He was known for helping people with leprosy in the colony of kalaupapa on the island of molokai in hawaii. This year, the feast takes on new significance as it is marks the first celebration of the former. Damien has been canonized in both the eastern and latin rites. It is his first feast day since being canonized last fall an event attended by our own fr. He joined the same community his brother had joined and took the name damien. Damien of molokai, was born in rural belgium, on january 3, 1840. Damien of molokai is very appropriately the patron saint of people with leprosy. Damien of molokai for the first time since his canonization in october 2009. While at college, he decided god was calling him to be a priest. Saint damian of molokai a leper for christ canonized oct 11, 2009 feast day may 10 the man who would become st. Father damien day in the united states time and date. The suffering and faith of saint damien of molokai.
Damien, the choir will offer their voices in praise of our patron saint, pastoral and finance council members will be represented, and a social will be held in fr. Also called damien the leper or damien of molokai, he is most simply considered father damien. Father damien was canonized by pope benedict xvi on sunday, october 11, 2009. St damien of molokai patron saint of leprosy medals and gifts. Every saints story reflects the life of christ in one way or another. By the time he died at the age of 49, people all over the world knew about this disease because of him. Damien of molokai saturday, may 10, was the feast of st. The belgian priest sacrificed his life and health to become a spiritual father to the victims of leprosy quarantined on a hawaiian. He died april 15th 1889 a long way from home on molokai in hawaii. Damien of molokai, the priest and member of the congregation of the sacred hearts of jesus and mary, who served the lepers of the hawaiian islands. Though his patronage is very specific, anyone who feels alone or outcast will especially like this saint. He was named joseph by his parents, and at the young age of 20 years he entered the sacred heart fathers in 1860.
The man who would become st damien of molokai was born in. However, because of the frequent occurrence of the date within lent, it was found that setting the saints feast day on april 15 would have resulted in a feast in. Damien of molokai, is scheduled to be canonized this october, but the day he entered his eternal reward was april 15th even though his feast day will be. Saint damien of molokai patron saint for the people of leprosy. It was his theory that leprosy was caused by a diminution of the blood, and his treatment consisted of nourishing food, moderate exercise, frequent friction to the benumbed parts, special ointments and medical baths. Damien, a belgian missionary, served the leper colony on the island of molokai for sixteen years and eventually ended up contracting the disease. Saint damien of molokai was born in tremelo, belgium, in the year 1840.
St damien of molokai st damiens catholic primary school. At the feast day mass special prayers will be used commemorating the life and ministry of st. His father, a small farmer, sent him to a college at brainelecomte, to prepare for a commercial profession. The story of father damien tells the edifying, at times wrenching story of the 19thcentury apostle to the lepers, who for fifteen years lived and finally died in a leper colony on the hawaiian island of molokai. The suffering and faith of saint damien of molokai catholic world.
In hawaii, however, even though it is tax day, it is also the feast day of fr. Damien of molokai was a priest from belgium and a member of the congregation of. The last of seven children, he was supposed to inherit the family business. Saint damien of molokai, belgian priest who devoted his life to missionary work. Damien of molokai, also called fr damien, original name jozef deveuster born january 3, 1840,tremelo,belgium died april 15, 1889, molokai, hawaii us.
Upon his beatification by pope john paul ii in rome on june 4, 1995, blessed damien was granted a memorial feast day, which is celebrated on may 10. Today was the feast of one of the most awesome priests in the communion of saints. Saint damien of molokai was given a memorial feast day by pope john paul ii in 1995. He lived a devout life and in 1860 obtained permission to join the con. He had a big rock on its side for his dinner table. He was even selected to represent the state in the national statuary hall in the united states capitol building. Traveling from belgium to hawaii then called the sandwich islands, damien was a religious brother simply hoping to serve. Father damien started life on molokai with 600 lepers at the kalawao leper settlement under the shelter of a pandanus tree. Heavenly divine sells a large variety of quality patron saint jewelry and gifts for your spiritual and inspirational gift giving.
The belgian priest sacrificed his life and health to become a spiritual father to the victims of leprosy quarantined on a hawaiian island. Growing up on the farm, jozef was prepared to take over for his family, but he did not want the responsibility. Interestingly enough, may 10 is his feast day even though damien died on april 15, 1889. He is still heralded as a heroic figure in hawaii today. Damien was a wonderful example of christlike love to those who were. As he is the patron saint of the diocese of honolulu and of hawaii, father damien day is celebrated statewide on april 15. Damien of molokais life of sacrifice remembered may 10 benjamin mann, cna catholic news agency may 8, 2011 the catholic church will remember st. Damien of molokai january 3, 1840 april 15, 1889, was a missionary of the congregation of the sacred hearts of. Damien of molokai, who entered into eternal life on april 15. Saint damien is the patron saint of people suffering from leprosy. Damien of molokai ewtn news may 11, 2010 on monday, hawaii celebrated the feast of st. A gregarious boy, he had the heart of a missionary and was known to pray each day to become one. Father damien is awaiting sainthood and recently, a catholic feast day has been created for blessed damien of molokai, as he has become known, on may 10. He restrained the strong from brutalizing the weak.
What is saint damien of molokai most known for devoting his life. In judaism the festival of weeks was a harvest festival that was celebrated seven weeks and one day after the first sabbath of the feast of unleavened bread in deuteronomy 16. St damien he gave his heart to the people of molokai. He shared their life and, in the end, he shared their illness and death.
St damien of molokai memorial feast day is may 10th. This year, the feast takes on new significance as it is marks the first celebration of the former blesseds feast since his october 11, 2009 canonization. A man of enormous activity, damien vigorously tackled every need that he saw. Born in tremelo in belgium on january 3, 1840, he was son of a farmer and his wife. Saint damian of molokai a leper for christ canonized oct. Jesus promises, whoever believes in me will not remain in darkness, christ, who comes into the world as light, enlightens the world through his word. He cleaned and bandaged their sores, bathed them, amputated their gangrenous limbs, and washed their clothes. On this day, wreaths are laid at his statue, prayer services are held and essay competitions are held. He served as a priest in the leper colony for 16 years before he succumbed to the disease. What were the circumstances that allowed him to travel to hawaii.
44 1078 481 480 297 1130 1229 819 954 590 911 295 1494 932 1127 20 1041 1325 874 358 220 923 94 469 305 1362 1115 1271 1303 1436 931 1193 1106 697 1265 401 287 71