The Mexican Benito Juárez is known as Benemérito de las Américas.
Benemérito is an adjective that is used to describe someone or something that is worthy of a distinction . What is meritorious is worthy of being rewarded or awarded .
For example: “The Benemérito Volunteer Fire Department announced the holding of a popular party with the aim of raising funds for the purchase of equipment” , “The conference will take place tomorrow in the Aula Magna of the Benemérita Popular University of Río Azul” , “Juan Rafael Mora Porras is one of the Beneméritos of the Homeland of Costa Rica.”
The etymology
To know the meaning of the term benemérito in depth, it is important to discover its etymological origin. In this case we can state that it is a word of Latin origin. Exactly it derives from benemeritus , which can be translated as “what has been well deserved” and which is the result of the sum of two clearly differentiated parts:
- The adverb bene , which is equivalent to “good” .
- The adjective meritus , which means “deserving ” and comes from the verb mereri (it is synonymous with “to deserve” , “to earn” or “to become worthy” ).
Benemérito of the Americas
The Mexican Benito Juárez , president of his country between 1857 and 1872 , is often mentioned as Benemérito de las Américas .
This adjective arose from the admiration that all the people of the continent showed him for his political work.
The Spanish Civil Guard is often referred to as the Benemérita.
The Spanish Civil Guard
In Spain , the Civil Guard , a security force of a military nature, is known as the Benemérita . The Benemérita has the function of guaranteeing the exercise of the freedoms and rights of Spanish citizens and of providing security in the national territory.
During the reign of Isabel II was when the Civil Guard was launched, which, at first, had a team of 5,769 agents, 232 officers and 14 leaders. To all this we must add that, to pay tribute to the Austrian armies, they were made up of a total of fourteen thirds.
Founded in 1844 , the Civil Guard began to be known as the Benemérita after obtaining the Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Beneficence . This concession took place in 1929 through a Royal Decree in recognition of its assistance services to the population.
Benemérito of the Homeland
In Costa Rica , finally, the Legislative Assembly can grant the distinction of Benemérito de la Patria to people and institutions that stand out for their contributions to society.
This honor is granted to people and institutions that stand out in the arts, education, culture, science or technology. It can also be given to defenders of freedom, as would be the case of Pablo Presbere , and even to honorary citizens: among the latter, the American president John F. Kennedy , the Spanish priest Juan Morera Coll and the Salvadoran doctor Arturo López Romero stand out. , among others.