FEAST OF ST DAMIEN OF MOLOKAI, PATRON SAINT OF LEPERS.
FEAST OF ST DAMIEN OF MOLOKAI.
"Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.
"When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.
"So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
"On that day you will not question me about anything.
"Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” (John 16: 20 - 23).
Friday 10th May 2024 in the 6th Week in the Easter Season.
Today is the feast of St Damien Joseph de Veuster of Molokai. (1840 - 1889). Priest. Belgian missionary. Father Damien requested to be sent to the leper colony in Molokai, in Hawaii where he spent the rest of his life ministering to lepers.
Four of these years were lived in confinement after he contracted leprosy.
St Damien was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 11, 2009. He is the patron saint of people with leprosy.
In the Gospel of today, we encounter Jesus and His disciples still huddled together in the Upper Room celebrating His last Supper.
Jesus is departing from His disciples who would no longer be able to encounter Him in the familiar manner they had been accustomed. He is using all types of promises to encourage and reasure them. They must wait patiently for the fruition of their work as a pregnant woman understands that she must wait patiently for the baby to be ready or the farmer wait for the crops to mature for harvest.
The last promise of Jesus on this occasion is breathtaking.
"Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”
The promises and teachings of Jesus on Prayer are pointed. Viz:
1. Prayer is a vital necessity. (Luke 18: 1).
2. Pray with expectant faith. (Mark 11: 24).
When you pray with expectant faith about something the Holy Spirit has prompted you to pray about, you can get instant answer.
Prayer is the Activator of Power. Welcome the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the God in us Who prompts us to pray for something at the right time when God is ready to make that gift to us.
I share here two personal experiences about Prayer.
1. I find the joy of answered prayer an intense joy.
2. The second thing is that most of the good things I have enjoyed in life have come through Prayer.
The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May.
Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc.
For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:
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