When the Roman Catholic Bishop of Honolulu, Hawaii decided that the leper colony on the island of Molokai needed a priest, he asked for volunteers. Father Damien de Veuster of Belgium (1840-1889) was the first volunteer. He arrived at Molokai on May 10, 1873 and never left. Long after his death and canonization, this would become his feast day.

Rather than flee from this hell on earth, Father Damien settled in and broke all of the rules. He was told not to eat with lepers, not to touch them, not to come within an arm’s length of them. But how could he anoint them? How could he baptize them? How could he share the Eucharist with them? How could he share God’s love if he could not touch them like Jesus touched the sick and suffering in the gospels? Father Damien was forced to choose between the civil law governing leprosy and the divine law of love. He chose love. He chose the gospel.

Over the years, Father Damien became a tireless advocate for the lepers of Molokai. He begged, borrowed, and harassed every bishop and politician who crossed his path. He asked journalists to spread the word about conditions on Molokai and prepared lists of food, medicines, building supplies, and other resources needed to make life bearable for the lepers who were separated by law from their families and communities because of their illness.

Although Father Damien’s assignment in Molokai was supposed to be temporary, he decided during his first week that he would never leave. He told his bishop: “I wish to sacrifice myself for the poor lepers. The harvest here seems ripe.” In 1884, eleven long years after Father Damien began his ministry among the lepers, he burned his foot with scalding hot water, but did not feel any pain. He realized then that he was also infected with leprosy. Yet even as his conditioned gradually worsened, Father Damien continued to work harder than ever.

On April 15, 1889, Father Damien died of leprosy at the age of forty-nine, but he did not die in vain. His good work was continued by Sister Marianne Cope and the Sisters of Saint Francis who joined his ministry a year before his death, cared for him during his final illness, and con- tinued to look after the lepers well into the twentieth century. Father Damien and Sister Marianne were canonized on the same day by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. They are venerated together as patrons of the sick, especially those who suffer from leprosy and HIV-AIDS.

Father Damien is sometimes called a Martyr for Charity. He still has much to teach us about living the Gospel and healing God’s family. He reminds us that prayer is both the foundation and the fuel for a life of discipleship. He reminds us that prayer empowers us to carry our cross wherever it leads. He reminds us to be patient, persevering, and outspoken in the face of injustice. He reminds us to give, love, and serve without counting the cost. And he reminds us to help our neighbors who need our closeness, compassion, and tender support.

Father Damien began every homily with these words: “My fellow lepers…” Across long years and vast oceans, he still speaks to all of us: friends, neighbors, sinners, beaten and broken, fearful and uncertain, grieving and disillusioned, longing for love and a share in God’s kingdom. And he proclaims the Gospel of Christ: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has great love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Saint Damien of Molokai, pray for us! Saint Marianne Cope, pray for us!

Cliff Garvey
Associate Minister
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: cgarvey@ccgronline.com

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (5-7-23)
Bringing Home the Word (5-7-23)
The Kids Bulletin (5-7-23)

Art Credit: Saint Damien of Molokai by Waltzing Matilda

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Call to Prayer
A Prayer to Saint Damien of Molokai
Feast Day – May 10th

Listen: Martyr for Charity – Saint Damien of Molokai

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Sharing God’s Love
First Holy Communion
Begins Saturday, May 6th