José Gregorio Hernández

José Gregorio Hernández [er-NAHN-des] (October 25, 1864 - June 29, 1919) was a Venezuelan physician. Born in Isnotú, Trujillo State, Venezuela, he went on to reach legendary status, more so after his death.

In 1888 Hernández graduated as a medical doctor in the Universidad Central de Venezuela, in Caracas. The Venezuelan government awarded him a grant to continue his studies in Europe. Hernández traveled to Paris, France, where he studied other fields of medicine such as bacteriology, pathology, microbiology and histology, and philology. Following his return to Venezuela, he became a leading doctor at the Hospital José María Vargas.

Between 1891 and 1916, Hernández dedicated himself to teaching, medicine, and religious practice. He sought priesthood on two occasions, but his fragile physical conditions would ultimately prevent him from achieving that status. He studied at the Monastery of Lucca in Italy for ten months in 1908. In 1913, he enrolled at the Latin American Pío School of Rome to continue the priestly career, but had to return to Venezuela for health reasons. Among the scientific publications of this famous Venezuelan are The Elements of Bacteriology (1906), About the Angina Pectoris of Malaric Origin (1909) and The Elements of Philosophy (1912).

Dr. Hernández treated the poor for free and even bought them medicines with his own money. One day, while bringing medicine to the home of one of his patients in Caracas, Hernández was struck by a car and killed.

After his life, the legend of Dr. Hernández began to grow in Venezuela. People around the country started claiming to have been granted miracles after praying to him. At present, Dr. Hernandez is commonly invoked as "José Gregorio" by both doctors and patients for healing purposes. He is also called upon for protection during overland journeys. Eventually, his name became known all over Latin America and Spain.

In 1949, Venezuelan Catholic Church officials began the process that would lead the beatification of Dr. Hernández. The process of his canonization commenced during the Vatican I, which had granted him the title of «Venerable» in 1985. His remains are housed in the Holy Church of La Candelaria in Caracas, Venezuela. He is also included as a lesser deity in the Venezuelan syncretic cult within the pantheon led by Maria Lionza.