Despite his promising career in medicine, José Gregorio longed to consecrate himself to God. In 1908 he entered the Charterhouse of Farneta (Italy) with the name of Brother Marcelo. However, a few months later he fell ill and his superior ordered him to return to Venezuela to recover.
After several failed attempts to become religious, he became convinced that God wanted him to be a layman and decided to become an exemplary Catholic by being a doctor, serving the Lord among the sick. Thus, he dedicated himself to caring for whoever needed it, especially the poor.
One day, while crossing the street to buy medicine for a very poor old woman, he was run over and taken to a hospital, where a priest was able to give him the Anointing of the Sick before he died on June 29, 1919.