Saint Damien - Servant of God, Servant of Humanity
Ordained in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace on May 21, 1864
Saint Damien de Veuster was born on January 3, 1840 in Tremelo,
Belgium. He was a simple man whose parents were farmers so he had a
body that
was square, sturdy, and well-conditioned. Saint Damien was ordained
a priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary on May
21, 1864 in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace two months after his
arrival in Hawai‘i. He was assigned to the Big Island where powerful
bonds of Christian love developed between him and his people.
In
the meantime, the Hawaiian population was being plagued by Hansen's
Disease or leprosy as it was known at that time. Those infected were
sent to Kalaupapa Settlement on Molokai to remain forever. Saint
Damien requested to serve in Kalawao where the most desperate patients
were housed. He arrived in Kalaupapa on May 10, 1873 and eight days
later he wrote to his provincial asking for permission to stay
permanently. His superior answered him by saying that he had not
made up his mind concerning this matter but "...You may stay as long as
your devotion dictates..." They were the most welcome words that he
could have received and he read the letter repeatedly allowing the words
to echo in his mind and in his heart. He longed to serve among these
most pitiful souls, the residents of Kalawao. It turned out to be a
monumental challenge with the possibility that he might someday contract
leprosy, for in order to communicate his love and concern it would involve
direct contact with them.
Saint Damien's work among the patients
knew no bounds and his primary concern was to restore to them a sense of
personal dignity and value. He ministered to the sick by bringing
the sacraments to them and by anointing those who were bedridden. He
washed their bodies, bandaged their wounds, tidied their rooms and made
them as comfortable as possible. He encouraged those who were well
to work alongside him by building cottages, coffins, a rectory, an
orphanage for the children and repairing the road. He also taught
them to farm, play musical instruments, and sing. Saint Damien was
everywhere in the settlement and even on "topside" which was part of his
parish. He touched their hearts with his sincere desire to serve
them and slowly their sense of dignity which was all but destroyed by
their illness was restored.
His own life was surrounded by horror
- the sights of the ravaged bodies and faces of those in the advanced
stages of leprosy and the obnoxious smells were overpowering but he
accepted them. Even before he was diagnosed as having leprosy he
used the term "we lepers" in his sermons for he wished to identify with
them as a means of bringing them to Christ. He refused to let their
lives be swept into despair.
Saint
Damien was a man with a quick smile. He was a headstrong individual
but no one could deny that he was a man with a warm and tender heart.
He was quick to forgive and never bore a grudge. His face was full
of kindness and he was totally unselfish in his work. These
qualities, as well as his practical nature and fluent command of the
Hawaiian language enabled him to be held in high esteem by the residents.
As the years progressed, word of Saint Damien's deeds attracted
worldwide attention. Food, medicine, clothing, and funds were sent
from many countries to assist his mission but the need was always there
for more. There were news articles written in many countries,
notably Europe and America, about his compassionate and charitable work.
Saint Damien died on April 15, 1889 at Kalawao, Molokai where he
devoted much of his life in service of God. Shortly after his death,
a monument was erected in Kalaupapa to honor his memory with this
inscription. "Greater love hath no man that this, that a man lay
down his life for his friends." His feast day is celebrated on May
10.