St Damien of Molokai: The Happiest Missionary on Earth (Who Happened to Die of Leprosy)

 Today we read about a fascinating character named St Damien of Molokai in the book In Caelo et in Terra. He grew up on a farm in Belgium. His older brother was going to become a missionary to Hawaii, but succumbed to typhus. So Damien (his confirmation name) took his place eagerly. 

He went to Hawaii and began ministering to the lepers in the colony on Molokai. When he arrived, it was chaos - those who died were tied to poles and fed to the pigs. There were drunken orgies regularly. He changed all of that. He personally dug the graves for hundreds of lepers. He brought order and piety to those who were suffering from this sad and embarrassing disease. His bishop wanted there to be a rotation of priests visiting the colony, in order to protect the priests from getting sick from exposure. 

But Damien wanted the people to trust him. So he volunteered to live among them permanently. He did, for many years, and finally succumbed to leprosy and died from the disease at the age of 49. But just before he died, he made it clear that he was "the happiest missionary on earth."

You can read more about him here.

But wait, there's more.

A certain minister from a different church came to visit Hawaii. His name was Hyde. He wrote an article in which he attacked the life, morality, and work of St Damien. And you'll never guess who came to St Damien's defense. None other than Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of such books as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (I wonder...) and Treasure Island (interesting!). You can read the attack and the defense here.

If you work with gusto for Jesus, you will probably be attacked at one time or another. And friendly fire, from other Christians, is the most painful. But it comes from others, too. Mother Teresa (now St Teresa of Calcutta) was also attacked. Christopher Hitchens wrote an entire book in which he attacked the life, character, and work of Mother Teresa. 

So say a prayer for those who labor in the trenches for those who are hurting and need help. They need our prayers, as they face down the enemy every day.

God, thanks for the wonderful example of this dedicated priest. St Damien of Molokai, pray for us.