Saint Damien of Molokai

• Born in 1840 to a devout Belgian family, Jozef De Veuster attended school until the age of 13 when he left to return home to help on the family farm full-time. When he was old enough, he followed his older brother and entered the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He took the name Brother Damien after the sixth-century martyr.

• In 1864, Brother Damien's older brother became ill, so he volunteered to replace him as a missionary to Hawaii. However, concerned that Damien was not sufficiently educated, his Order held off on sending him until he had learned Latin and demonstrated the necessary requisites for missionary work.

• Later, Brother Damien was ordained a priest in Hawaii. He felt called to minister to the lepers who were exiled on the island of Molokai, so he left Hawaiian society in 1873 to minister to the leper colony as their first Chaplain.

• Leprosy, like in biblical times, was a disease believed to be contagious and had no known treatment or cure. He found the conditions in the leper colony dismal, and the people lawless and without leadership. He soon provided leadership by tending to lepers' needs -- both spiritually and materially. He built houses, schools, and even a parish church, St. Philomena, for them.

• Fr. Damien chose to remain with his flock even though he was only supposed to be there a short time, and, in 1885, he contracted leprosy. Despite his illness, he continued to minister to his flock.

• Fr. Damien instilled a sense of dignity and self-worth amongst the leper community he served. Despite his sufferings, he was reportedly a very happy man. He wrote, "It is at the foot of the altar that we find the strength we need in our isolation."

• Damien died from leprosy on April 15, 1889. He was first buried on Molokai, but his remains were later transferred to Belgium in 1936. His right hand was returned to Hawaii in 1995 to be reburied in his original grave at Molokai.

• He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Brussels, Belgium on June 4, 1995. His sainthood was confirmed on October 11, 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI. Also, April 15, the day he died, is a minor statewide holiday in Hawaii.

• Saint Damien is the patron saint of Hawaii, lepers, and outcasts.

Saint Damien of Molokai, Pray for Us!