Blessed Damien of Molokai Canonized

Copyright (c) 2011 Beverly Johnson

Blessed Damien of Molokai, the Belgian priest who cared for the lepers in Molokai, Hawaii with no regard for his own health was beatified on June 4, 1995 by Pope John Paul II. The ceremony took place in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Koekelberg, Brussels.

On October 11, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI canonized Blessed Damien of Molokai, also known as, "the Apostle of the Lepers". During the canonization ceremony, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of Father Damien in these words:

"Not without fear and loathing, Father Damien made the choice to go on the island of Molokai in the service of lepers who were there, abandoned by all. So he exposed himself to the disease of which they suffered. With them he felt at home. The servant of the Word became a suffering servant, leper with the lepers, during the last four years of his life." Pope Benedict went on to say, "To follow Christ, Father Damien not only left his homeland, but has also staked his health so he, as the word of Jesus announced in today's Gospel tells us, received eternal life." "Father Damien teaches us to choose the good fight not those that lead to division, but those that gather us together in unity." The feast of Blessed Damien of Molokai is celebrated by Catholics on May 10. A special Saint Damien feast day is celebrated in Hawaii on April 15.

Blessed Damien of Molokai Patron Saint

Blessed Damien is the patron saint of people afflicted with leprosy. Father Damien's statue sits at the steps to the entrance of the State Capitol Building in Hawaii. Many schools have been named in his honor and Catholic school wear a Blessed Damien of Molokai medal or a Blessed Damien pendant to honor this holy man of Hawaii.

Blessed Damien of Molokai never gave up his fight for the afflicted people in the leper colony. He prayed with them, suffered with them, cared for their sores with his own hands, and contracted leprosy himself. Even during his darkest hours, Saint Damien of Molokai's faith in God grew stronger. One Blessed Damien of Molokai quote says, "Without the presence of our Divine Master in my small chapel, I would never be able to sustain my life united to that of the lepers of Moloka'i.

Damian of Molokai is the patron saint of people with leprocy


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Beverly Johnson Roberts, founder of Patriotic-Jewelry.com, is a goldsmith who graduated from FIT in New York City with a degree in jewelry design. She specializes in Catholic jewelry-See some pieces devoted to Damian of Molokai