Father Damien To Be Canonized

HONOLULU, July 2 (UPI) -- Roman Catholic Church officials at the Vatican have voted to canonize Father Damien of Molokai, KITV in Honolulu reported Wednesday.

The Congregation of the Causes of Saints took the vote following verification of two medical miracles and decades of investigation into the life and work of Damien De Veuster, the TV station said. All that is left to elevate Damien -- also known as the Martyr of Molokai -- to sainthood is the signature of Pope Benedict XVI.

I remember seeing the television production of the one-man play Damien on PBS back in 1978 and crying my eyes out over the sacrifice he made. I've often wondered since why it's taken so long to get Father Damien canonized.

You want to see him? Here's a famous photograph taken not long before his death, with all the ravages of leprosy showing for us all to see:


Face of a Saint.

In the rotunda of the US Capitol Building, each state of the union is allowed two statues of its most famous sons; Hawaii chose Father Damien; the artist didn't choose to show Damien as a handsome young priest, but chose the image shown above to work from.