St Damien of Molokai

"I have told you this so that  my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete." Jn 15:11

Most saints are identified with where they were born. St. Francis, for instance, was born in Assisi, making both Assisi and Francis famous. But some saints, because their lives took a different course, are identified with the city or place where they ministered. Today, we celebrate St. Damien of Molokai, who, although he was born in  Belgium, lifted up the island of Molokai as a holy place because it was the home of those who were exiled there as lepers.

Damien forced the people of his day to look at lepers as people who were sick, not sick people. By emphasizing their humanity in the middle of their isolation, Damien not only helped change the way we look at the sick, but helped lepers seem themselves differently. His efforts to treat lepers with dignity led to decent housing, adequate health care, and most important of all, joy to those who had been abandoned because of their illness. Though the lepers for whom Damien gave his life were not cured, they surely were healed by the tender care Damien offered them and by his efforts of their behalf.


Today, thank God for your human and Christian dignity.

Who taught you most suffering with dignity?