Saint Damien of Molokai - May 10

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Saint Joseph de Veuster
Also known as
Apostle to the Lepers
Damian de Veuster Father Damien

Memorial
10 May 15 April (Father Damien Day in Hawaii)

Profile

Son of a small farmer. Studied at the college at Braine-le-Comte, Belgium. Joined the Picpus Fathers on 7 October 1860, taking the name Damien. Seminarian in Paris, France. Volunteered for missionary work while still in seminary, and was sent to Hawaii. Ordained in Honolulu on 24 May 1864. Missionary on islands where his single parish was the size of all of his native Belgium. Resident priest in the leper colony on Molokai where for years he worked alone to minister to the patients’ spiritual and medical needs. His work turned a wretched dump for the unwanted into a real community with the best treatment of the day, and patients who lived strong spiritual lives. He contracted leprosy in 1885, and though severely crippled by the disease, Father Damien worked until the end.

Born

3 January 1840 on the family farm at Tremeloo, Belgium as Joseph de Veuster
Died

15 April 1889 at Molokai, Hawaii from leprosy
buried next to Saint Philomena Church, Molokai, Hawaii
interred in the cathedral at Antwerp, Belgium in 1936

Venerated

7 July 1977 by Pope Paul VI (decree of heroic virtues)

Beatified

3 June 1995 by Pope John Paul II

Canonized

11 October 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI

Patronage

against leprosy
lepers

Readings

The Blessed Sacrament is indeed the stimulus for us all, for me as it should be for you, to forsake all worldly ambitions. Without the constant presence of our Divine Master upon the altar in my poor chapels, I never could have persevered casting my lot with the lepers of Molokai; the foreseen consequence of which begins now to appear on my skin, and is felt throughout the body. Holy Communion being the daily bread of a priest, I feel myself happy, well pleased, and resigned in the rather exceptional circumstances in which it has pleased Divine Providence to put me. – Father Damien
catholicsaints.info/saint-joseph-de-veuster/