St Damien Missionary to the Lepers – May 10 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence

 

Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on May 10, 2023, on the life of St Damien of Molokai, taking care of lepers in Molokai, Hawaii.

He was born in Belgium and wanted to become a Trappist, but his brother convinced him to join the Fathers of the Sacred Heart. He went to Hawaii in 1863 and spent nine years in two mission stations before being sent to the leper colony on Molokai in 1873. He offered to stay there permanently, and his ministry focused on burying the dead and caring for the souls of the lepers. He eventually contracted leprosy himself, along with the unsavory stigma associated with the disease, and died in 1889. Despite his heroism, some accused him of violating his vow of chastity, but Robert Louis Stevenson defended him, and he was eventually recognized as a saint.

00:00 - Introduction
00:08 - Chapter 1: Early Life and Priesthood of Saint Damien
01:18 - Chapter 2: Saint Demian's Arrival in Hawaii and Ministry on Molokai
02:50 - Chapter 3: Life in the Leper Colony
04:58 - Chapter 4: Saint Demian's Generosity, Struggles, and Accusations
07:25 - Chapter 5: Saint Demian's Leprosy Diagnosis and Continuing Ministry

Robert Louis Stevenson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Louis_Stevenson

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Damien of Molokai - Opt Mem
Readings: Wednesday 5th Week of Easter - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/051023.cfm
1st: act 15:1-6
Resp: psa 122:1-5
Gsp: joh 15:1-8

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=2224&r=1716

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