Father Damien to become a Saint
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI today approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of a 19th century Belgian priest who ministered to leprosy patients in Hawaii — opening the way for him to be declared a saint.
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Benedict declared that a Honolulu woman's recovery in 1999 from terminal lung cancer was the miracle needed for canonization of the Rev. Damien de Veuster. The miracle was attributed to the intercession of the late priest, to whom the woman, Audrey Toguchi, had prayed.
The approval means that Father Damien, beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995, will be canonized at a date still to be set.
Growing up and being raised Catholic, I was always surrounded by the images and stories of Father Damien and Mother Marianne and their work with the patients and residents of Kalaupapa. I was able to travel to Kalaupapa in high school, and it's an experience I'll never, ever forget.
While I'm a no longer practicing Catholic, I do have gratitude to the Priests and Sisters of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary for giving me the best education I've ever had.
I imagine there's a lot of smiles in Kalaupapa right now.
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI today approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of a 19th century Belgian priest who ministered to leprosy patients in Hawaii — opening the way for him to be declared a saint.
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Benedict declared that a Honolulu woman's recovery in 1999 from terminal lung cancer was the miracle needed for canonization of the Rev. Damien de Veuster. The miracle was attributed to the intercession of the late priest, to whom the woman, Audrey Toguchi, had prayed.
The approval means that Father Damien, beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995, will be canonized at a date still to be set.
While I'm a no longer practicing Catholic, I do have gratitude to the Priests and Sisters of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary for giving me the best education I've ever had.
I imagine there's a lot of smiles in Kalaupapa right now.
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