Saintly Saturday - St. Damien de Veuster



St. Damien de Veuster, better known as St. Damien of Molokai, was born Joseph de Veuster in Tremelo, Belgium on January 3, 1840. At the age of 13 he left school to help work the family farm. Then at the age of 19, he joined the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. It was there that he took the name Damien, after a 4th century physician & martyr.

Damien's brother, Pamphile, a priest in the same order, received an assignment to go to the Hawaiian Islands. Unfortunately he fell ill & Damien volunteered to take his place. Two months after his arrival there, in 1864, he completed his own studies & was ordained a priest. 

In 1873, after nine years, he journeyed to the island of Molokai to serve those in the leper colony which had been established seven years prior. There he remained tending to the physical, emotional, & spiritual needs of the people. Volunteers normally took three month assignments in Molokai. Damien, however, stayed permanently, living the rest of his life there.

As an advocate for the people of Molokai, he worked to obtain government support. He helped build schools, homes, orphanages, & a church. Through his care & dedication, the people grew to know of God's love for them. 

Damien realized in 1884 that he had contracted leprosy. He wrote in a letter to his bishop:

"Its marks are seen on my left cheek and ear, and my eyebrows begin to fall. I shall soon be completely disfigured. I have no doubt whatever of the nature of my illness, but I am calm and resigned and very happy in the midst of my people. The good God knows what is best for my sanctification. I daily repeat from my heart, Thy will be done."   

(https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/st-damien-de-veuster-5420)

St. Damien died on April 15, 1889. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 9, 2009 & we celebrate his feast day on May 10th. 

NOTE: Typically in the Catholic Church, saints' feast days are celebrated on the anniversary of their death. As you can see above, that is not the case with St. Damien of Molokai. So, I took to the great Google & found an article from the Hawaiian Catholic Herald which explains it. April 15th generally falls within the season of Lent, a time in which optional & obligatory memorials are not celebrated. Hence, the change of date for his feast day. So, why May 10th? It was chosen because it held significance to his life...it was the day he arrived in Molokai & began his life's work there. You can read more about this HERE. 

St. Damien of Molokai, Pray for Us! 

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