Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago was a Puerto Rican catechist and liturgist born in 1918. Despite facing significant health challenges, including ulcerative colitis, he dedicated his life to deepening the understanding of the Catholic liturgy among the laity. He was a prominent figure in promoting liturgical renewal and active participation in prayer throughout Puerto Rico. In 2001, he became the first person from the Caribbean and the first Puerto Rican layperson to be beatified, a distinction granted by Pope John Paul II.