This Friday, Nicolás Maduro signed a decree that declares Sunday, October 19 and Monday, October 20, days of non-working national celebration throughout the country. The measure has the purpose of allowing the population to celebrate and participate in the acts of thanksgiving and commemoration for the canonization of the Venezuelan blesseds José Gregorio Hernández and Carmen Rendiles, scheduled for Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, in the Vatican.
In an event at an urban planning event of the Great Venezuela Housing Mission, Maduro said:
“I would like to proceed here, in this urban planning, to sign the decree with which I declare throughout the national territory, Sunday, October 19, the day of the canonization of Dr. José Gregorio Hernández and Mother Carmen Rendiles, Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th, a non-working day of national celebration so that all the people, in a single prayer, can go out to celebrate this historical fact of our Catholic Church.”
The canonization of Hernández, known as the doctor of the poor, and Mother Carmen Rendiles, founder of the Congregation of the Servants of Jesus, represents a milestone in the religious history of Venezuela, as both will become the first Venezuelan saints universally recognized by the Catholic Church.
To commemorate this event, activities have been planned throughout the country, including vigils and thanksgiving masses. In Caracas, a vigil will be held in the La Divina Pastora parish and an evening in the La Candelaria church, where the remains of José Gregorio Hernández rest. In addition, the Simón Bolívar Orchestra System will offer a concert in tribute to the Venezuelan saints.
