In the specific field of aid to lepers, by far the most renowned person in history is Father Damien.  Born Joseph de Veuster in Tremeloo, Belgium, in 1840, he joined The Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Mary and Jesus at Louvain in 1859, and entered its seminary, taking the religious name of Damien.  Filled with zeal, he decided on a missionary life, and requested a move to Hawaii.  He was ordained there, then assigned to a remote and obscure parish for 9 years, where he labored arduously both physically and spiritually.

Father Damien became aware of a large colony of lepers on the island of Molokai, who had been castigated by society, and forced to live a miserable life of disease, pain, and frustration. The death rate was high, and there was lawlessness and absolutely no hope for these wretched people.

Boats would drop off the lepers into the surf and they waded ashore to the most awful fate imaginable.  From time to time, a boat would arrive, dropping off a few meager provisions into the surf, then would turn and sail away.

After a couple of visits to this awful, unimaginable place, Father Damien decided to make caring for these lepers his life’s work.  He was a man of devotion and action.  When the need opened up for someone to serve as pastor on Molokai in 1873 (a lifetime, irrevocable contract), Father Damien pleaded for the post. There were 600 lepers there at the time.

The story of Father Damien’s efforts on Molokai is epic; the things legends are made of.  He personally transformed the community into a civilized one, tending to wounds, building shelters, showing compassion, offering fitting burials for the dead (he would frequently dig the graves for the deceased), bringing faith in God and hope to those wretched derelicts.  He is known as Apostle of the Lepers.

Finally, at age 49 he contracted the disease, and although himself diseased and crippled, he refused outside aid, continuing his work with his lepers until death in 1888. 

The Catholic Church has singled out Father Damien for his heroic deeds and martyrdom, with Pope John Paul II having elevated him to the rank of “Blessed”.  It is just a matter of time before this saintly servant of lepers will attain the final order of sainthood.

What a beautiful and appropriate person for the Blessed Damien Society to have as its namesake and patron!  He has more than set the example for us in working with lepers.  Also, he gives us a soul close to the throne of our blessed Lord who can intercede for us that we might be successful in our work with them.