Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala — Central America (Central Highlands)

Home of Brother Pedro

Casa del Hermano Pedro de San José de Betancourt

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, October 20, 2009

1. Home of Brother Pedro marker

This marker (and several others like it in and around Antigua) were put up as part of the 400th Anniversary celebrations of the founding of Antigua in 1543.

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Aqui vivio
Fray Pedro de San Jose Betancourt
Apostol de la Caridad
Nacio en Tenerife en Marzo de 1626
Murio en Esta el 25 de Abril de 1667
English translation:
Here lived Friar Pedro de San José de Betancourt, Apostle of Charity, Born in Tenerife in March 1626, Died here on April 25, 1667.

Erected 1943.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Churches & Religion • Colonial Era • Hispanic Americans • Peace. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1626.

Location. 14° 33.069′ N, 90° 43.721′ W. Marker is in Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez. Marker can be reached from Calle de Hermano Pedro. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez 03001, Guatemala. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. J. Adrian Coronado y Polanco (about 210 meters away, measured in a direct line); Don Rafael V. Alvarez Polanco (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Friar Augusto Ramírez Monasterio (approx. 0.4 kilometers

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away); Pedro Cofiño and Ramon Palencia Shot by Firing Squad (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); First Location of Olimpia Leal Normal School (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Catholic Church of Santa Ana (approx. half a kilometer away); Francisco Marroquín and the San Pedro Hospital (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); The 100th Anniversary of the Olimpia Leal Normal Institute for Ladies (approx. 0.6 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Antigua Guatemala.

Regarding Home of Brother Pedro. Brother Peter of San Jose de Betancourt was beatified on June 22, 1980, over 300 years after his death in what is now known as La Antigua Guatemala in 1667 at the age of 41. He came to Guatemala in 1649 from Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain after a journey of two years. In his short time in what was then the Spanish colonial capital in the “New World”, Brother Peter formed the Order of Bethelehem (Orden de Belen), a hostel for visiting priests and students, an orphanage, a hospital and other works of charity. He was known for his intense devotion to others and to his personal vow of poverty. In particular he is

Residence of Hermano Pedro image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jo Solorzano, October 20, 2009

2. Residence of Hermano Pedro

View of the Hermano Pedro's residence, with a view of the marker.

known for the phrase “Remember brothers, we have only one soul, if we lose that we never get it back!” (“Arcordaos, hermanos, que un alma tenemos que si la perdemos no la recobramos.”)
He was eventually granted sainthood on July 30, 2002. His grave is located a few blocks north of this statue and park at the Church of Saint Francis in La Antigua Guatemala, which also includes a small museum with many of his personal effects.

A bust of Brother Peter image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, January 21, 2015

3. A bust of Brother Peter

This resin bust by Galeotti Torres shows the detail on the Brother Peter statue. It was at an exposition at the Cerro Santo Domingo in Antigua Guatemala in December, 2014. Note the bust of Bernal Díaz in the background.

Beatification of Brother Peter Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jo Solorzano, October 20, 2009

4. Beatification of Brother Peter Statue

Located across the street from the home of Brother Pedro and the Belen Church, this statue was sculpted by Rodolfo Galeotti Torres in 1986.

Beatification of Brother Pedro Plaque (on statue base) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, November 20, 2009

5. Beatification of Brother Pedro Plaque (on statue base)

Plaza de la Paz Del Pueblo Catolico Al Beato Hermano Pedro de Sn. Jose Betancourt 1626-1667. Julio de 1986. English translation: Plaza of Peace From the Catholic People to Blessed Brother Peter of Saint Joseph of Betancourt 1626-1667 July 1986

Additional marker on statue of Beatification of Brother Peter image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, October 20, 2009

6. Additional marker on statue of Beatification of Brother Peter

This larger marker lists those responsible for the statue and marker and reads: Promovio Tele-Once Realizo: Legion de Santiago Comision: Manolo Cotero Aragon Carlos Enrique Berduo S. Jose Maria Lazo Jurado Mario del C. Barrios Rene Gonzalez y Gonzalez Eduardo Prado Mapelli Arturo Bermejo Solis Ingeniero: Juan Lantzendorffer Colaboracion Municipalidades de la Antigua Guatemala 1983-85, 1986-90 Diseno y Supervision: CNPAG Julio de 1986

Detail of Beatification of Brother Peter statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jo Solorzano, October 20, 2009

7. Detail of Beatification of Brother Peter statue

The additional markers have been stolen from the Hermano Pedro statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, December 19, 2018

8. The additional markers have been stolen from the Hermano Pedro statue

Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2013, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 992 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 11, 2013, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 3. submitted on August 18, 2017, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 11, 2013, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 8. submitted on January 11, 2019, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.