|
|
          |
 |
Blessed Damien of Molokai "My fellow lepers, I am one of you now."  After serving among the lepers of Molokai, Fr. Damian had contracted the disease of the people he had served for more than 12 years. Continuing to build, serve, and care for this congregation another 4 years, Fr. Damien died among his “fellow lepers” on April 15, 1889.Born January 3, 1840 at Tremeloo, Belgium Joseph de Veuster studied at the College of Braine-le-Comte, and in 1860 joined the Fathers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and took the name Damien. While still a novice, he volunteered for missionary work, but his request was refused because he had not yet been ordained. His own brother was scheduled to go, but became sick, and Damien was allowed to go in his place. Two months after his arrival in Hawaii, he was ordained and assigned to a remote parish that covered an area as large as his native Belgium. For nine years, he worked with the peoples of Puno and Kohala. He began by building a chapel with his own hands, and then visited his parish from end to end. One night he came across 30 men who had gathered in a pagan ritual that included an animal sacrifice. As he watched, one man pulled out an effigy of Fr. Damien. Marching into the  cave, he snatched the doll and proceeded to rip it up. The men were amazed that he did not self-destruct right there, and they became anxious to share in Fr. Damian’s faith. Many diseases came to the Islands of Hawaii with visitors from Europe and Asia. The first authenticated case of Hansen’s disease, then known as leprosy, appeared in Hawaii in 1840, and within thirty years, the disease reached epidemic proportions. The authorities adopted the only policy they knew, that of segregation. In 1868, the Hawaiian government established a settlement on the isolated Kalaupapa Peninsula of Molokai Island. Many of Fr. Damian’s parishioners had also contracted this disease and were sent to Molokai. The board of health supplied the people of Molokai with food and clothing, but in the beginning, the government was not able to provide them with physicians or nurses. On May 10, 1873, Father Damien, at his  own request and with the sanction of his bishop, arrived at the settlement as its resident priest. There were then 800 individuals at the settlement, many suffering, many disfigured, many dying. For a long time, Father Damien was the only one to bring them any comfort. He touched them, he embraced them, he dined with them, and he cleaned and bandaged their wounds and sores. He placed the blessed host upon their tongues. Among the first things he did was to add to the small church of St. Philomena’s. ( St. Philomena today) He enclosed in the cemetery, helped the people erect cottages, made their coffins, and dug their graves. He organized the Christian Burial Association to provide a decent burial for each deceased. He also sponsored a musical group that played during the funeral procession. The government insisted that the policy of segregation be strictly enforced. On one occasion, a ship's captain refused to allow Damien’s bishop to dock the ship on Molokai, so Damien sailed out to the boat to see the bishop. Damien pleaded with the Captain to come on board saying that he wanted to confess his sins, but was refused. "Bishop," Fr. Damian called to the boat, "will you hear my confession from here?" The bishop agreed, and Damien in an exercise of humility that touched all who witnessed it, confessed his sins aloud to the bishop. Fr. Damian’s own struggles included loneliness. Several priests who had come to work with him proved to be more of a hindrance than a help. His own superior, Father Fouesnel seemed to look on Damien as a troublemaker. He forbade Damian to visit the mission headquarters of the Sacred Hearts Fathers in Honolulu for fear that others would be infected with the disease. In Honolulu, Fr. Damien was welcomed by Mother Marianne Cope and invited to stay at the Franciscan Sisters’ leper hospital. The policy for transporting patients to the island of exile from the hospital was on hold and so they only could discuss their hopes for the future. Damien was overjoyed two years later when the Franciscans arrived at the settlement to set up a Home for homeless female patients. The new government had renewed its policy of sending patients to Molokai's remote peninsula. Mother Marianne had replied to an invite to care for the girls and women that she would cheerfully accept the work. Mother Marianne promised that none of her Franciscan Sisters would ever contract the disease, and to this day, none have. Five months later the good Damien died in peace and the boys under his care also became charges of the sisters. Fr. Damian had written, "The cemetery, the church and rectory form one enclosure; thus at nighttime I am still keeper of this garden of the dead, where my spiritual children lie at rest. My greatest pleasure is to go there to say my by beads and meditate on that unending happiness which so many of them are enjoying." Long before his death, he had chosen the place where he wished to be buried among the 2000 that had already been laid to rest. During Holy Week, on April 15, 1889 Damien died. He had told his friends that the Lord wanted him to spend Easter in heaven. In his lifetime Fr. Damian never stopped working, and advocating for the people he loved and served, regardless of how he was treated on their behalf. Pope John Paul II recognized his dedication and commitment and he was declared Blessed on June 4, 1995. "The political and journalistic world can boast of very few heroes who compare with Father Damien of Molokai . . . it is worthwhile to look for the sources of such heroism." -- Mahatma Gandhi Holy Childhood Association offers a Lesson Plan on the life of Blessed Damien of Molokai. Click here for book on life of Fr. Damian.  |
|
||
| Previous Saints of the Month Saint Francis of Assisi St. Anthony Mary Claret St. Katharine Drexel Blessed Damien of Molokai Uganda Martyrs Saint Martin De Porres Saint Mother Cabrini Saint Francis Xavier Saint Therese of Lisieux |
||
|
|
