Virgina Helen Richards FSP - Saint Damien of Molokai

Saint Damien of Molokai

Saint Damien of Molokai

Hero of Hawaii

Written by Virginia Helen Richards, FSP,

and D. Thomas Halpin, FSP

Illustrated by Anne Bergstrom

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Richards, Virginia Helen.

Saint Damien of Molokai : hero of Hawaii / written by Virginia Helen Richards and D. Thomas Halpin ; illustrated by Anne Bergstrom.

p. cm. (Encounter the saints series ; 25)

ISBN-10 Print: 0-8198-7421-3

ISBN-10 eBook: 0-8198-4874-3

ISBN-13 Print: 978-0-8198-4874-1

1. Damien, Father, 1840-1889. 2. Catholic ChurchHawaiiClergyBiography. 3. MissionariesHawaiiBiography. 4. MissionariesBelgiumBiography. 5. Missions to leprosy patientsHawaii. I. Halpin, Deborah Thomas. II. Title.

BX4705.D25R53 2009

266.2092dc22

[B]

2009013784

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Copyright 2009, Daughters of St. Paul

Published by Pauline Books & Media, 50 Saint Pauls Avenue, Boston, MA 02130-3491

www.pauline.org

Pauline Books & Media is the publishing house of the Daughters of St. Paul, an international congregation of women religious serving the Church with the communications media.

Encounter the Saints Series

Blesseds Jacinta and Francisco Marto

Shepherds of Fatima

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Journey to the Summit

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Missionary of Charity

Journeys with Mary

Apparitions of Our Lady

Saint Anthony of Padua

Fire and Light

Saint Bakhita of Sudan

Forever Free

Saint Bernadette Soubirous

And Our Lady of Lourdes

Saint Clare of Assisi

A Light for the World

Saint Damien of Molokai

Hero of Hawaii

Saint Edith Stein

Blessed by the Cross

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Daughter of America

Saint Faustina Kowalska

Messenger of Mercy

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

Cecchinas Dream

Saint Francis of Assisi

Gentle Revolutionary

Saint Ignatius of Loyola

For the Greater Glory of God

Saint Isaac Jogues

With Burning Heart

Saint Joan of Arc

Gods Soldier

Saint John Vianney

A Priest for All People

Saint Juan Diego

And Our Lady of Guadalupe

Saint Katharine Drexel

The Total Gift

Saint Martin de Porres

Humble Healer

Saint Maximilian Kolbe

Marys Knight

Saint Paul

The Thirteenth Apostle

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Rich in Love

Saint Teresa of Avila

Joyful in the Lord

Saint Thrse of Lisieux

The Way of Love

For other childrens titles on the saints, visit our Web site: www.pauline.org.

Contents

The old bell clanged loudly, cutting through the quiet afternoon air. In Tremelo, Belgium, school was over. The students scattered quickly, heading for home. The De Veuster brothers and sisters and a group of their friends pushed and shoved, chatting as they walked along.

Hey! Lets play crack the whip! one of the girls called out.

Im not sure thats such a good idea. Sometimes people drive their carts down this road, cautioned ten-year-old Auguste. The younger children hesitated a moment.

Oh, well be careful! Come on, it will be fun! said Joseph. He was just three years younger than his brother Auguste. Joseph grabbed Augustes hand and started running. The others quickly followed suit, joining hands along the empty country road. The object of the game was simply to run as fast as you could and not lose your grip. It was a challenge to stay balanced and to keep up with the faster runners in the group.

Hang on tight! I see a curve ahead! Joseph shouted. They tightened their grip on each other and swung around the arc. This was the fun part!

But suddenly they heard the sound of hoofbeats aheadfour huge horses and a noisy wooden cart were about to round the bend from the opposite direction. The driver panicked when he saw the children in the street and pulled back with all his might on the reins to halt his team. Screaming filled the air as the children ran to get out of the way of the horses. Then there was silence

The cart rumbled to a stop several yards down the road. The driver, with his heart thundering in his ears, leaped off his seat and ran back to the bend in the road, searching frantically for the children. One by one, they were climbing out of a shallow ditch on the roadside, where they had jumped to avoid his cart. Thank goodness! thought the driver, wiping the sweat from his forehead. No one is hurt.

What were you children doing? Dont ever take a risk like that again! the driver scolded.

But Auguste wasnt listening. Where is Joseph? he asked as he stood on the road again.

The drivers heart jumped to his throat. Had someone been injured after all?

That sure was close! a familiar voice called out from the opposite side of the road. The driver squinted and realized that a little boyperhaps seven or eight years oldwas speaking. It was Joseph.

Are you all right? the driver asked, running to him.

Joseph De Veuster stood up and brushed the dirt off his pants. Oh, Im fine, he said. I was just thanking my guardian angel for watching out for us. Then, turning to Auguste, he added, I told you wed be careful!

The De Veuster family lived in the northern region of Belgium known as Flanders. The people of Flanders, often referred to as Flemings, spoke Dutch and farmed the flat land of their region. Josephs father, Francis De Veuster, grew and sold grain. It was a good living, and the large family was well provided for.

After the children finally returned home that evening, the family crowded together in their large farmhouse kitchen for the evening meal. Catherine De Veuster turned from her place at the fireplace where she had been stirring the thick Flemish soup for supper. She gazed for a moment on the healthy young faces of her children: Auguste, Leonce, Gerard, Eugenie, Pauline, Marie, Constance and Joseph. He was her second youngest child and had been born January 3, 1840. What a knack he had for getting into mischief! She had already heard about his latest escapade.

But then Catherine smiled, almost in spite of herself. God has certainly blessed our family, she thought. We have to work very hard sometimes, but were happy!

Tonight I get to sit by Mama! Marie announced, breaking into her mothers reverie.

You always get to sit by her! Its not fair! the others complained.

Not all the time, she said, tossing her head back in defense.

Suddenly the tall figure of a man appeared in the doorway.

Are those my children I hear arguing? Papa De Veuster feigned astonishment. Silence filled the dining room.

Joseph shook his head solemnly and answered mischievously, Not us, Papa.

Joseph! His fathers gaze fell on him in concern. What happened to your head? Where did that lump come from? It looks like a mountain! He reached his hand out to Joseph. Let me take a look at you.