Ernesto Cofiño was born in Guatemala City on June 5, 1899. In 1919 he began studying medicine at the Sorbonne University (France). In 1933 he married Clemencia Samayoa, with whom he had five children: Ernesto, Clotilde, Clemencia, Sofía, Roberto and José Luis.
He specialized in pediatrics and, Opus Dei tells, not only limited itself to solving the physical ailments of patients, but also took on the problems of children and families. “Moved by his faith and a desire for solidarity,” he created and became involved in many initiatives for life, always for the benefit of future mothers, orphans and street children.
In 1956 he joined Opus Dei and intensified his relationship with God, through daily Mass and communion, frequent confession, prayer, sacrifices in ordinary life and other practices of Christian life. He cultivated his personal relationships much more, with friends and acquaintances, “communicating his joy and his faith” wherever he went.