Tuesday, May 10, 2011: Feast Day of St. Damien of Molokai

Noted, from yesterday's news:

"St. Damien of Molokai's life of sacrifice remembered May 10"
Benjamin Mann, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (May 8, 2011)

"The Catholic Church will remember St. Damien of Molokai on May 10. The Belgian priest sacrificed his life and health to become a spiritual father to the victims of leprosy quarantined on a Hawaiian island...."

The CNA article gives a moderately detailed account of Joseph de Veuser/Damien's life. Including this insight:

"...Inwardly, Fr. Damien was terrified by the prospect of contracting leprosy himself. However, he knew that he would have to set aside this fear in order to convey God's love to the lepers in the most authentic way. Other missionaries had kept the lepers at arms' length, but Fr. Damien chose to immerse himself in their common life and leave the outcome to God...."
(CNA)

I've gotten the impression that some 'lives of Saints' accounts imply - unintentionally, I hope - that Saints are perfect people who never, ever, feel anything except maybe a misty sort of 'spirituality.' Saints are remarkable people, true enough. But - I've been over this before:

"...Here's how the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it: a saint is "...a disciple who has lived a life of exemplary fidelity to the Lord...." (2156)..."
(February 14, 2010)

Father Damien? He was terrified of getting up close and personal with lepers. But he went in anyway, lived with lepers, and left the results up to God.

Sure enough, Father Damien got leprosy.

Which brings up the topic of short-term and long-term goals, altruism - and I've written about that before, too. (March 20, 2011)

Much more to the point, see:

• Matthew 5:3-12
• Catechism of the Catholic Church
  • 1716
  • 1821
  • 2550

More-or-less-related posts:

• "Saint Christopher, 1969, the Catholic Church, and All That"
  (April 5, 2011)
• "Father Damien? Make that Saint Damien of Molokai"
  (May 11, 2010)
• "Father Damien: Another Hero"
  (April 17, 2009)
• "Saints: That's so Medieval"
  (February 14, 2010)

In the news:

• "St. Damien of Molokai's life of sacrifice remembered May 10"
  Benjamin Mann, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (May 8, 2011)

Another blogger's related post:

• "Feast Day of Blessed Damien of Molokai"
  A Catholic Mom in Hawaii (May 10, 2007)