St. Damien of Molokai Novena

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Saint Damien of Molokai was a missionary priest who ministered to lepers in Hawaii. He was given the task of working with highly contagious people. The love with which he treated the lepers is still inspiring today! He is a wonderful saint to pray to when feeling like an outcast in society.

Let us pray the St. Damien novena to ask for his intercession!

About St. Damien of Molokai

The 19th century saint, Damien of Molokai, certainly wasn’t satisfied with sitting around waiting for someone else to solve the world’s problems. He saw a need and took action to help – and that particular need was ministering to lepers.

Saint Damien was born Jozef De Veuster in Belgium. His desire to take on great duties didn’t start in the home. He was the youngest in a large family of seven. He knew early on that he didn’t want to run the family farm like he was intended. Instead, he wanted to follow in the footsteps of three of his older siblings who had entered the religious life. Jozef wanted to use his desire for adventure to glorify God.

Around the age of 19, Jozef joined the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and became Br. Damien. Soon after, Br. Damien offered to take the place of his ill brother, who was also part of the Congregation, on a mission to Hawaii. There, he was ordained a priest. After almost a decade of quiet service, he was sent to the island’s newly established leper colony.

What was supposed to be a temporary placement ended up being Fr. Damien’s lifelong vocation. Upon arriving, he quickly realized this was where his earlier drive for adventure had been leading him. He volunteered to stay permanently, despite the risk he would have of getting the disease too.

At that time, leprosy was still highly misunderstood and feared, so lepers were completely outcast by society. The mental, societal, and emotional implications of the disease were often far worse than the physical ramifications. The people really needed someone who would love them unconditionally and see their humanity beyond their disease.

Fr. Damien ministered to the quarantined and misunderstood people with love, understanding, and orderliness. He did the unthinkable through this ministry. He would eat with, touch, and even embrace them, something no one else was willing to do out of fear for their own lives. Fr. Damien believed that he wouldn’t be able to reach the people spiritually without joining with them physically. The colony went from unruly depression to joyful community because of his efforts.

Inevitably, Fr. Damien contracted leprosy himself. He suffered through disfigurement and pain for four years. He eventually died from the disease in 1889 after spending 16 years ministering to these people. He provided for those so desperately in need of God’s love and the care of a human who wasn’t afraid of them.

St. Damien of Molokai is very appropriately the patron saint of people with leprosy. He is still heralded as a heroic figure in Hawaii today. He was even selected to represent the state in the National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol building.

St. Damien’s Feast Day: May 10

Why Pray the St. Damien Novena?

St. Damien of Molokai is the patron saint of lepers. He is also a highly regarded figure in Hawaii. Though his patronage is very specific, anyone who feels alone or outcast will especially like this saint. St. Damien was a wonderful example of Christlike love to those who were considered different. His work with the lepers of Molokai made him a saint because of the overwhelming love he showed them.

St. Damien is a natural choice for those who suffer from leprosy, illness, or quarantine. He is also beloved by Hawaiians. You can also pray the St. Damien Novena for any intention!

St. Damien of Molokai Novena Prayers

St. Damien of Molokai Novena - Day 1

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Thank you Lord Jesus for the powerful witness of love that you provided in St. Damien of Molokai. I pray that I will have the same love toward all I meet, especially those who are different than me.

St. Damien, you were a spiritual minister and leader to people with leprosy. Thus, you were not too proud to work with the most outcast members of society. Help me to remember those in my own life and culture who are seen as outsiders. Remind me to invite them into my world to make them feel welcome and respected.

Keep me from treating those who are different as unworthy of love and respect. Help me to remember that all people are equal in God’s eyes.

As the patron of lepers, I bring to you in my heart all those who suffer from terminal illnesses and all of those who feel outcast from society in some way. Please also pray for these intentions I hold in my heart:

(State your intentions here)

St. Damien, Pray for Us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. Damien of Molokai Novena - Day 2

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Thank you Lord for giving Saint Damien the call to something more!

While responsibility to your family and their business was important, St. Damien, you knew you were called to a life of service to God. You knew you were called to complete surrender to His will, no matter where it took you. When His will took you to a scary place, you still had complete trust.

St. Damien, intercede on my behalf to have this same surrender to God’s will. Grant me the vigor you had in your vocation. Help me to remember that earthly concerns must come second to the desires God has placed on my heart.

At this time, I also ask that you would pray to our Father for these intentions I now bring before you:

(State your intentions here)

St. Damien, Pray for Us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. Damien of Molokai Novena - Day 3

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

God, I thank you for the gift of St. Damien’s leadership in restoring hope to a broken people.

St. Damien, when you arrived at the leper colony, you found the people and the governance in complete disarray. You courageously and confidently took charge of the community beyond just priestly duties. This reminded the people that they were worthy of respect and dignity.

Give me the same courage to never back down from the truth. Help me to never waver from reminding others of their worth, even when they do not see it. In a world that preaches the opposite, charge me with the same energy you had to guide and mentor others towards Christ.

With that same courage, I humbly bring my petitions before you to offer to God on my behalf:

(State your intentions here)

St. Damien, Pray for Us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. Damien of Molokai Novena - Day 4

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Lord, we thank you for the understanding that Saint Damien had of his people’s needs.

As a voice to an outcast people, St. Damien, you are very used to being an advocate for others.

When you arrived in Molokai, you didn’t just pity the people’s conditions. Instead, you worked tirelessly to advocate for them and bring about change. You set up schools, houses, and churches. You didn’t stop at just meeting their spiritual needs. You also attended to their physical and medical concerns as well.

Just as your people used to, I now bring before you my intentions. I am hoping you will advocate for me before the Father the way you did for the lepers of Molokai. Please especially intercede on my behalf for these intentions.

(State your intentions here)

St. Damien, Pray for Us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. Damien of Molokai Novena - Day 5

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

God, we praise you for the gift you gave the lepers through St. Damien. You knew exactly who they needed, and you prepared St. Damien for this mission since his youth.

St. Damien, you had a twofold mission. You had to spiritually uplift a forgotten people. You also had to encourage them through the physical and emotional pain involved with their disease. When you saw your people, you didn’t just see disfigured skin and eyes. You saw the face of God.

You also had to battle the deep depression and general lawlessness of such broken people. When you contracted the disease yourself, you simply carried on with your life. You taught by example the beauty and importance of life no matter the circumstances.

St. Damien, give me the grace to teach through my own pain as well. Help me to use the crosses in my life to inspire others, bring hope, and give God glory. At this time, I also bring you my petitions to include in your prayers.

(State your intentions here)

St. Damien, Pray for Us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. Damien of Molokai Novena - Day 6

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

When you arrived at Molokai, St. Damien, your bishop described you beautifully. “One who will be a father to you and who loves you so much that he does not hesitate to become one of you, to live and die with you.”

What a beautiful example of God Himself!

You saw a broken people and gave them what they needed most. You gave them someone who loved them and wasn’t afraid to become one of them. How much do we long for such belonging even today! Help me to live in the same way you did. Help me to be so devoted to my fellow man that I would live and die just for them to feel God’s love.

St. Damien, I beg you to have the same devotion to me. My leprous soul that has turned from God so many times. I pray you will love me so much that you will live and die with me too. I also pray that you will bring my intentions before our Heavenly Father.

(State your intentions here)

St. Damien, Pray for Us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. Damien of Molokai Novena - Day 7

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Lord, you are a master teacher. Just like you, St. Damien didn’t hesitate to do the unthinkable. He touched and embraced lepers just like you did.

Saint Damien, you couldn’t heal them physically as Christ did. But you were able to bandage their broken souls by not shrinking away in fear. You treated them as dignified human beings just as worthy of human affection and God’s love.

St. Damien, help me to approach those who society fears with the same courage you possessed. Help me to treat all with love. Help me to overcome societal barriers to show kindness to all. Give me the strength to not let fear dictate my actions.

In return, I ask that you bring my intentions to God in humility.

(State your intentions here)

St. Damien, Pray for Us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. Damien of Molokai Novena - Day 8

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Our Lord’s example is what inspired you, St. Damien.

God became man to save us. In the same way, you heroically took up your cross and embraced the leprous people as your own. You described yourselves as “we lepers” to establish community. You even allowed the people to share in your work as a sign of community.

And why did you do all of this? To offer them the opportunity to know Christ. You said, “I make myself a leper with the lepers to gain all to Jesus Christ.”

St. Damien, give me the same zeal for evangelization that you possessed. Help me to follow your example to sacrifice your own body to save these souls. Inspire me with this same missionary spirit, so I may welcome others into Christ.

In particular, I ask that you keep these intentions of mine in your own prayers to our Father.

(State your intentions here)

St. Damien, Pray for Us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. Damien of Molokai Novena - Day 9

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Thank you, God, for Saint Damien’s spiritual healing.

St. Damien, you once brought comfort to a people suffering from a severe illness and disfigurement. You did not look down upon them, but instead inspired them with your love and the Good News.

Can you do the same for my leprous heart?

I know that over time, my heart has become disfigured with sin. I don’t feel worthy of God’s love. I try to go through life on my own. There are times when I feel like an outcast for following my faith. Society tries to define me and hide me away where I won’t cause problems, just like the lepers.

Please advocate to our Father on my behalf. Make me feel worthy with your friendship. Help me purify my disfigured heart so I can better love our Lord with it.

I pray also that you remember these intentions of mine:

(State your intentions here)

St. Damien, Pray for Us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.