Thursday, May 10, 2007

Memorial: Blessed Damien of Molokai

Today we commemorate Blessed Damien, whose selfless service and heroism encouraged many to heed God's call (indeed, this is true for every SSCC priest I know!). He ministered to the lepers in an isolated colony of Molokai, Hawaii, before contracting the disease himself and died. He is venerated even by non-Catholic ecclesial communities. Pray for us!

Anecdote: I found a letter attributed to Robert Louis Stevenson (of the Treasure Island fame), in defense of Blessed Damien, when in the course of the beatification process, a Protestant clergy wrote ill of him.

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