St. Damien of Molokai
Died: 1889
The Leper Priest, the Hero of Molokai. Born in Tremelo, Belgium, on January 3, 1840, he joined the Sacred Hearts Fathers in 1860. He was bom Joseph and received the name Damien in religious life. In 1864, he was sent to Honolulu, Hawaii, where he Was ordained. For the next nine years he worked in missions on the big island, Hawaii. In 1873, he went to the leper colony on Molokai, after volunteering for the assignment. Damien cared for lepers of all ages, but was particularly concerned about the children segregated in the colony. He announced he was a leper in 1885 and continued to build hospitals, clinics, and churches, and some six hundred coffins. He died on April 15 , on Molokai. Slandered by a Protestant minister, Mr. Hyde, Damien was defended by Robert Louis Stevenson, who wrote an impassioned defense of Damien in 1905. He was declared venerable in 1977. Pope John Paul II declared him beatified on June 4, 1995.
On February 21, 2009, the Vatican announced that Father Damien would be canonized. The ceremony took place in Rome on October 11, 2009, in the presence of King Albert II of the Belgians and Queen Paola as well as the Belgian Prime Minister and several cabinet ministers, completing the process of canonization.
"Not without fear and loathing," Pope Benedict underlined, "Father Damian 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."
He continued, "To follow Christ, Father Damian 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."
The figure of Father Damian, Benedict XVI added, "teaches us to choose the good fight not those that lead to division, but those that gather us together in unity."
Damien's symbols are a tree and a dove. In Saint Damien's role as the unofficial patron of those with HIV and AIDS, the world's only Roman Catholic memorial chapel to those who have died of this disease, at the Église Saint-Pierre-Apôtre in Montreal, Quebec, is consecrated to him.
Previous Saint
< St. Damien Nam Myong-hyok
Next Saint
St. Damianus Nam Myong-hyog >
Rate This Saint
1 - 20 of 26 Comments
Leave a Comment
Previous Saint
< St. Damien Nam Myong-hyok
Next Saint
St. Damianus Nam Myong-hyog >
Find Saints
Catholic Online offers the largest searchable database of Catholic Saints on the internet.
| Browse Saints by Alphabet |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
| Patron Saints by Alphabet |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Videos
St. Francis of Assisi 78,993 views View Video
Padre Pio 47,420 views View Video
Black Saints Vol I 30,637 views View Video
Black Saints Vol II 27,167 views View Video
Most Popular
Pope Francis says atheists can do good and go to heaven too! Read More
California teenager invents device that can charge cell phone in 20 seconds - flat Read More
Receiving the Eucharist: I Have Decided to Kneel For Jesus Read More
Culture of Corruption: Why Obama's misuse of Marines is wrong Read More
British soldier hacked to death in brazen attack by Islamic terrorists, stopped by prayerful, courageous women Read More
Daily Readings
Reading 1, Sirach 17:1-15
The Lord fashioned human beings from the earth, to consign them ... Read More
Psalm, Psalms 103:13-14, 15-16, 17-18
As tenderly as a father treats his children, so Yahweh treats ... Read More
Gospel, Mark 10:13-16
People were bringing little children to him, for him to touch ... Read More
Saint of the Day
St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi
May 25: It would be easy to concentrate on the mystical experiences God ... Read More
Latest Videos
Commento al Vangelo del 26 Maggio 2013 a cura di don Domenico Luciani View Video
May 25 - Homily: Ask Mary To Send Her Spouse View Video
May 25 - Homily: Our Lady of Consolation View Video
Reign of Love - 2 Pillars #36 View Video
Rottweiler Puppies in a Easter Basket View Video
Marketplace
Who's Who in Heaven: Real Saints for Families in Plain English Read More
Ivyrose Gifts
Unique, personalized baptism gifts for boys and girls. Read More
on the his feast day i was at home with my hubby and my parent we where getting for church. we where talk about are soon to be born son and his name James - Henry . they where fine with James but not Henry i wanted to name Henry but i got a fight in sited so i side fine the first name i hear it will be and not form them so we went to church i sat down then fr. Joe come running down to the front of the church and says we are no longer fr. Damien we are now st. Damien church so my son name is now and always will be James - Damien we were living in Hawaii at the time i think that god and st. Damien were listening that day and have fun
Please pray for Jacob that he finds the right path, for his parents that they find the strenght and wisdom to guide him, anmd for all cancer patients that they deal with their disease with grace and dignity. Thank you.
St Damien, the Great Belgian, I praise God for your life of sacrifice and dedication to the lepers of Hawaii. It is lovely to read the defense of Robert Lewis Stevenson, in clearing your name. And to know that the famous Indian freedom fighter, Mahatma Gandhi emulated your example. Dear Saint pray for all peoples who are crucified to their beds, waiting to die with dignity and peace. Grant healing to all children who suffer from mental and physical disorders. Amen.
Fr. Damien, please continue to pray for me to become more dedidicated, sincere, patient and forbearing in serving others.
St damien you are a great saint not many people would do wat you have done
god bless you and please pray for me and my family thank you
Amen
I would like to have your permission to copy this article and send it to a young man Named Damien who did a very kind act for us, we were in Rome on oct 11, for cannonization of Father Damien, Jeanne Jugan Foundress of the little sisters of the poor.
Very sincerely yours ,
Paddy Mc Evoy
I'm from sri lanka I'm looking to purchase the book of St Damien Life story please help me to have one Im so glad to have a Sait like St Damien as my patron saint
When I was in grammer school (I graduated in 1950), there was a movie shown regarding Father, now Saint, Damien. It was quite long and shown in all the Catholic schools. In the movie, the way Saint Damien announced his leprosy was his, probably Sunday, homily. His opening words were "We lepers...". I wonder if that movie is still around, maybe buried in some archives.j
Bill
St. Damien, all the world over should be in awe of your loving and compassionate service to lepers. From the time of Christ, up to recent times these poor lepers lived in isolation, in colonies, to prevent the disease from spreading. I remember visiting a leper colony in Malaysia, where we found that they had a self sufficient community, growing fruit, vegetables, flowers etc. They even had their own currency. When I was in Mali (West Africa) this disease was prevalent, common and often went untreated. It is sad that today, when there is a known cure for this infectious disease, there are still so many left to suffer its disfiguring effects. St. Damien, on your feast day pray for all those suffering from leprosy. Amen
I was surprised to find that anyone could ever have found fault with Saint Damien and I was glad to learn that R. L. Stevenson had defended him so brilliantly, as well as Ghandi. We sometimes have a tendency to hold back if we feel that our health could be compromised when we are caring for someone and we see what good and selfless man Saint Damien was when he cared for the lepers. What a wonderful inspiration he is. Thank you for giving me information that I had never heard before.
I respect and honor St. Damien as a real human being so concerened with the sufferings of fellow human beings.
this site hepled alot
Thanks! Why is the tree and the dove symbols for St. Damien? I wish you had more on him.
I am a regular subscriber of Catholic Online. The lives of saints are a great inspiration to me in serving others, by seeing the image of God in them! Thank you Fr. Damien; please intercede for me.
This is one of the most amazing acts of kindness, love and charity that i have ever heard. Saint Damien of Molokai is a perfect example for each of us to follow!
I thought St. Damien's feast day was May 10 which was the day Fr Damien landed in Hawaii? I love the saint though and have read all about him. A great modern example of giving.
I'm doing an assignment on him at school. I love this site.
St. Damien is awesome can't wait to my comfirmation name is Damien
My grandson was born January 3, 2011. My son and his wife chose Damien as his name after St. Damien. They lived in Hawaii during his beatification process. Yesterday, we discovered that St. Damien was born on January 3rd as well. What a wonderful surprise! Surely, our little Damien will be blessed.
I am doing my biggest st. report ever on him. my nephew is name after him. i think he is soooooooooooooooo interesting.