Isnotú a Trujillo town founded in 1645 and whose name is inspired by that of a ravine, today it is a civil parish of the Rafael Rangel municipality that includes one of the 93 parishes of the Trujillo state and at the same time one of the 1136 that make up the territory national. But in this place, there is an expression, a rare feeling that can be appreciated anywhere, such as faith, which is a theological, dogmatic and at the same time sacred spiritual force, here three fundamental elements of Christianity are concentrated, such as: hope, faith and works.
Faith according to the Acts of the Apostles is when Paul and Silas are in prison, the jailer asks them what he must do to save himself and they tell him: (Acts 16, 31 – 32) “Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will save yourself and your family. And they preached the Word of the Lord to him and to all his house.”
In the Letter to the Hebrews, in chapter 11 of verses 1 to 40, he reviews the history of the faith of the Old Testament starting from: Abel passing through Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sara Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Job, Rahab , Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah David, Daniel among others. In the New Testament, the greatest work of faith was that of Mary before the Angel Gabriel, outlined in the first chapter of the Gospel of Saint Luke.
The great thing about Isnotú is that it is a place of faith, the small homeland of Dr. José Gregorio Hernández, the Servant of God, who was born on October 26, 1864 and lived 55 years. He transcended death, to regain life today he is the greatest Venezuelan, feeling and love of Venezuelan passion, because he is planted, in living Venezuela. It is an image of Venezuelan identity, it is a symbol of citizenship, of holiness, of professionalism.
It is our sentimental saint decreed by a people eager for hope and faith. Hopefully with his beatification he embodies the unity of Venezuelans, let us remember the Gospel of Luke, when he says: (Lk. 1, 37). “That for God nothing is impossible”.
Isnotú can be a leading place of faith in the country, it can become a Place of La Mancha, just as Mexico from literature looks towards Comala, Colombia to Macondo, Venezuela towards Isnotú. Dr. Hernández has intimate encounters that are: La Esquina de Amadores in the Parroquia la Pastora, where he had the accident, La Candelaria Church in the parish of the same name where his remains rest from the year 1975, in Caracas.
But the strong look is towards the Andean town of Isnotú, which has two great strengths, one is the town with 376 years of history and a character with 157 years, sheltered in the soul of Venezuelans. What to do? To be a leader in national spirituality, then look inward, at its history, its traditions, customs, stories, beliefs, culinary art, myths. “Know yourself” he said: Socrates. Its inhabitants are responsible for driving their own destiny, success or failure depends on it.
On many occasions, it seems redundant to look at your own destiny, it can be annoying but you cannot conquer another if you do not know their values, their charms, their illusions and of course conquer with the faith rooted in Dr. José Gregorio Hernández. The whole of Venezuela has a religious illusion, just as Japan has its own Saint Augustine. Loyola to Saint Ignatius, Lima to Santa Rosa, Venezuela wishes, wants, hopes to have Saint José Gregorio de Isnotú, let us continue asking God, he likes us to be constant in the faith.
Jose Gregory Hernandez
from Isnotú to Mangas Coveras
On Monday June 29 of this year in the face of this critical difficulty such as the Corona Virus pandemic. We meet once again in Isnotú at the Santuario del Niño Jesús, where Dr. José Gregorio Hernández is venerated.
But this time a day as great for the Catholic Church as the day is; of Saint Peter the cornerstone of this church and of its great preacher as was Saint Paul. That day we also remember the 101 years since the death of Dr. José Gregorio Hernández. But this time, with the national joy of a dream come true, his BEATIFICATION.
Beatification that they officially made known to us one day, also very big for the Catholic Church as it is on June 19, the day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the following 20, that of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. So it is that José Gregorio Hernández, these days is among saints. Saints like what he is, that we have to continue fighting for his canonization with the force promoted by God and the light of the Holy Spirit.
It was a great pleasant meeting, but at the same time intimate, loving, simple that we were in search of God through the intersection of Dr. José Gregorio Hernández from his village where he was born in 1864. With the presence of the Bishop of the Diocese of Trujillo Oswaldo Azuaje P. Father Magdaleno Álvarez Rector of the Shrine and his ecclesiastical body.
The Governor of the State of Trujillo, General Henry Rangel Silva, his entourage and part of the citizenry. Mr. Bishop’s words caught our attention when he said: “We love José Gregorio Hernández very much, but we need to get to know him better. To love him more, a lay saint devoted to Saint Francis of Assisi”. It was a moment of hospitality of peace of feelings of Trujillo.
It was already 71 years of waiting for this day, since Monsignor Lucas Guillermo Castillo Archbishop of Caracas began the process of beatification and canonization at the time of Pius XII in 1949. Then at the age of 23 in 1972, it is when Paul VI declared him a Servant of God. Later in 1986 he was revealed as Venerable by John Paul II. At 33 years later Blessed by Pope Francis it has been worth the wait and we continue to move forward without missing a beat for canonization.
Great José Gregorio Hernández, precisely from his village, in Isnotú where he was born. Monsignor Jorge Villasmil tells us that the place where he was born was at the entrance of the sanctuary where the marble statue is. Precisely, what things in life!, that his revelation with God’s permission was manifested through a miracle, in a 21st century village, in Mangas de Coveras, San Jerónimo del Guayabal Municipality, Guárico State. In a humble family, just like his daughter Yaxuri Solorzano Ortega. Without a doubt, this is not a human act, it is a divine act, which only corresponds to God.
The media actively participated, they walk on this pilgrimage with great faith, with great hope in search of light, inspired by the encyclical Lumen Fidei of Benedict XVI and Francis.
Walker there is no path, the path is made by walking… by Don Antonio Machado.