Posted on 10/11/2009 2:06:58 PM PDT by Steelfish
Priest Who Lived With Leprosy Now A Saint Pope Benedict praises Father Damien, who died from leprosy in 1889
Audrey Toguchi, 80, from Hawaii, at right, with her doctor Walter Chang, looks on during a canonization ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Sunday.
VATICAN CITY - A 19th-century priest whose courageous work with leprosy patients in Hawaii has been likened to the efforts of those battling the stigma of AIDS was elevated to sainthood Sunday by Pope Benedict XVI, along with four other Catholics he hailed as heroes of holiness.
Among the 10,000 pilgrims packing St. Peter's Basilica was Hawaii resident Audrey Toguchi, an 80-year-old retired school teacher whose recovery from lung cancer a decade ago stunned her doctor and was ruled a miracle by the Vatican.
Toguchi has credited her survival to praying to Belgium-born Jozef De Veuster, also known as Father Damien, who himself died from leprosy in 1889 after contracting the disease while working with ostracized patients living on Molokai island.
Some 40,000 faithful who couldn't fit inside the vast church filled St. Peter's Square on a warm, sunny morning. Many women from Hawaii wore headpieces made of roses and large beaded necklaces over floral-print loose gowns.
Among the five Benedict added to the church's roll call of saints is French nun Jeanne Jugan, who helped the elderly, including some abandoned by their families. Jugan, also known as Marie de la Croix, was "an authentic Mother Teresa ahead of her time," Vatican Radio said. Her Little Sisters of the Poor order of nuns today runs homes for impoverished old people worldwide. She died in 1879.
‘The heroism of sanctity’ Toguchi and her doctor, Walter Chang, joined in one basilica procession, and two leprosy patients participated in another.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
My guess is that she was asking that Father Damien pray for her, that is different than praying to him. (Yes, I realize this is not what the article says, but the AP is certainly not pro-Catholic and it does not actually quote her as saying she prayed to Father Damien.)
Yoda & the Lion King too, but that's a topic for another day.
Actually, it wasn't a point at all.
OK, stipulated. It certainly implies that she says she prayed to him.
Toguchi has credited her survival to praying to Belgium-born Jozef De Veuster
Personally, if I felt compelled to pray to a non-deity I'd pick a healthier one.
It flatly states that she did, though this doesn't mean that she said this.
Personally, if I felt compelled to pray to a non-deity I'd pick a healthier one.
I have no doubt that you would, but why?
This guy died in the late 1800's. At that time much was known about contagion.
He handled lepers, got leprosy and died.
Not too bright I'd say. Patron Saint of poor choices perhaps?
Jesus Christ ministered to the lepers as well, are you suggesting that He was unaware that leprosy was contagious?
Not too bright I'd say. Patron Saint of poor choices perhaps?
I assume you would consider cowardice the wisest of choices?
He had the advantage of being Jesus Christ. I doubt any mortal disease could bring Him down. Don't you think so?
I assume you would consider cowardice the wisest of choices?
There you go, injecting the nastiness into a neutral discussion.
I would consider it wise not to immerse one's self into a contagious disease.
Go french kiss an AIDS victim and tell me you are wise.
Yoda & the Lion King too, but that's a topic for another day.
Let's not exclude Black Sabbath lyrics from the Hidden Significance Olympics, either. Don't even get me started on the unmitigated brilliance of The Simpsons.
OK, back to the subject of the thread...
So you doubt that He was fully man? I don't think a disease would bring Him down, but I think it could.
I would consider it wise not to immerse one's self into a contagious disease.
Okay, you would consider your personal well-being ahead of those who needed to hear the Gospel.
Go french kiss an AIDS victim and tell me you are wise.
There is a difference between unnecessary risk and ministry.
Well there you go. Your guy is certainly offering better rates.
Are “Saints” man made or does God proclaim them to be such? The Apostles called all believers Saints, in scripture.
No possible way. Not part of the plan.
Okay, you would consider your personal well-being ahead of those who needed to hear the Gospel.
They could hear it at a distance, or read about it.
Do not touch lepers at play, live to preach another day.
There is a difference between unnecessary risk and ministry.
Couldn't he have stayed healthy and worked to CURE leprosy?
If he had no talent for that, then make money and fund those with research skills?
I see no appreciable virtue in throwing away one's (God given!) life mucking about with contagious lepers.
Granted, I'm not terribly compassionate.
But hanging out with lepers is an affront to good sense.
saints are human beings who lived holy lives in obedience to God's will and are now in heaven for eternity
We don't become saints until after we have fought our battle.
Not part of the plan is not the same as impossible.
Couldn't he have stayed healthy and worked to CURE leprosy?
If he had no talent for that, then make money and fund those with research skills?
I believe Father Damien's calling was to work with lepers, he placed that above his own personal welfare. Mother Teresa worked with lepers for nearly half a century and never contracted leprosy.
To the best of my knowledge leprosy is treated with antibiotics and steroids, neither of which were available at the time. I do not believe that there is an actual cure for leprosy.
I see no appreciable virtue in throwing away one's (God given!) life mucking about with contagious lepers.
Granted, I'm not terribly compassionate.
But hanging out with lepers is an affront to good sense.
Read Matthew 25:31-46, throwing away one's life is a matter of perspective.
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Not a word about throwing your life away among the terminally contagious though.
I do see your point however.
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