The Beatification Portrait Of Blessed José Olallo Valdés

Blessed José Olallo Valdés

Also known as: Poor People’s Priest (though he wasn’t a priest)

Blessed

Post-Congregation

Feast Day

7-Mar

Born

12 February 1820 in Havana, Cuba

Died

7 March 1889 in Camagüey, Cuba of natural causes; re-interred at the chapel of the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God hospital in Camagüey

Beatified

29 November 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI; beatification celebrated at the Plaza de La Caridad, Camagüey, Cuba, presided by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins; his was the first beatification cemetery celebrated in Cuba; the beatification miracle involved the healing of three-year-old Daniela Cabrera Ramos

Venerated

16 December 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI (decree of heroic virtues)

Biography

Blessed José Olallo Valdés, also known as the Poor People's Priest, was born on 12 February 1820 in Havana, Cuba. At the age of one month, he was abandoned and left at the Saint Joseph orphanage in Havana. A note accompanying him indicated that he had not been baptized, prompting the orphanage to baptize him two days later. José spent his early years at the orphanage until he was transferred to the Benefencia orphanage in Havana at the age of seven.