Saint damien of molokai biography of christopher

A plea was made by those abandoned for a priest or minister to come to the aid of their spiritual needs. Bishop Louis Maigret, SS. Several volunteered to go for a few months. Damien was the first to leave on May 10, At his own request and that of the residents of Kalaupapa who were afflicted with leprosy, he remained definitively on Molokai.

He brought hope to this hell of despair. He became a source of consolation and encouragement for his flock by becoming the doctor of their souls and of their bodies without distinction of race or religion. He gave a voice to the voiceless and built a community where they discovered new reasons for living. That once lawless place had now become a place where the law of love prevailed.

After he himself contracted the disease inDamien was able to identify completely with them with the words, "We, Lepers. His strength came from the Eucharist as he himself wrote: "It is at the foot of the altar that we find the strength we need in our isolation The lepers were left to fend for themselves, with little medical care or support. When Father Damien arrived, he was the only priest serving the lepers living in deplorable conditions.

For the next 16 years, Father Damien selflessly cared for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the lepers. He not only celebrated Mass and administered the sacraments, but also dressed their wounds, built them houses, dug their graves, and made their coffins. He became a true "father" to the abandoned lepers, earning him the title the "Apostle of the Lepers.

Father Damien's heroic life and death captured the world's attention and admiration. Damien of Molokai, the patron saint of those suffering from leprosy and other communicable diseases. Ashore, they found no law and no organized society. Sexual immorality, violence, and drunkenness ignited by liquor made from tree roots became the way of life for the lepers.

Hope was also abandoned and many of the inhabitants lived in despair.

Saint damien of molokai biography of christopher

But in a Belgian missionary priest, born as Joseph Van Veuster but known as Father Damien of the Fathers of the Sacred Heart, was sent at his own request to Molokai to work among the lepers. He had already lived and worked among the Hawaiian people for 9 years. His heart was consumed with compassion for the sickness and suffering which had destroyed these simple people.

The most devastating disease would be leprosy. Father Damien requested and was granted the mission of serving exclusively on the island of Molokai. Since there was no cure for leprosy at the time, this choice meant certain death for the young priest who had just turned Amidst the chaos encountered upon his arrival on the tiny island, Father Damien worked immediately to restore human dignity and respect for life to each person.

He organized burial details and performed funeral rites, so that death might have some beauty. He provided medical attention for the wounds and sicknesses that could be healed. He taught them how to grow crops so they could eat better. His parents were hardworking and deeply Catholic. They taught their children to pray, work hard, and trust in God.

Jozef was the youngest of eight children. As a boy, Jozef worked on the family farm. He helped with chores and learned the value of simple, honest work. He was not afraid of hard tasks. He also showed great faith and loved to pray. His family noticed that he took his faith seriously from a young age. When Jozef was a teenager, he decided he wanted to serve God in a special way.

He felt called to be a priest. Two of his older siblings had already joined religious life. He joined the same congregation at age When Jozef became a member of the congregation, he took the name Damien. This was after Saint Damien, a martyr of the early Church. He spent years studying to become a priest. He prayed, worked, and prepared himself for the life of a missionary.

He dreamed of spreading the Gospel to those who had never heard it. However, Auguste became sick and could not go. Damien quickly volunteered to take his place. The congregation agreed, and Damien left for Hawaii in He was only 23 years old. The journey to Hawaii was long and difficult. Damien left behind his family and everything he knew. He trusted that God would guide him.

After months of travel, he arrived in Honolulu. He was soon ordained a priest and began his mission work. Saint Damien of Molokai started his new life by helping Catholics on the islands. He learned the Hawaiian language and worked hard to understand the people. He traveled to remote areas and visited small villages. His work would prepare him for the special mission he would later embrace on Molokai.

He left his home in Belgium, but his heart was set on helping others. Little did he know how much he would give and how far his journey would take him. When Saint Damien of Molokai arrived in Hawaii, he began working as a missionary priest. He traveled between villages, offering Mass and sacraments to the people. Many of the native Hawaiians were Catholic, but others were not.

Damien worked hard to teach the faith and bring people closer to God. He also helped build churches so the people would have a place to pray and worship. Life as a missionary was not easy. Damien often had to walk long distances to reach small villages. He lived simply, eating basic food and sleeping wherever he could. Many Hawaiians faced poverty and illness, and Damien did his best to care for their needs.

He learned the Hawaiian language so he could speak to the people and understand their struggles. During this time, Hawaii was facing a terrible problem. Leprosy, a disease that caused severe suffering, was spreading among the people. There was no cure, and many feared catching it.