My latest visit to Tenerife included a journey to a little place in which I have wanted to see but never quite got around to doing it. It is a place which is visited by thousands of tourists and visitors each year, who want to pay their respects to this saint. So, after some persuasion with my good friends Nita and Chelo, we decided to take a trip out, one sunny afternoon so they could show me this holy place. I wanted to get a feel for the place and put some pictures behind the historical story which is attached to this man.
The shrine which is dedicated to Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur (Canary First Saint) is located in Granadilla de Abona near El Medano which is on the South of the Island. It is close to Tenerife Sur Airport and you will hear and see the aeroplanes arriving and leaving the Island from this spot. When this is not happening, the place is quiet, still and extremely peaceful.
The small cave is an unusual place for visitors but this is originally where Hermano Pedro (Brother Peter) would come and rest.
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| Cave of Hermano Pedro |
What's so interesting about this much loved saint?
1. One of 5 children and as a small child, worked as a Shepherd. He spent several years working to pay moneylenders who had seized his father's estate due to unpaid debt.
2. He would often walk many miles and the cave was used by him to rest and pray
3. With his brother Mateo eventually moving to New Spain. All debts paid in full, he decided to seek new pastures and took a journey by ship to Havana Cuba in the hope to meet family and start a new life. After landing in the port, he was out of money but he found a priest from Tenerife and worked for him for one year. He had to pay for the journey to Guatemala City by working on a ship and by the time he arrive, he was destitute and he had to join the bread line for the poor.
4. His luck would change when he found his uncle who then got him work in a local textile company.
6. Enrolling in a college and studying priesthood for 3 years, he failed to master the profession. This lead him to rent a house called the Calvary where he taught reading and catechism to the poor children.
7. Adopting the name Peter of Saint Joseph, his work continued and included visiting hospitals, jails and the unemployment. This led to a donation of a hut to him, which he made into a hospital for the poor (who had been discharged from hospital but required convalesce care). He had the support of the Bishop and governor who provided him with items he required.
8. Three years later and supported by some individuals, he was provided with 3 houses which were fully equipped for what he needed and he turned the buildings into a hospital for the poor. Soon after this, there was a shelter for the homeless, school for the poor and an inn for priests.
9. Passionate about praying for the prisons and helping them, he resorted to walking the streets at night to ring bells for people to pray. He encouraged masses to help pray for prisoners and spent his time visiting them in their cells.
10. He died 25th April 1667, aged 41 and exhausted from the labour of work he completed. He dedicated his life to helping the poor, lepers, prisoners, slaves and indians.
Surprisingly, inside the cave was a lot larger than I expected and it was amazing to see that it was full of holy pictures, shrines, rosary beads and flowers. The light from outside, shone in through the doors and it was cool and peaceful.
The first part of the cave, consisted of a very small room with a wooden shrine. Flowers and chairs set around the room for people to sit, take time to think or say a little prayer. It felt nice in this room, small and pretty but it made you feel that silence was dominated and you were not suppose to speak. I loved this room and I could see why thousands of visitors would flock here each year to pay their respect to this humble man.
The white pretty entrance, surrounded by plants and flowers, created a country cottage feel; a sense of welcome and comforting for visitors. I wondered how the plants and foliage survived the blazing heat which dominated the front of the cave, yet the place was immaculate and blooming.
Walking through the white wash entrance, I immediately caught sight of the large wooden shrine which dominated the room. Nothing intimidating or offensive, no it was tasteful and fitting for this setting. Only a few wooden chairs were set at each side of the room but it was enough to take a seat for a rest, time to collect some thoughts and reflect on life. It was nice in this room, peaceful and silent.
The first part of the cave, consisted of a very small room with a wooden shrine. Flowers and chairs set around the room for people to sit, take time to think or say a little prayer. It felt nice in this room, small and pretty but it made you feel that silence was dominated and you were not suppose to speak. I loved this room and I could see why thousands of visitors would flock here each year to pay their respect to this humble man.
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| Entrance to the small wooden shrine area |
Walking through the white wash entrance, I immediately caught sight of the large wooden shrine which dominated the room. Nothing intimidating or offensive, no it was tasteful and fitting for this setting. Only a few wooden chairs were set at each side of the room but it was enough to take a seat for a rest, time to collect some thoughts and reflect on life. It was nice in this room, peaceful and silent.
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| Inside the small cave: Me with my Tenerife sisters Nita and Chelo
Walking out of the cave and into the second part of the holy place of worship, this part of the cave was larger and full of items to look at and to inspect. There was so much to see that you did not know where to look first. Different holy pictures, shrines, crosses and candles. I have not even seen this many holy items in our local church so it was certainly different but very much respected. Lots of wooden chairs, once again an opportunity to sit and rest from the blazing sunshine outside. The cave was very cool and I could understand why Hermano Pedro would come inside here to possibly sleep, eat and pray. It was a place of shelter, protection from the heat and the troubled life he lead during these times.
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It was clear that this cave or place of worship was very much a personal space, religious and carefully loved. It was spotlessly clean and maintained for visitors.
One of the interesting parts that was explained to me was the fact that people would come here and write notes, personal messages or prayers/blessings. The messages would be put inside the cave walls or up in the ceiling of the cave. It gave me a little bit of a puzzle as to why this was done but then Chelo explained that the area was use to keep goats and the animals would come into the cave and take the personal messages and eat them. It made me laugh but when I looked at the huge amount of messages in the walls and ceiling, it gave me a bit of a chilling feeling. Do not know why but maybe I thought about all the sick people who were desperate for an answer, some hope.
I would like to say a special 'thank you' to my sister Maureen McIntyre for providing me with some photographs to add to my collection. I would also like to say a 'big thank you' to my Tenerife sisters Nita and Chelo for taking me to this wonderful historical place.
The information is based on research and all the photographs (with the exception of Maureen McIntyre) are my own material.
Thank you for reading my post and I hope you will join me soon for another journey through Tenerife.
Love
Dawn x
One of the interesting parts that was explained to me was the fact that people would come here and write notes, personal messages or prayers/blessings. The messages would be put inside the cave walls or up in the ceiling of the cave. It gave me a little bit of a puzzle as to why this was done but then Chelo explained that the area was use to keep goats and the animals would come into the cave and take the personal messages and eat them. It made me laugh but when I looked at the huge amount of messages in the walls and ceiling, it gave me a bit of a chilling feeling. Do not know why but maybe I thought about all the sick people who were desperate for an answer, some hope.
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| Messages hidden in the walls and ceiling of the cave |
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| Nita, Me and Chelo |
Thank you for reading my post and I hope you will join me soon for another journey through Tenerife.
Love
Dawn x