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April 14, 2024St. Damien of Molokai is a saint whose canonization many in our parish will likely remember, having only happened in 2009. His canonization was delayed for over one hundred years by concerns around his personality and willful nature as well as dislike of his superiors. The story of Damien’s life and canonization give us a look into what it means to be a saint in the age of tv and radio. Damien was famous even in his time. When he volunteered to spend his life on the leper colony at Molokai, which was understood to be a death sentence at the time, he became a celebrity around the world. This celebrity served to draw many non-Catholic Christians to appreciate the value and meaning of the celebrate priesthood. However, it also created resentment among Damien’s own order and other missionaries. Damien was a fierce advocate for his beloved lepers and spent his life tirelessly working for their betterment. He was never afraid to use his celebrity to their advantage, receiving significant donations from the church of England and other protestant bodies without hesitation. His efforts lead the princess of Hawaii to name him a knight of the realm, an honor completely forgotten by Damien except in its utility to bring more aid to the colony. This biography makes for great spiritual reading in adoration and can help to illustrate the troublesome nature of fame related to charity.
