Leper Priest of Molokai: The Father Damien Story

Have purchased this particular book as gift for friends. It is a little slow reading. However, it conveys the conditions relevant to the events in the Hawaiian islands with regard to Hansen’s disease. Historic and emotional.

Beautiful book and man

Although this book was hard to read at times, I feel like I am a better person for having read it. Father Damien is truely a remarkable individual and his Christlike devotion to the lepers of Hawaii is what made this book so compelling for me. I loved reading about this wonderful,humble man. He loved these people with all his heart and soul. He absolutely changed everything for them, and he not only built churches for them with his bare hands, but he also was their doctor their priest and their friend. When no one would go to the lepers and give them the just the bare necissities of life, Father Damien was a willing and humble servant. I loved this book and know you will come away from reading it, amazed as I was at what this great man accomplished in his short life.

this is an excellent accurate book on st. FatherDamien. i had read one other on his like but this book gives much more info.

Very moving synthesis of this man's life, as well as outline of Hawaiian history.

I wanted to learn more about Father Damien and this book has information I did not know. One is never too late to learn new things.

Excellent read

Excellent biography about Fr. Damien, a Belgian priest of the Order of the Sacred Hearts. He lived during the second half of the 18th century. While he wasn't seen as a candidate for the priesthood, he continued in perseverance and was ordained. He answered his order's call to serve in the Hawaiian mission. He left his family and home, never to return. Once there, he volunteered as the first priest to serve in rotation at the leper colony on Molokai which the Hawaiian government had established. The lepers had no one to help them, but were left to fend for themselves. They received some sustenance from the government, but no human support. Fr. Damien's role evolved into a permanent position, partially by choice and partially by circumstance. Fr. Damien became a type of captive due to his extensive exposure to leprosy. He built homes, churches, orphanages, maintained order, created structure, provided healthcare, food, clothing and spiritual support for over 1,000 plus lepers. He remained in close contact with all lepers, never shying away from their needs. Despite a type of abandonment by his order and criticism from some detractors, he died a "hero" of the lepers. Blessed Mother Teresa herself encouraged his beatification, as she, also a minister to lepers, felt they needed a saint. This book meticulously tracks Fr. Damien's life, and legacy after death. The author does not disappoint in conveying the magnitude of Fr. Damien's sacrifice and commitment to his vocation. A very worthwhile read.