St. Damien of Molokai

"I find consolation in the one and only friend who will never leave me, that is, our Divine Saviour in the Holy Eucharist... Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the most tender of friends with souls who seek to please Him. His goodness knows how to proportion itself to the smallest of His creatures as to the greatest of them. Be not afraid then in your solitary conversations, to tell Him of your miseries, your fears, your worries, of those who are dear to you, of your projects, and of your hopes. Do so with confidence and with an open heart."
- St. Damien of Molokai (1840 - 1889)

An Older St. Damien

Young St. Damien

Today is the feast day of St. Damien of Molokai. Damien was born Joseph de Veuster in Tremelo, Belgium, on January 3, 1840. In 1860, he joined the Sacred Heart Fathers, and was ordained a priest in 1864 on the island of Honolulu, Hawaii. He received the name of Damien once he entered the priesthood. He worked in the missions that were on the island of Honolulu for nine years, and in 1873 he volunteered to go and care for the lepers in the leper colony on Molokai. He helped build hospitals, clinics, churches, etc. throughout the island and helped better the lives of the lepers. He announced that he had caught leprosy in 1885, and died four years later on April 15, 1889. In 2009, Damien was canonized. He is the patron saint of those with leprosy.

St. Damien of Molokai, pray for us!

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Images of and Information About St. Damien Is Taken From:

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2817

http://www.ssmo.org/news/?p=1546 

http://www.stdamienofmolokai.org/sunday-may-16-2012-st-damien-of-molokai-feast-day-celebration-at-900-am-mass/