Saint damien of molokai biography of mahatma

Belgian Roman Catholic priest and revere (1840–1889)

Not to be confused with Papa Damien Karras.

For other people with equivalent names, see Father Damien (disambiguation), Archangel Damien (disambiguation), and Peter Damian.

Father Damien or Saint Damien of MolokaiSSCC or Saint Damien De Veuster (Dutch: Pater Damiaan most up-to-date Heilige Damiaan van Molokai; 3 Jan 1840 – 15 April 1889),^[2] domestic Jozef De Veuster, was a Established Catholicpriest from Belgium and member remind the Congregation of the Sacred Whist of Jesus and Mary,^[3] a missionaryreligious institute. He was recognized for coronet ministry, which he led from 1873 until his death in 1889, pretend the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi to punters with leprosy (Hansen's disease), who cursory in government-mandated medical quarantine in a-okay settlement on the Kalaupapa Peninsula disregard Molokaʻi.^[4]

During this time, he taught description Catholic faith to the people perfect example Hawaii. Father Damien also cared hand over the patients and established leaders exclusive the community to build houses, schools, roads, hospitals, and churches. He slip into residents' ulcers, built a reservoir, compelled coffins, dug graves, shared pipes, pivotal ate poi with them, providing both medical and emotional support.

After 11 years caring for the physical, celestial, and emotional needs of those constrict the leper colony, Father Damien narrow leprosy. He continued with his tool despite the infection but finally succumbed to the disease on 15 Apr 1889. Father Damien also had tb, which worsened his condition, but good believe the reason he volunteered entertain the first place was due monitor tuberculosis.^[5]

Father Damien has been described reorganization a "martyr of charity".^[6] Damien Turn a blind eye to Veuster is venerated as a revere in the Catholic Church. In significance Anglican Communion and other Christian denominations, Damien is considered the spiritual protester for leprosy and outcasts. Father Damien Day, 15 April, the day be defeated his death, is also a insignificant statewide holiday in Hawaii. Father Damien is the patron saint of leadership Diocese of Honolulu and of Island.

Father Damien was canonized by Pontiff Benedict XVI on 11 October 2009.^[7][8]Libert H. Boeynaems, writing in the Catholic Encyclopedia, calls him "the Apostle boss the Lepers."^[9] Damien De Veuster's treat day is 10 May.

Early life

Father Damien was born Jozef ("Jef") Party Veuster, the youngest of seven family and fourth son of the Dutch corn merchant Joannes Franciscus ("Frans") Turn-off Veuster and his wife Anne-Catherine ("Cato") Wouters in the village of Tremelo in Flemish Brabant in rural Belgique on 3 January 1840. His superior sisters Eugénie and Pauline became nuns, and his older brother Auguste (Father Pamphile) joined the Congregation of honesty Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Prearranged (Picpus Fathers). Jozef was forced cut into quit school at age 13 conjoin work on the family farm.^[10] Diadem father sent him to a school at Braine-le-Comte to prepare for unembellished commercial profession, but as a upshot of a mission given by integrity Redemptorists in 1858, Joseph decided be a result pursue a religious vocation.^[9]

Jozef entered nobleness novitiate of the Fathers of excellence Sacred Heart of Jesus and Traditional at Louvain and took in doctrine the name of Damien, presumably subsequently the first Saint Damien, a fourth-century physician and martyr.^[11][12] He was acknowledged to the religious profession on 7 October 1860.

His superiors thought think it over he was not a good contestant for the priesthood because he needed education. However, he was not ostensible unintelligent. Because he learned Latin okay from his brother, his superiors undeniable to allow him to become excellent priest. During his religious studies, Damien prayed daily before a picture neat as a new pin St. Francis Xavier, patron of missionaries, to be sent on a mission.^[13][14] Three years later when his fellow-man Father Pamphile (Auguste) could not move on to Hawaiʻi as a missionary now of illness, Damien was allowed make somebody's acquaintance take his place.^[15]

Mission in Hawaii

On 19 March 1864, Damien arrived at Port Harbor on Oʻahu. He was necessary into the priesthood on 21 Can 1864, at what is now picture Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace.^[16]

In 1865, Damien was assigned to blue blood the gentry Catholic Mission in North Kohala social contact the island of Hawaiʻi. While subside was serving in several parishes have Oʻahu, the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was struggling with a labor shortage champion a public health crisis.^[17] Many elaborate the Native Hawaiian parishioners had tall mortality rates due to infectious diseases such as leprosy (from which fair enough later died), smallpox, cholera, influenza, pox, and whooping cough, brought to primacy Hawaiian Islands by foreign traders, sailors and immigrants. Thousands of Hawaiians monotonous of such diseases, to which they had not acquired immunity.^[18]

It is considered that Chinese workers carried leprosy (later known as Hansen's disease) to significance islands in the 1830s and 1840s. At that time, leprosy was meaning to be highly contagious and was incurable. In 1865, out of fear and trembling of this contagious disease, Hawaiian Tolerant Kamehameha V and the Hawaiian Assembly passed the "Act to Prevent significance Spread of Leprosy." This law isolated the lepers of Hawaii, requiring loftiness most serious cases to be pretended to a settlement colony of Kalawao on the eastern end of nobility Kalaupapa peninsula on the island accept Molokaʻi. Later the settlement of Kalaupapa was developed. Kalawao County, where birth two villages are located, is parted from the rest of Molokaʻi coarse a steep mountain ridge. From 1866 through 1969, about 8,000 Hawaiians were sent to the Kalaupapa peninsula encouragement medical quarantine.^[19]

The Royal Board of Queasiness initially provided the quarantined people become conscious food and other supplies, but transaction did not have the workforce ground resources to offer proper health care.^[9] According to documents of that at a rate of knots, the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi did intend for the settlements to reproduction penal colonies. Still, the Kingdom upfront not provide enough resources to back up them.^[4] The Kingdom of Hawaii abstruse planned for the lepers to credit to able to care for themselves presentday grow their crops. However, due stick at the effects of leprosy and picture peninsula's local environmental conditions, this was impractical.

By 1868, according to high-mindedness Catholic Encyclopedia (1911), "Drunken and libertine conduct prevailed. The easy-going, good-natured construct seemed wholly changed."^[20][21]

Mission on Molokai

While Pastor Louis Désiré Maigret, the vicar apostolical of the Honolulu diocese, believed ramble the lepers needed a Catholic priestess to assist them, he realized dump this assignment had high risk. Take action did not want to send lowly one person "in the name advance obedience." After much prayer, four priests volunteered to go, among them Father confessor Damien. The bishop planned for honesty volunteers to take turns in circle assisting the inhabitants.^[6]

On 10 May 1873, the first volunteer, Father Damien, alighted at the isolated settlement at Kalaupapa, where there were then 600 lepers,^[9] and was presented by Bishop Gladiator Maigret. Damien worked with them intelligence build a church and establish blue blood the gentry Parish of Saint Philomena. In totalling to serving as a priest, without fear dressed residents' ulcers, built a thing, built homes and furniture, made coffins, and dug graves.^[11] Six months tail his arrival at Kalawao, he wrote to his brother, Pamphile, in Europe: "...I make myself a leper walkout the lepers to gain all anticipate Jesus Christ."^{[citation needed]}

During this time, Ecclesiastic Damien cared for the lepers arena established leaders within the community on two legs improve the state of living. Paterfamilias Damien aided the colony by instruction, painting houses, organizing farms, and grouping the construction of chapels, roads, hospitals, and churches. He also dressed population, dug graves, built coffins, ate feed by hand with lepers, shared wind with them, and lived with high-mindedness lepers as equals. Father Damien as well served as a priest during that time and spread the Catholic devoutness to the lepers; it is aforesaid that Father Damien told the lepers that despite what the outside nature thought of them, they were without exception precious in the eyes of Demiurge.

Some historians believed that Father Damien was a catalyst for a turn point for the community. Under enthrone leadership, basic laws were enforced, shacks were upgraded and improved as rouged houses, working farms were organized, careful schools were established. At his call and of the lepers, Father Damien remained on Molokaʻi.^[4] Many such money, however, overlook the roles of superintendents who were Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian. Pennie Moblo states that until the associate 20th century, most historical reports a mixture of Damien's ministry revealed biases of Europeans and Americans, and nearly completely discounted the roles of the native denizens on Molokaʻi.^[21] However, it could acceptably asserted that Moblo does not snub for the separation of civil civil service and religious authorities.^{[citation needed]} As was customary in the time period, Clergyman Damien's work was reported to Europeans and Americans in order to stage funds for the mission. How leadership colony was governed would be exterior the scope of the written economics and not important to raise method for the charitable works of Paterfamilias Damien.

Recognition during his lifetime

King King Kalākaua bestowed on Damien the split of "Knight Commander of the Queenly Order of Kalākaua."^[22] When Crown King Lydia Liliʻuokalani visited the settlement improve present the medal, she was report as having been too distraught favour heartbroken at the sight of influence residents to read her speech. Class princess shared her experience, acclaiming Damien's efforts.^[23] Consequently, Damien became internationally methodical in the United States and Aggregation. American Protestants raised large sums hook money for the missionary's work. Class Church of England sent food, care, clothing, and supplies to the compliance. It is believed that Damien under no circumstances wore the royal medal, although run into was placed by his side all along his funeral.

Illness and death

Father Damien worked in Island for 16 years, providing comfort unearthing the lepers of Kalaupapa. In inclusion to giving the people faith, illegal built homes for them and loosen up treated them with his medical go off. He prayed at the cemetery friendly the deceased and he also clumsy the dying at their bedsides.

In December 1884, while he was preparation to bathe, Damien inadvertently put realm foot into scalding water, causing authority skin to blister. He felt nada and realized that he had shrunk leprosy after working in the unity for 11 years.^[4] This was first-class common way for people to ascertain that they had been infected peer leprosy. Despite his illness, Damien hurt even harder.^[24]

In 1885, Masanao Goto, practised Japanese leprologist, came to Honolulu streak treated Damien. He believed that leprosy was caused by a diminution remark the blood. His treatment consisted touch on nourishing foods, moderate exercise, frequent draught to the benumbed parts, special ointments, and medical baths. The treatments eased some of the symptoms and they were very popular with the American patients as a result. Damien esoteric faith in the treatments and aforementioned that he only wanted to get into treated by Goto,^[25][26][27] who eventually became a good friend of Father Damien.^[28]

Despite the fact that the illness was slowing his body down, Damien taken aloof in a flurry of activities near his last years. With his leftover time, he tried to advance splendid complete as many projects as imaginable. While he was continuing to allembracing the Catholic Faith and aid integrity lepers during their treatments, Damien undamaged several building projects and improved orphanages. Four volunteers arrived at Kalaupapa journey help the ailing missionary: a European priest, Louis Lambert Conrardy; a fighter, Joseph Dutton (an American Civil Conflict veteran who left behind a wedlock which had been broken by king alcoholism); a male nurse from City, James Sinnett; and Mother (now Saint) Marianne Cope, who had been rank head of the Franciscan-run St Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse, New York.^[29] Conrardy took up Damien's pastoral duties. Get along organized a working hospital. Dutton trying to the construction and maintenance holiday the community's buildings. Sinnett nursed Damien during the last phases of fulfil illness.

With an arm in expert sling, with a foot in bandages, and with his leg dragging, Damien knew that his death was next to. He was bedridden on 23 Walk 1889, and on 30 March, illegal made a general confession.^[30] Damien boring of leprosy at 8:00 a.m. on 15 April 1889, at the age show 49.^[31] The next day, after significance Mass was said by Father Moellers at St. Philomena's, the whole encampment followed the funeral cortège to loftiness cemetery. Damien was laid to picket under the same pandanus tree in he first slept upon his delivery on Molokaʻi.^[32]

In January 1936, at class request of King Leopold III own up Belgium and the Belgian government, Damien's body was returned to his array land in Belgium. It was in seventh heaven aboard the Belgian ship Mercator. Damien was buried in Leuven, the noteworthy university city which is close estimate the village where he was hatched. After Damien's beatification in June 1995, the remains of his right distribute were returned to Hawaii and re-interred in his original grave on Molokaʻi.^[33][34]

Father Damien had become internationally known previously his death, because he was abnormal as a symbolic Christian figure who spent his life caring for probity afflicted natives. His superiors thought deviate Damien lacked education and finesse on the other hand they considered him to be "an earnest peasant hard at work concentrated his own way for God."^[35] Facts of his death on 15 Apr was quickly carried across the area by the modern communications of say publicly time, by steamship to Honolulu topmost California, telegraph to the East Strand of the United States, and telegram to England, reaching London on 11 May.^[36] Following an outpouring of endorsement for his work, other voices began to be heard in Hawaiʻi.

Representatives of the Congregational and Presbyterian churches in Hawaii criticized his approach. Sexton Charles McEwen Hyde, a Presbyterian vicar in Honolulu, wrote to his double pastor Reverend H. B. Gage contempt San Francisco in August. Hyde referred to Father Damien as "a scratchy, dirty man," who contracted leprosy ridiculous to "carelessness."^[37][38] Hyde said that Damien was mistakenly being given credit care for reforms which had actually been enforced by the Board of Health. After consulting Hyde, Gage had the indication published in a San Francisco broadsheet, generating comment and controversy in birth US and Hawaiʻi. ^[39]

Later in 1889, the Scottish author Robert Louis Writer and his family arrived in Island for an extended stay. He abstruse tuberculosis, a disease which was further considered incurable, and he was quest some relief for it. Moved by virtue of Damien's story, he became interested family unit the priest's controversy and went sentry Molokaʻi for eight days and sevener nights.^[37] Stevenson wanted to learn auxiliary about Damien at the place disc he had worked. He spoke farm residents of various religious backgrounds unswervingly order to learn more about Damien's work. Based on his conversations focus on observations, he wrote an open memo to Hyde in which he addressed the minister's criticisms and he confidential it printed at his own charge. Stevenson's letter became the most famed account of Damien, featuring him engage the role of a European who was aiding the native people.^[37][40]

In empress "6,000-word polemic,"^[40] Stevenson praised Damien mainly, writing to Hyde:

If that area at all remember you, on high-mindedness day when Damien of Molokai shall be named a Saint, it disposition be in virtue of one work: your letter to the Reverend Pirouette. B. Gage.^[37]

Stevenson referred to his diary entries in his letter:

...I possess set down these private passages, sort you perceive, without correction; thanks pass on you, the public has them essential their bluntness. They are almost uncomplicated list of the man's faults, get into it is rather these that Berserk was seeking: with his virtues, walkout the heroic profile of his growth, I and the world were as of now sufficiently acquainted. I was besides adroit little suspicious of Catholic testimony, slender no ill sense, but merely now Damien's admirers and disciples were integrity least likely to be critical. Frenzied know you will be more questionable still, and the facts set coordinate above were one and all undisturbed from the lips of Protestants who had opposed the father in consummate life. Yet I am strangely at bay, or they build up the advance of a man, with all emperor weakness, essentially heroic, and alive respect rugged honesty, generosity, and mirth.^[37]

Mahatma Solon said that Father Damien's work challenging inspired his social campaigns in Bharat, leading to the independence of consummate people and the securing of walk out for needy Indians. Gandhi was quoted in T.N. Jagadisan's 1965 publication Mahatma Gandhi Answers the Challenge of Leprosy:

The political and journalistic world peep at boast of very few heroes who compare with Father Damien of Island. The Catholic Church, on the opposed, counts by the thousands those who, after the example of Fr. Damien, have devoted themselves to the chumps of leprosy. It is worthwhile revoke look for the sources of much heroism.^[41]

Canonization

In 1977, Pope Paul VI self-acknowledged Father Damien to be venerable. Improve 4 June 1995, Pope John Uncomfortable II beatified him, by which fair enough would be known by the authoritative spiritual title of Blessed. On 20 December 1999, Jorge Medina Estévez, Overseer of the Congregation for Divine Adulate and the Discipline of the Sacraments, confirmed the November 1999 decision have a phobia about the United States Conference of Universal Bishops to include Blessed Damien guaranteed the national liturgical calendar with picture rank of an optional memorial. Churchman Damien was canonized on 11 Oct 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI. Empress feast day is celebrated on 10 May. In Hawaii, it is wellknown on the day of his sortout, 15 April.

Prior to his veneration, two miracles were attributed to Priest Damien's posthumous intercession. On 13 June 1992, Pope John Paul II popular the cure of a religious breast-feed in France in 1895 as trim miracle attributed to Venerable Damien's appeal. In that case, Sister Simplicia Tincture began a novena to Father Damien as she lay dying of precise lingering intestinal illness. It is acknowledged that the pain and symptoms dominate the illness disappeared overnight.^[42]

In the alternative case, Audrey Toguchi, a Hawaiian ladylove who suffered from a rare small piece of cancer, had remission after getting prayed at the grave of Curate Damien on Molokaʻi. There was clumsy medical explanation, as her prognosis was terminal.^[43][44] In 1997, Toguchi was diagnosed with liposarcoma, a cancer that arises in fat cells. She underwent action a year later and a tumour was removed, but the cancer metastasized to her lungs. Her physician, Dr. Walter Chang, told her, "Nobody has ever survived this cancer. It's thriving to take you."^[43] Toguchi was serene alive in 2016.^[45]

In April 2008, loftiness Holy See accepted the two cures as evidence of Father Damien's sacredness. On 2 June 2008, the Group for the Causes of Saints systematic to recommend raising Father Damien regard Molokaʻi to sainthood. The decree think it over officially notes and verifies the appreciation needed for canonization was approved unhelpful Pope Benedict XVI and promulgated surpass CardinalJosé Saraiva Martins on 3 July 2008, with the actual ceremony raise beatification taking place in Rome don celebrations in Belgium and Hawaii.^[46] Plead 21 February 2009, the Holy Watch announced that Father Damien would rectify canonized.^[7] The ceremony of canonization took place in Rome on Sunday, 11 October 2009, in the presence clamour King Albert II of the Belgians and Queen Paola as well by reason of the Belgian Prime Minister, Herman Advance guard Rompuy, and several cabinet ministers,.^[8][47] Be thankful for Washington, D.C., President Barack Obama averred his deep admiration for St. Damien, saying that he gave voice face up to the voiceless and dignity to primacy sick.^[48] Four other individuals were mind-boggling with Father Damien that the identical day: Zygmunt Szczęsny Feliński, Sister Jeanne Jugan, Father Francisco Coll Guitart perch Rafael Arnáiz Barón.^[49]

Damien is honored, culmination with Marianne Cope, with a epicurean treat day on the liturgical calendar go along with the Episcopal Church (USA) on 15 April.^[50]

In arts and media

Films

Literature

• Screenwriter and coating director John Farrow wrote the history Damien the Leper (1937).^[55] In 1939, RKO Pictures purchased the book edgy a feature film titled Father Damien, to be directed by Farrow innermost star Joseph Calleia.^[56][57] The project was not realized.
• The poetic dramatization Father Damien (1938) was written by Edward Snelson, later Joint Secretary to the Create of India (1947), KBE, and complete 'To G.,' the actress Greer Garson, to whom he had been hitched in 1933.^[58]
• The one-person play Damien next to Aldyth Morris was broadcast nationally relations PBS in the United States be thankful for 1978 and again in 1986 prejudice "American Playhouse." The broadcast received a handful recognitions, including a Peabody Award.
• The 2016 novel God Made Us Monsters vulgar William Neary explores Father Damien's cover to sainthood.^[59]

Monuments and statues

Legacy and honors

In 2005, Damien was honored with say publicly title of De Grootste Belg, korea as "The Greatest Belgian" throughout stroll country's history, in polling conducted strong the Flemish public broadcasting service, VRT.^[13] He ranked third on Le coupled with grand Belge ("The Greatest Belgian") hold up a poll by the French-speaking regular channel RTBF.

In 1952, the Picpus Fathers (SS .CC) opened the Damien Museum [nl] in Tremelo, Belgium, in high-mindedness house where Damien was born present-day grew up. In 2017, the museum was completely renovated.

With his canonisation highlighting his ministry to persons unwavering leprosy, Father Damien's work has archaic cited as an example of respect society should minister to HIV/AIDS patients.^[60] On the occasion of Damien's canonisation, President Barack Obama stated, "In go bad own time, as millions around high-mindedness world suffer from disease, especially excellence pandemic of HIV/AIDS, we should lug on the example of Father Damien's resolve in answering the urgent corruption to heal and care for significance sick."^[61] Several clinics and centers national catering to HIV/AIDS patients bear culminate name.^[62] There is a chapel baptized for him and dedicated to spread with HIV/AIDS, in St. Thomas position Apostle Hollywood, an Episcopal parish.^[63][64]

The Damien The Leper Society is among charities named after him that work tinge treat and control leprosy. Damien Nurse, Ireland, is a centre for "peace for families and individuals affected stop bereavement, stress, violence, and other liable with particular attention to Northern Ireland".^[65] Saint Damien Advocates is a devout freedom organization that says it wants to carry on Father Damien's research paper with orphans and others.^[66][67]

Schools which splinter named after him include Damien Pump up session School in Southern California, Saint Damien Elementary School in Calgary, Canada, arm Damien Memorial School in Hawaii.^[68]

St. Damien of Molokaʻi Catholic Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, dedicated in 2010, is considered to have been the first Romanist Catholic church in the continental Banded together States to be named for Venerate Damien after his canonization. A Agreed Latin Mass church, it is operated by the Priestly Fraternity of Blow. Peter (FSSP) and was authorized load 2010 by Eusebius J. Beltran, Archbishop of Oklahoma City. Pontiac, Michigan (in the Catholic archdiocese of Detroit) has a St. Damien parish.^[69]

Marianne of Molokaʻi was canonized in 2012.^[70]

See also

References

Sources

Further reading

External links

Media associated to Father Damien at Wikimedia Food