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St. Damien of Molokai: Apostle of the Exiled
Azure skies, lush vegetation, and sugar-white sand on picturesque beaches: Hawaii brings such idyllic scenes to mind. But Hell invaded Paradise when the incurable disease leprosy was discovered there. An 1865 law segregated lepers by forcibly exiling individuals, even children, to the island of Molokai. It was onto these forlorn shores that Father Damien de Veuster stepped in the spring of 1873.
Saint Damien of Molokai is the riveting account of how a humble Congregation of the Sacred Hearts priest found his vocation in caring for these outcasts. As the poorly-educated son of a hardworking farm family from Belgium, Damien was thought to be ill-suited for the priesthood. However, the desire to serve God burned so fiercely in him that he took priestly vows at the age of twenty.
As a missionary to Hawaii, Damien volunteered to become the permanent chaplain to Molokai. There, lepers, victims of horrible disfigurement with the promise of a lingering death, led a harsh existence. Father Damien became their caregiver, companion, and champion. In so doing, he brought hope to the hopeless, ironically losing his own life to their affliction.
In an age in which an increasing number of people suffer their own personal exile on account of illness, handicap, or emotional distress, the shining example of Father Damien shows the true power of one person and how, when anchored in God's love, one person can impact the world even among the horrors of decay and slow death.
Saint Damien of Molokai is the riveting account of how a humble Congregation of the Sacred Hearts priest found his vocation in caring for these outcasts. As the poorly-educated son of a hardworking farm family from Belgium, Damien was thought to be ill-suited for the priesthood. However, the desire to serve God burned so fiercely in him that he took priestly vows at the age of twenty.
As a missionary to Hawaii, Damien volunteered to become the permanent chaplain to Molokai. There, lepers, victims of horrible disfigurement with the promise of a lingering death, led a harsh existence. Father Damien became their caregiver, companion, and champion. In so doing, he brought hope to the hopeless, ironically losing his own life to their affliction.
In an age in which an increasing number of people suffer their own personal exile on account of illness, handicap, or emotional distress, the shining example of Father Damien shows the true power of one person and how, when anchored in God's love, one person can impact the world even among the horrors of decay and slow death.
- GenresCatholic
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2009
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53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 19, 2013
My latest read for The Catholic Company proved to be both challenging and rewarding. The book was challenging only because of this reader's own personal distractions, which made it very difficult to focus on the historical details that prevailed throughout the first quarter of the book. There is so much that I did not know about the Hawaiian Islands and their history! And there was great reward in learning more about the man who dedicated his final years to ministering to the men, women and children who were exiled from their families when they had developed leprosy, now known as Hansen's Disease. Fr. Damien himself eventually succumbed to the disease after serving, ministering and living among those who were discarded on the island of Molokai for sixteen years.
Like most saints we read about, Fr. Damien was abundantly human yet praised the Lord even under the most difficult circumstances. Prone to stubbornness yet committed to the Lord fully, he learned how to medically care for those he was charged with on top of seeing to their other most basic needs. He treated them with dignity, built them small cottage-like homes for shelter and even started choir groups. Fr. Damien also suffered much persecution from the outside world, including some among the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts to which he belonged. Some attacked him as well as his reputation. One such example was that of a protestant minister who had never even met Fr. Damien and his name was Rev. Dr. Hyde. He assured the world through various news articles and open letters that to have contracted leprosy, an individual such as Fr. Damien had surely been loose with women, was given to bouts of drunken lewdness and so on. Among many circles in the day, leprosy was viewed as punishment for sins committed and not a disease contracted through contact with a deadly bacteria. Author Robert Louis Stephenson, who had visited the colony shortly following Fr. Damien's death, rushed his pen to paper and quite succinctly held Dr. Hyde's charges to the fire. See this news article written in June of 1890.
Fr. Damien had won many supporters from unlikely places and many of those were from Britain. A group of individuals who belonged to the Church of England understood the loving care Fr. Damien gave to those people and the obvious sacrifices he made when he undertook the mission in Molokai. Money poured in for supplies to assist the people whose own country only issued them one outfit and one set of linens per year. This only led to more envy and grievous untruths being spread about Fr. Damien and his intentions. He prevailed and continued to strive to be a model of Christ to his beloved exiled brothers and sisters as others swam in a lake of calumny and gossip.
St. Damien of Molokai: Apostle of the Exiled was a very interesting and inspirational read. Though only 288 pages long including the index, it covers the historical background of the Hawaiian Islands, the missions of not only the Catholic Church but various protestant groups and political influences which prevailed in the 19th century. I also appreciated the Appendixes in the back of the book which included the open letter written by Mr. Robert Louis Stephenson, an account made by a priest who was with Fr. Damien in his final days and letters dealing with his cause for sainthood. Fr. Damien was declared a saint by Pope Benedict XVI on October 9, 2009.
St. Damien of Molokai, pray for us!
Like most saints we read about, Fr. Damien was abundantly human yet praised the Lord even under the most difficult circumstances. Prone to stubbornness yet committed to the Lord fully, he learned how to medically care for those he was charged with on top of seeing to their other most basic needs. He treated them with dignity, built them small cottage-like homes for shelter and even started choir groups. Fr. Damien also suffered much persecution from the outside world, including some among the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts to which he belonged. Some attacked him as well as his reputation. One such example was that of a protestant minister who had never even met Fr. Damien and his name was Rev. Dr. Hyde. He assured the world through various news articles and open letters that to have contracted leprosy, an individual such as Fr. Damien had surely been loose with women, was given to bouts of drunken lewdness and so on. Among many circles in the day, leprosy was viewed as punishment for sins committed and not a disease contracted through contact with a deadly bacteria. Author Robert Louis Stephenson, who had visited the colony shortly following Fr. Damien's death, rushed his pen to paper and quite succinctly held Dr. Hyde's charges to the fire. See this news article written in June of 1890.
Fr. Damien had won many supporters from unlikely places and many of those were from Britain. A group of individuals who belonged to the Church of England understood the loving care Fr. Damien gave to those people and the obvious sacrifices he made when he undertook the mission in Molokai. Money poured in for supplies to assist the people whose own country only issued them one outfit and one set of linens per year. This only led to more envy and grievous untruths being spread about Fr. Damien and his intentions. He prevailed and continued to strive to be a model of Christ to his beloved exiled brothers and sisters as others swam in a lake of calumny and gossip.
St. Damien of Molokai: Apostle of the Exiled was a very interesting and inspirational read. Though only 288 pages long including the index, it covers the historical background of the Hawaiian Islands, the missions of not only the Catholic Church but various protestant groups and political influences which prevailed in the 19th century. I also appreciated the Appendixes in the back of the book which included the open letter written by Mr. Robert Louis Stephenson, an account made by a priest who was with Fr. Damien in his final days and letters dealing with his cause for sainthood. Fr. Damien was declared a saint by Pope Benedict XVI on October 9, 2009.
St. Damien of Molokai, pray for us!
April 10, 2013
Father Damien, or Saint Damien of Molokai, was born Jozef De Veuster on January 3rd 1840. He died April 15th 1889 a long way from home on Molokai in Hawaii. He served as a priest in the leper colony for 16 years before he succumbed to the disease. Damien has been canonized in both the Eastern and Latin rites. His feast day is celebrated May 10th. The process of his canonization took from 1977 until 2009.
But you might wonder why, and for me the pursuit of Damien his taken place over the last number of years. A few years back I was on retreat and the speaker was Michael W Higgins. During the retreat we watched the film adaptation of Fr. Damien's life Molokai directed by Paul Cox. Something in the portrayal of Damien in that film captured my attention. Since then I have kept an icon of Damien on my desk (it is an older image and calls him Blessed Damien not saint Damien) and I followed his canonization process. Since that time I have read or started to read a number of stories, biographies, and books about Molokai, Damien, Dutton and Mother Marianne. I have a feeling it will be a lifelong obsession. To steal from Higgins' book's title, it is Stalking the Holy. And in this case Stalking Father Damien.
Of everything that I have read and watched about Father Damien, I must state this is the best. It is an amazing biography of a man not easily understood. We can look back upon Damien's times, and his conflicts with authorities within and outside the church and it is easy to judge or be harsh. For Damien is a saint. But as this book details, saints are not always easy people, and often their plight is a very difficult path. St. Damien is no different. This book not only chronicles Damien's time on the Hawaiian Islands, but his life leading up to that mission, and his lasting, and to some extent ever growing, impact.
This book is researched and footnoted like an academic paper, but reads like an adventure novel. The writing is fast-paced and often entertaining, considering the subject matter. With an extensive series of appendices and a great index, the book can be used for research and it gives an exhaustive suggested reading list. I dare anyone to read this book and not be challenged. They will find that their prayer life is altered. Damien is held up as an example and with great cause. So spend some time learning more about the man and dive into this incredible read.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
But you might wonder why, and for me the pursuit of Damien his taken place over the last number of years. A few years back I was on retreat and the speaker was Michael W Higgins. During the retreat we watched the film adaptation of Fr. Damien's life Molokai directed by Paul Cox. Something in the portrayal of Damien in that film captured my attention. Since then I have kept an icon of Damien on my desk (it is an older image and calls him Blessed Damien not saint Damien) and I followed his canonization process. Since that time I have read or started to read a number of stories, biographies, and books about Molokai, Damien, Dutton and Mother Marianne. I have a feeling it will be a lifelong obsession. To steal from Higgins' book's title, it is Stalking the Holy. And in this case Stalking Father Damien.
Of everything that I have read and watched about Father Damien, I must state this is the best. It is an amazing biography of a man not easily understood. We can look back upon Damien's times, and his conflicts with authorities within and outside the church and it is easy to judge or be harsh. For Damien is a saint. But as this book details, saints are not always easy people, and often their plight is a very difficult path. St. Damien is no different. This book not only chronicles Damien's time on the Hawaiian Islands, but his life leading up to that mission, and his lasting, and to some extent ever growing, impact.
This book is researched and footnoted like an academic paper, but reads like an adventure novel. The writing is fast-paced and often entertaining, considering the subject matter. With an extensive series of appendices and a great index, the book can be used for research and it gives an exhaustive suggested reading list. I dare anyone to read this book and not be challenged. They will find that their prayer life is altered. Damien is held up as an example and with great cause. So spend some time learning more about the man and dive into this incredible read.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
March 3, 2015
This is a book that will hit you in your very soul, at least it hit mine. I picked up this book after seeing The Lord of the Rings' David Wenham in the 1999 movie Molokai: The Story of Father Damien and I have to admit that I had to take a few weeks just to think about what I had just read before I could move on to my next book.
Father Damien was a living saint as far as I'm concerned. He volunteered to go to the Kingdom of Hawaii in the place of his older brother and served several parishes on the island of Oʻahu before volunteering to serve the leper colonies known as Kalaupapa and Kalawao at the east end of the Kalaupapa peninsula on Molokaʻi when a public health crises broke out in the islands. Before Father Damien landed in Kalaupapa and Kalawao the people there were living in squalor, lawlessness and utter hopelessness. Having been dumped there by their government like trash, expected to fend for themselves but many were too sick to do so. This book shows the reader what Damien was like as a child, why he chose to enter the church even though he wasn't really educated and the love he held for his 'fellow lepers'.
It seemed to me that Father Damien knew that he was going to die as soon as he set foot on Molokaʻi because he was quoted as saying, "I make myself a leper with the lepers to gain all to Jesus Christ." and always referred the people there as "My fellow lepers." even before he contracted the disease. He was strictly forbidden by his superiors to have any physical contact with the patients in the colonies but that didn't stop him from dressing and treating the sores these people suffered even though it increased his risk of contracting the disease. The order didn't stop him from providing comfort and care to the ill and dying. Even after Father Damien contracted Leprosy (It's now called Hansen's disease) he continued to work tirelessly for the health and comfort of his flock.
I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the history of Hawaii or Leprosy (Hansen's disease) in Hawaii since this book doesn't just focus on Father Damien and the Catholic Church. It explains what Leprosy (Hansen's disease) is, what was thought (and what they now know) cause(s) it and the treatments of the day that Father Damien helped get to the patients of Molokaʻi through awareness of the disease and it's effect on people.
Father Damien was a living saint as far as I'm concerned. He volunteered to go to the Kingdom of Hawaii in the place of his older brother and served several parishes on the island of Oʻahu before volunteering to serve the leper colonies known as Kalaupapa and Kalawao at the east end of the Kalaupapa peninsula on Molokaʻi when a public health crises broke out in the islands. Before Father Damien landed in Kalaupapa and Kalawao the people there were living in squalor, lawlessness and utter hopelessness. Having been dumped there by their government like trash, expected to fend for themselves but many were too sick to do so. This book shows the reader what Damien was like as a child, why he chose to enter the church even though he wasn't really educated and the love he held for his 'fellow lepers'.
It seemed to me that Father Damien knew that he was going to die as soon as he set foot on Molokaʻi because he was quoted as saying, "I make myself a leper with the lepers to gain all to Jesus Christ." and always referred the people there as "My fellow lepers." even before he contracted the disease. He was strictly forbidden by his superiors to have any physical contact with the patients in the colonies but that didn't stop him from dressing and treating the sores these people suffered even though it increased his risk of contracting the disease. The order didn't stop him from providing comfort and care to the ill and dying. Even after Father Damien contracted Leprosy (It's now called Hansen's disease) he continued to work tirelessly for the health and comfort of his flock.
I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the history of Hawaii or Leprosy (Hansen's disease) in Hawaii since this book doesn't just focus on Father Damien and the Catholic Church. It explains what Leprosy (Hansen's disease) is, what was thought (and what they now know) cause(s) it and the treatments of the day that Father Damien helped get to the patients of Molokaʻi through awareness of the disease and it's effect on people.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2012
I became interested in St. Damien from a discussion at church. I knew I wanted to learn more. This book reads more like a novel, great read. Father Damien had constant challenges with the Kings of Hawaii and the Catholic Church his entire time at Molokai. Basically he was left to fend for himself for the community that he was serving and ends of contracting the disease of leposy.An amazing man who gave his life for his community.
August 15, 2015
This book about the unselfish life of Fr. Damien (Joseph) de Veuster is a modern day inspiration paralleling the life of Jesus so completely it beckons us to do more for the very weakest and poor among us. The self reflection I placed upon myself after reading this book was profound. No matter your belief or affliliation this book will humble the soul and challenge us to be better human beings.
September 24, 2011
The book is a well-written biography of a fairly contemporary saint (at least, about as contemporary as you can be and still be a saint). It is inspiring without being too preachy. I would definitely recommend.
July 30, 2021
Decent book, but could have flowed better and had more detail, but maybe only so much is known about his life?
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews