided Christian Church of the first millennium of our history. Like many early deacons of the undivided Church such as Stephen, Lawrence and Ephrem, the hagiography which has been passed down through the Church records his holiness of life and heroic virtue. He lived the way he died, as a sign of the power of the Gospel and the truth of the presence of the Risen Jesus Christ in our midst.

Feast of the Deacon St Vincent Calls the Church and her Deacons to Heroic Virtue

By Deacon Keith Fournier

Vincent was a man like us who encountered the same Risen Lord Jesus whom we have encountered. He struggled with the choices which always accompany living the Christian life in the midst of a culture which has squeezed God and His truth out of the center of its ... continue reading

More Christian Saints & Heroes
More Christian Saints & Heroes
Santuario de Lourdes inaugura ano jubilar de Santa Bernardette Soubirus
Reflection on the Silence of St. Joseph, the Guardian of the Redeemer

Never Miss any Updates!

Stay up to date with the latest news, information, and special offers.

Latest
by Catholic Online

Most Popular

Click to go to this article

7 powerful morning prayers you need to get your day started with God
Read More

Click to go to this article

Why is this 14-foot statue of Our Lady underwater?
Read More

  • 'THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPELS YOU!' - Can the prayer of Saints help too?
  • Memorial Day: A Catholic Understanding of Freedom and its Cost
  • Pope Francis Says Yoga Doesn't Lead Us to God - Health & Wellness
  • Tradition, Scripture, and Magisterium: The Fullness of Truth

    • Top Searches

    Latest Videos
    on YouTube

    Subscribe to Catholic OnlineYouTube Channel
    Image of Daily Reading for Monday, May 27th, 2019 HD video

    Daily Reading for Monday, May 27th, 2019 HD
    View Video

    Image of Prayer Requests Live for Friday, May 24th, 2019 HD video

    Prayer Requests Live for Friday, May 24th, 2019 HD
    View Video

    View All Videos

    Daily Readings

    Daily Reading for Saturday May 25, 2019

    Reading 1, Acts 16:1-10
    Psalm, Psalms 100:1-2, 3, 5
    Gospel, John 15:18-21

    Read Today's Reading

    Saint of the Day

    Saint of the Day for May 25th, 2019 Image

    St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi
    May 25: It would be easy to concentrate on the mystical ... Read More

    Catholic Online Shopping

    We ask you, humbly, to help.

    Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

    Information
    Learn about Catholic world

    Catholic Online
    Inform - Inspire - Ignite

    Catholic Online Saints
    Your saints explained

    Catholic Online Prayers
    Prayers for every need

    Catholic Online Bible
    Complete bible online

    Catholic Online News
    Your news Catholic eye

    Daily Reading
    Today's bible reading

    Lent / Easter
    Death & resurrection of Jesus

    Advent / Christmas
    Birth of Jesus

    Rest of Catholic Online
    All Catholic world we offer

    Services
    Products and services we offer

    Catholic Online Shopping
    Catholic medals, gifts & books

    Advertise on Catholic Online
    Your ads on catholic.org

    Catholic Online Email
    Email with Catholic feel

    Education
    Learn the Catholic way

    Catholic Online School
    Free Catholic education for all

    Student Classes
    K-12 & Adult Education Classes

    Support Free Education
    Tax deductible support Free education

    Socials
    Connect with us online

    Catholic Online on Facebook
    Catholic social network

    Catholic Online on Twitter
    Catholic Tweets

    Catholic Online on YouTube
    Enjoy our videos

    Catholic Online on Instagram
    Shared Catholic moments

    Catholic Online on Pinterest
    Catholic ideas style inspiration

    Catholic Online Logo

    Copyright 2019 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2019 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

    Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.