Father Damien on his deathbed, resting on his side
Presumably taken by Dr. Sydney B. Swift on Palm Sunday, April 14, 1889.
From: Acts 16:11-15
They Go Over Into Macedonia
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[11] Setting sail therefore from Troas we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, [12] and from there to Philippi, which is the leading city of the district of Macedonia, and a Roman colony.
The Conversion of Lydia
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We remained in this city some days; [13] and on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. [14] One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul. [15] And when she was baptized, with her household, she besought us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.
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Commentary:
12. Philippi was a prosperous city, founded by the father of Alexander the Great (in the 4th century B.C.). Nearby, in 42 B.C., there took place the battle in which those who assassinated Julius Caesar were defeated. Octavius raised Philippi to the status of a "colonia" and endowed it with many privileges.
Very few Jews lived in the city, as can be seen from the fact that it had no synagogue (for there to be a synagogue there had to be at least ten Jewish men living in a place). The text refers only to a group of women who met on the riverside to pray--a location probably chosen for the purpose of ritual purification.
14. Lydia was probably a surname taken from the region this woman came from. She was not a Jew by birth but a "God-fearer" (cf. note on Acts 2:5-11). God chose her from this group of women to enlighten her with the light of faith, opening her heart to understand the words of the Apostle. Origen explains that "God opens our mouth, our ears and our eyes to make us say, hear and see divine things" (In Ex. Hom., III, 2). This shows that we can and ought to address God using the words of the Church's liturgy: "Open my lips, Lord, to bless your holy name; clean my heart from all evil thoughts; enlighten my understanding and inflame my will...so that I merit to be admitted to Your presence" (Liturgy of the Hours, Introductory Prayer).
When Christians address God, they ask Him for the grace to pray well--not only at times of prayer but also in the course of everyday activities: "Lord, be the beginning and end of all that we do and say. Prompt our actions with Your grace, and complete them with Your all-powerful help" (ibid., Morning Prayer, Monday, First Week).
This episode shows faith to be a gift from God, stemming from His goodness and wisdom: for "no one can give his assent to the Gospel message in a truly salvific way except it be by the light and inspiration of the Holy Spirit: He it is who gives to all the power necessary for affirming and believing the truth" (Vatican I, Dei Filius, Chapter 3).
15. St. Luke's succinct account shows that Lydia's good dispositions allow St. Paul's preaching to bear fruit very quickly. Her whole family receives Baptism and she insists on the Apostles' staying in her house. "Look at her wisdom, how full of humility her words are: 'If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord.' Nothing could be more persuasive. Who would not have been softened by these words. She did not simply request or entreat: she left them free to decide and yet by her insistence obliged them to stay at her house. See how she straightaway bears fruit and accounts her calling a great gain" (St. John Chrysostom, Hom. on Acts, 35).
It is worth reflecting on the fact that Christianity began in Europe through a housewife's response to God's calling. Lydia set about her mission to Christianize the whole world from within, starting with her own family. Commenting on the role of women in the spread of Christianity, St J. Escriva says: "The main thing is that like Mary, who was a woman, a virgin and a mother, they live with their eyes on God repeating her words fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum (Luke 1:38) 'let it be done to me according to your word'. On these words depends the faithfulness to one's personal vocation--which is always unique and non-transferable--which will make us all cooperators in the work of salvation which God carries out in us and in the entire world" (Conversations, 112).