A New Saint for Our Times: Dr. José Gregorio Hernández
On October 19, 2025, Pope Leo will canonize Dr. José Gregorio Hernández (1864–1919), a Venezuelan physician whose life of faith, science, and service continues to inspire millions around the world.
Known as the “Doctor of the Needs,” José Gregorio combined his medical profession with a deep Christian vocation to care for the most vulnerable. After studying medicine in Venezuela and Paris, he became a respected professor and researcher. Yet his heart was always with the sick, the poor, and those without access to health care. He often treated patients without charging a fee and was known to give away his own belongings to those in need.
What makes his story especially meaningful is that he was a layman — he never became a priest or a religious. Instead, he lived his holiness through his profession and his everyday acts of compassion. At a time when most saints we know are priests, bishops, or religious founders, Dr. José Gregorio shows us that holiness can be lived fully in the world, through work and service.
Dr. José Gregorio’s death was sudden and tragic. In 1919, while bringing medicine to a sick neighbor, he was struck by a car in Caracas and died the same day. The people of Venezuela immediately began to venerate him as a model of charity and faith. His reputation as a healer and a man of prayer has only grown since then, spreading far beyond his homeland.
In 2021, Pope Francis declared him Blessed, and now, after a confirmed miracle attributed to his intercession, the Church will recognize him as a saint. His canonization comes at a time when the world continues to reflect on the role of health care workers, the dignity of human life, and the call to serve the poor.
For us at St. John’s Co-Cathedral — located right beside the Mayo Clinic — his canonization carries a special resonance. Few saints have been physicians, and even fewer lay doctors. Dr. José Gregorio reminds us that faith and science are not opposed but rather can walk hand in hand for the good of humanity. His example can inspire parishioners, doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all of us who are called to bring Christ’s healing presence into the world.
As we prepare to celebrate his canonization, let us ask for his intercession:
That we may care for the sick and the poor with generosity.
That health care workers may be strengthened in their vocation.
That our community may witness to Christ through faith lived in daily life.
May St. José Gregorio Hernández, the Doctor of the Needs, pray for us!
Yoel Topel