St. Damien of Molokai: Apostle of the Exiled

St. Damien of Molokai was a Belgian priest who dedicated his life to serving the lepers of Hawaii. He was born in Tremelo, Belgium, in 1840, and entered the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in 1860. In 1864, he was sent to Hawaii as a missionary, and in 1873, he volunteered to go to the island of Molokai, where the lepers were exiled.

St. Damien of Molokai: Apostle of the Exiled

by Margaret Bunson

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2940 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	270 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

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Molokai was a desolate and unforgiving place. The lepers were forced to live in isolation, and they were often treated with cruelty and neglect. Damien arrived on Molokai in 1873, and he immediately began to work to improve the lives of the lepers. He built them a chapel, a hospital, and a school, and he provided them with food, clothing, and medical care. He also taught them about the Catholic faith, and he helped them to find hope and peace in their suffering.

Damien's work on Molokai was both physically and emotionally demanding. He contracted leprosy himself in 1885, but he continued to work until he was no longer able to. He died on Molokai in 1889, at the age of 49. He was canonized a saint by the Catholic Church in 2009.

Damien's life and work is an inspiring example of Christian love and compassion. He dedicated his life to serving the most marginalized and forgotten members of society, and he showed the world that even in the darkest of places, there is hope.

Legacy

Damien's legacy continues to live on today. The Damien Foundation, which he founded in 1888, continues to provide care for lepers around the world. The St. Damien of Molokai Church in Honolulu is a popular pilgrimage site, and his life story has been told in books, movies, and documentaries.

Damien's example is a reminder that we are all called to serve the poor and the marginalized. He showed us that no matter how difficult the task may seem, we can make a difference in the world.

Prayer to St. Damien of Molokai

O St. Damien of Molokai, apostle of the lepers, you who dedicated your life to serving the most marginalized and forgotten members of society, pray for us that we may have the courage to follow in your footsteps, and to serve the poor and the suffering with love and compassion. Amen.

St. Damien of Molokai: Apostle of the Exiled

by Margaret Bunson

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2940 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	270 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE