History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 235

Although Fr. Damien was the pastor of the Catholics in the Colony, he also served as
the lepers' physician, counselor, sheriff, grave digger and undertaker. He worked
untiringly with the lepers and by 1884 he contracted the disease. Fr. Damien wrote
that he would not wish to be cured if it meant leaving the island and giving up his
work. He died April 15, 1889 on the island of MOLOKAI.
A cross of black marble was placed above his grave bearing the inscription: "Damien
De Veuster Died a Martyr to His Charity For the afflicted Lepers." In 1936, at the
request of King Leopold III, his remains were transferred to Belgium where they now
rest in the chapel of the Picpus Fathers in Leuven.
On July 7, 1977, Father Damien was declared Venerable by Pope Paul VI. The
Belgian Postal Services featured Father Damien twice on its stamps: in 1946 in the
series "Charity" (3 Values) and in 1964 in the series "Fight against Leprosy". There is
a statue of Fr. Damien in Leuven (1894) on the "Pater Damiaanplein", and h is
birthplace in Tremelo is now a museum. In 1969 the State of Hawaii honored his
memory with a statue in the Capitol, Washington, D. C.

Desire Defauw was born in Ghent on 5 September 1885, the youngest of five
chi