May 10, 2021

St. Damien of Molokai (1840 - 1889) was born in rural Belgium, on January 3, 1840. He was born under a different name, Jozef De Veuster, and he was the youngest of seven children. He grew up on a farm and was destined to take over the farm and look after it. But Jozef did not want that responsibility. He wanted to follow his older brother and two sisters who took religious vows. Jozef attended school until the age of 13 when his help was needed on the family farm full-time. He aided his family until he was old enough to enter the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He took the name Damien, after a sixth century martyr. In 1864, Damien's brother who was also in the same order of religious, was ordered to Hawaii. But his brother became ill, so Br. Damien offered to go in his place. He took care of the lepers in Hawaii in the island of Molokai. Fr. Damien eventually also contracted leprosy, but he continued to take care of the sick.

St. Damien please pray for leprosy to be eradicated from the face of this earth.

Patron of: people with leprosy.