LA CUEVA
LA CUEVA de SAN PEDRO
Pedro de Betancourt, born in Villaflor, Tenerife in 1626, spent his adult years as a missionary in Guatemala, where he founded a hospital for the poor.
He died in 1667 aged 41. In 2002 he was canonized by the Pope - there was great rejoicing in Tenerife, where we were living at the time.
The cave where he sheltered as a young shepherd is now a shrine which people visit to ask Hermano Pedro's help or to give thanks, and to light a candle. The cracks in the cave walls are stuffed with handwritten prayers, including one of mine.
It is a peaceful spot, but not always, as it lies at the end of Tenerife's runway. When the wind dictates landings over the shrine, the sound of planes can batter you into the ground!
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This is one website where you can read more about Hermano Pedro's short life. https://elmedanoweb.com/en/hiking/her...
Thanks to Susan Rouchard whose photograph conjured up this memory, and to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers, even through Hanukkah.
