
St. Damien of Molokai
Belgian missionary priest of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary who spent the last sixteen years of his life ministering to the leper colony at Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai. He built houses, churches, schools, and coffins for the abandoned community, eventually contracting leprosy himself in 1885 and dying among those he served. He stands as one of the great icons of self-sacrificing missionary love in the modern Church.
Life & Times
Also known as: Damien de Veuster; Jozef De Veuster; The Leper Priest of Molokai · Born: January 3, 1840 · Died: April 15, 1889 · From: Tremelo, Belgium; Hawaiian Islands; Molokai.
Patronage
St. Damien of Molokai is invoked as the patron of lepers, outcasts, people with hiv/aids, the state of hawaii. Those in these callings or circumstances often turn to this saint in prayer.
“We lepers...”— Opening of his sermons after he contracted leprosy in 1885 — the moment he identified fully with those he served
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About Catholic Saints
Catholic saints, including St. Damien of Molokai, are Christians whom the Catholic Church has formally recognized as having lived lifes of heroic holiness and who now dwell with God in heaven, offering an example of faith for those still on their earthly journey. Catholics don't worship saints, but ask them to pray to God with us and for us — much as one might ask a trusted friend to pray for them — trusting that those closest to God can join their voices to ours before Him. Discover more saints in the Catholic Shop Saints section.