Officially known as St. Damien of Veuster, we Americans know him as St. Damien of Molokai. Damien was originally from Belgium but came to the US as a missionary. He was sent to work at the leper colony of Molokai on Maui, in Hawaii. Having ministered to the lepers there for many years, he eventually contracted the disease himself and died along with those other poor victims of that terrible disease. How courageous to knowingly put himself into harm’s way in order to bring physical and spiritual comfort to those living there in Molokai. The first qualification that the Church looks for in investigating a man or woman for canonization is what is called “heroic virtue.” Damien certainly showed more than his share of that.
   
The feast of St. Damien of Molokai is Saturday, May 10.