“Yet ours were the sufferings he was bearing, ours the sorrows he was carrying, while we thought of him as someone being punished and struck with affliction by God” (Isaiah 53,4)
Reward for the death of Coudrin
May there be peace! May there be peace!
Do not discuss over money…
There is still much in Paris.
You’ll do better drinking and singin!
Come on, sing with me!
From Church to the square
heads will roll
And let priests die in the guillotine
Your prayers will die
And let priests die in the guillotine
Let them all die!
Proceed comrades
to the roar of freedom
let’s burn churches
and the clerical herd
Father Coudrin, you have been ordained priest
at the very edge of hell…
And, however, there is also Heaven here, Monsignor
Through the roads of France, martyrs’ blood flew
Hell seemed to have unleashed its rage over Paris.
Priests were persecuted
as animals and dragged to death…
Priest Coudrin was specially wanted,
as he knew how to dodge the astuteness
of his executioners and escape their wiles;
so as to bring confort and spiritual help
to the persecuted and overwhelmed
Outside, in the market square,
the guillotine rose, and which theatening
shadow hanged over the HEROIC Priest
The days of terror passed and
the church was able to rise from the catacombs.
Father Coudrin created the Congregation of Sacred Hearts
Here and there arose men determined to do anything:
Their cassock was white and
on the chest they wore an emblem:
a crown of thorns in which interior
the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary shone.
He sent his white soldier all over the world.
Mercy was on its way, after the traces of pain…
Years went by and the Lord wanted to choose me,
Joseph de Veuster, to enroll in this militia of CHARITY.
TREMELO, FLANDERS, 1848
A choice that has been breeding as the small seed
TREMELO, FLANDERS, 1848
in those fields that I happily went through since I was a child,
where God had forged my HEART…
Stop de battle! It is time for a truce.
Why do we stop? It was the best moment!
Because I say so.
I will be the general and you will have to go before me.
But I will be a Bishop and you both will
have to kneel before me and kiss my ring.
And I will be a Pope!
And all of you, with no exception, will have to obey me.
And I will….and I will…nobody is going to obey you
Joseph you are the youngest of the family
Joseph!! Gerard! Quick! Marieke needs help!
If you want to go through here to go to school,
you will have to give us your snacks first.
Or at least the apples your mum prepared for you…
No, everything is better.
I won’t give you anything, my father doesn’t let me.
You won’t go anywhere without giving us your snacks.
Why don’t you mess with a man, coward?
Joseph de Veuster!
Fighting again?
If your father finds out, you will be heavily punished…
Are you ok boy?
Well… it doesn’t seem that ok
Jospeh only meant to help me
What the kid did was not ok,
but you Joseph, you need to learn to be less impetuos.
If your father and mother find out…
They don’t have to find out.
You won’t tell them, Right Peter?
And they neither
All right, all right, all right,
this time I won’t say anything.
But let’s go, Come on that you are late for school.
The Flemish strenght burns in this boy!
Well, my dearest children,
before reading the last paragraph of this
exciting book named
“The Lion of Flander, the heroe of the homeland”
I would like you to repeat some
sentences by heart, is it possible?
What a pride to feel Flemish
when you hear the famous feats of the dedicated warrior Jan Breydel!
Not to mention Count Robrecht, called the «Lion of Flanders»
Or like that battle where Flemish threw the delicate French
gentlemen to the ground with their swords and spears…
Very well children, very well!
I left the reading of this last paragraph for this moment
the glorious outcome of this great masterpiece
And it goes like this:
«You, Flemish, who have read this book:
before the glorious endeavours narrated in it,
think about what was Flanders in the past,
what is currently,
and what is more, what will be in the future,
if you ever forget the saint examples of of your ancestors»
This is the book of the héroes of Flanders.
While there are oaks on this Flemish earth,
there will also be héroes in it.
I will be a hero too!
May the Lord wish that as well, Joseph de Veuster.
Heroes must never disappear from the land of Flanders.
Well…we have read enough for today.
Let’s go outside.
It is spring, and I can’t Keep teaching within these four walls.
“Sweet name,
Virgin Mary,
you are the cause
of our joy”
I love that song of the Virgin
That the teacher taught us.
I can’t stop repeating it
You sing very well Joseph.
I think when you are older
you should be an opera singer….. or a musician…
When I’m older I want to be a heore, Marieke.
A great hero?
Yes! A great hero!
And what would you do being a hero?
Everything! Killing dragons, giants, and things like that.
What heroes do!
But there are no dragons or giants here…
Yes, it is a pity.
It is difficult to be a hero nowadays.
With no wars, no dragons, no giants.
I can declare war to you Joseph…
How?
Let’s see if you are able to grab your bag and catch me
Marieke! Wait!
Mmm, I think I just got here on time…
I hope food is not only good but abundant…
Because you can’t imagine how hungry I am!
Hello Dad! Dad!
How are you my children?
Everything is so well set Pauline!
It is going to be an excellent surprise for your mother!
Yes dad, the food is ready!
August, you can call tell to come.
Who can help me with this?
Surprise! A birthday dinner for the best mum!
We cooked a special dinner for you mother.
Well, Pauline did most of the cooking
I helped lighting the fire, which is not a small thing…
I thank you with all my heart for su much effort and love, my children!
You deserve it mother!
And I have this gift for you, mother
A sword doesn’t seem the most appropiate gift for a mother…
But if you turn it around, it is a cross, and it works for praying
Smart like his father
And you Joseph…Besides this surprise,
you will give me the joy of seeing you receive your first communion…
Yes! I can’t wait for that day
But…I have another present for you…
And what would that be?
Let’s see…let’s see…my gift is…
A kiss for the most beautiful mum in the world!
What are you preparing Tys?
An axe. Your father needs one for harvesting.
May God help us have a good harvest this year
Have you ever forged a sword?
Of course, little boy.
But well, there is no war now, at least not in Flanders
It is a pity that there is no war in Flanders…
How can you say that, little boy?
The war is a terrible tragedy.
It is only necessary when freedom and honor are at stake.
But there must be a war in Flanders
Because I want to be a hero like Count Robrecht, the Lion of Flanders
So you want to be a hero like the Lion of Flanders?
And do you think that is reason enought to start a war here in Flanders?
But if there is no war, I can’t be a hero…
You can be a hero Joseph.
Even when there is peace, nowadays, there are heros in Flanders
Where?
Your mother for example.
I have seen her doing the house chores all day…
Whoever works like that from morning to night,
without thinking about a reward, is a hero,
even if she hasn’t killed an enemy in the battlefield.
Look, look, right now:
there goes a hero.
I just see Sister Isabel…
Yes, Sister Isabel.
She spends all night up at sick people’s headboards
and she spends all day curing diseases.
Yes, Sister Isabel. She is a heroine, in some other way,
but she is a heroine, like the Lion of Flanders.
But I can’t be a mother or a nun.
You don’t need that, boy.
But you can do another thing..
You can forge your heart
to be strong, good, virile and open to other people’s needs,
and hard against its own passions.
I would like to forge your heart right here.
I would first throw it to the fire
until is burning red, and then I would hammer ir until it gets hard ans steel.
Such hearts are needed in Flanders.
But stop this chat, because the flame is vanishing,
let’s use the bellow come en Joseph,
with strenght so the flame lights up again. Like that!
Such hearts are needed in Flanders!
I am almost done mum, it’s the Saints’ lives.
It is time to sleep my son,
you can continue with the book tomorrow
Joseph, don’t you ever forget this day
when you received Jesus for the firts time!
Mother, I will tell you a secret…
But this is only for you
Tell me, mi little Joseph.
I think God called me today…
Maybe I will be a priest Someday.
Whatever God wants, my son,
But first you need to be a good boy.
Rest my son, and let the Mother of Consolation be always with you.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord
9 YEARS LATER
Friends! Today is a day of real joy among us.
God has blessed us with a good harvest this year!
Yes, Father! Fields are flourishing after a hard year!
Your preaching today Father, was one of the best,
I hope the spiritual harvest is as good as the material one.
Oh! I hope the same!
I heard Joseph today playing the accordion.
Besides being a good boy, he is an excellent musician.
The teacher has to do with it, right?
I guess there is some truth in that affirmation…
but we can’t deny the great musical talent there is in the family
How are you Joseph?
I see you play the accordion better every day.
Awning’s musician play better Marieke.
My friend, you will have to dance with me all day tomorrow…
I will have to think about it seriously…
But I bet you are a better musician than a dancer.
We’ll see that tomorrow
Sir, teacher, you know one day my son Joseph
will have to take over the estate;
but, he doesn’t know a word of French,
which is absolutely necessary for business.
Do you think I should send him to a French school?
My friend, in the name of God,
send Joseph to a French school.
But….. What if he comes back with a bad influence?
And what if he forgets about his homeland?
No, Joseph is Flemish to the bones,
and he won’t forget Flanders even if he is on the other side of the world.
Marieke, I’ve been meaning to tell you something for some time now
And what is that about?
That you are as beautiful as an apple tree in bloom
and there is nothing more beautiful than you.
well then, watch out that the apple tree doesn’t beat you with its branches in your head.
Now Joseph, it is your turn to distribute cookies
and my time to sing and dance with my friends.
Joseph? What are you doing here?
What were you playing at the piano?
More than music it seemed a spell
It was a Beethoven’s symphony, my son.
The heroic Symphony
Beethoven, was he Flemish?
No. He was German, but his grandfather was Flemish.
This music is like the heart beat of our land.
The great Flemish determination
The one that is born from the strenght,
the one which is able to grab destiny
from its own jaws, as once said Beethoven.
And where does that strenght come from?
It comes from faith but also from pain.
That’s why the authentic strenght
is born at the feet of Christ’s cross.
From there, the greatest pain of a af all, the world’s saving strenght was born,
the strength that blew away the tomb’s doors and it became resurrection.
The elevation of the Cross by Rubens!
The Flemish painter expressed there that same strenght…
Right Joseph. In your life there will also be an elevation of the cross
and then you will have to show that you have the paschal strength for resurrection
I know what haunts you.
I know what made you come here to me
you are going to a French school, but your Flemish heart rebels against it.
But this time you have allow a childish stubbornness dominate you,
Are you so coward as to not dare to fight a war for the homeland in a strange world?
Please stop sir, stop!
It is true that that torments my soul.
The thing is I can’t fully understand it…
I know it will be hard to be away from your land Joseph,
but you’ll be a real Flemish,
when you learn how to be one here, there or in any part of the world.
What matters is the strenght in your heart.
You are right Sir.
Now I really know the meaning of being Flemish.
It is not just the one who lives in Flanders
but also the one who has the strenght to live.
If my father orders, I will follow his command.
Your words are always filled with wisdom.
I am very grateful!
I feel honored to help you Joseph but, be careful!
You have the strenght of a young man.
And what a strength! I won’t be able to finish playing the symphony.
Come join me and enjoy the Beethoven’s music a little more.
Watch out boys, the peasant is coming.
Hey Flemish! Look at your portrait.
It looks well, Right?
It turned out really good Lambert.
I see you have a great artistic talent.
The peasant has a lot of strenght!
Well, his strenght is vulgar and ordinary.
Having such strength is not very reputable.
But it is practical.
Wow Lambert, we see you made a fool of yourself
Quick! To our positions boys! The professor is coming!
Give me your hand Joseph.
I want to be your friend.
Do you want to be my friend because some days ago
I made you feel the strenght of the “Lion of Flanders”?
Not for that! Just because, you are an ideal friend.
Other say that too;
everybody says you deserve to be a Walloon.
And you Flemish!
I am a Walloon and proud of it.
I am Flemish and I’m very happy to be.
Well, I think that’s ok.
I even think that I couldn’t
appreciate you if you didn’t love your homeland.
And if that time I drew the
“Lion of Flanders” with big donkey ears
you wouldn’t have reprimanded me I would despise you today.
I understand.
And I am very glad that you want to be my friend.
Yes, and you will have to tell me many things about Flanders
I think we could also love someone else’s homeland.
And I will help with French too.
You have learn quite a lot,
but you speak French horribly.
FLANDERS, 2 YEARS LATER
Have you heard Amelie?
Today our dear student Joseph is coming back from Wallonia.
Do you think he still speaks Flemish?
That was what I was thinking, yes.
But you know?
That is not all, he will surely come here
and tell me “Pierre, you smell very unpleasant!”
But I assure you Amelie,
if he comes and says “Pierre”, I will stab the cradle in his belly…
Pierre, come here and stab me with your cradle if you dare!
Joseph! My dear boy!
You scared me, Joseph!
Mi old and dear Peter!
Did you think I turned into a French lady?
What would Amelie think of me?
Come on, Amelie. What is she going to think if she is a cow?
But you, you keep calling me Peter!
What was I telling you Amelie?
Joseph is the same as usual.
But tell me, what news are there at home?
Everything works perfectly here, Joseph.
Pigs and cows fat and healthy.
We will slaughter Amelie not so long from now…
And where is my mother? And my father? The farm looks desolated…
They are all in the fields, Joseph.
The harvest has started today.
Well as a matter of fact your dad told me… well… that when you arrived…
of course if you are not tired… well…after you rest...what he told me is… well
If you don’t give me my sickle right away, I’ll hang you!
Let me get rid of my fancy clothes!
Good shoes and Back to the fields!
See you later Peter!
Joseph! Marieke is going to be there as well
And so, what do you want to talk to me about?
Nuevo subtítulo
Do you by any chanche love me and want to marry me?
You will never get married Joseph!
But why no?
A countryman with no country girl is not a good deal…
Joseph? Why do you keep fooling yourself?
You are no countryman.
It’s been a while since God has called you to a very different field.
But you suffocate God’s voice inside you.
But where do you get those ideas from?
I think I know you better tan yourself.
Since we were kids I’ve always been convinced
that God has destined you to something special.
You said it yourself.
But those were childish ideas
It’s posible. But I’ve also proven with time that
God has called you and keeps calling you.
Can you deny it?
It is posible…
But I always thought it was an illusion with which I fooled myself.
And now that I am back home, when I’ve worked with everyone, and when I thought
I found the companion that would help me forge happines in my homeland,
you come and tell me “God has called you to another field?”
And you suffocate God’s voice.
Joseph, I have always loved you as a brother,
a very dear and good brother.
And as such, I have always appreaciated you more than other boys.
But my heart had never had another feeling
for you because I knwe God was Calling you to his service….
And now, Joseph, May God protect you!
You can, you can forge your heart to be strong, good, virile
and open to other people’s need.
I think God has called me today…
I might be a priest some day.
Right Joseph. There will be an elevation of the cross
in your life as well, then you will have to show that you have the paschal strenght for resurrection
Holy Mother! Make my visión clear!
Send me your light to my heart so
I can see the road through which God wants me to go.
I am willing to let all go, sacrifice everything,
if God calls me.
But...Give me a sign Holy Mother of God!
Father…
Have confidence Joseph, your time will come.
BRAINE LE COMTE, WALLONIA
Joseph, we have the afternoon free.
Do you want to come with me?
Go away Anthony, I need to be alone
But Joseph, is anything wrong?
Why do you answer like that?
I told you to go away and leave me alone!
Wait Anthony. Forgive me.
I didn’t mean to answer like that, my friend.
But I feel the need to be alone.
What is it Joseph?
We all see you different lately…
you are not the usual Joseph
I need clarity over a matter I can’t tell you
Maybe I could help you in some way.
Besides, I just came to ask if you wanted to come with me
to the sermon that the missionary fathers are giving.
All right, I’ll go.
Nuevo subtítulo
“May you hear God’s voice today,
do not harden your hearts…”
Beloved brothers and sisters,
God summos us to the holy mission.
God’s voice calls our hearts.
So unfortunate the one who hears
him and does not open and receive it as the furrow to the seed.
There is a special vocation,
a special calling that God makes to his closest friends…
It is the call God made to his apostles.
It is the call that throws fire to the souls,
and whoever is touched by its flames
cannot do anything but to fall on the knees and say with a simple heart
“I am here, Lord”
God will take the chosen one by his hand
and will send him to the afflicted and burdened,
and the the poor and oppressed
will be his father and his mother, his brother and his sister…
The far away island,
the barren and sterile homeland will be his country
because there live the men
who are expecting everything from his charity
Joseph! Are you ok?
Is anything wrong?
I now see my path very clearly, Anthony.
Now I understand what God wants from my life.
How could I have doubted? Thanks Anthony!
I’m glad to see you like this, happy and pleased.
And whatever your path is, May God be with you always, Joseph!
PARIS, 3 YEARS LATER
This is the last time I tell you, Mr Crayon!
If you don’t bring me anything good for tomorrow,
something will make people forget even to breathe,
it would be better that you start looking for another job.
I promise I will do my best possible, Sir.
Do your best? Do your best?
That is something that an old sprinkler could say:
that wants to do its best.
But it always pours water and not champagne.
You drive me crazy!
Allow me to tell you, sir,
I have three striking news that could be
the sensation of our newspaper this week.
And what are those news you have in mind?
The first one that , the Russian Alexandra Alexandrova will be dancing, at the French theater tonight.
That is not sensational.
However, write it down with an inmoral tone…that always works.
What else is there in Paris?
A German circus will be visiting the city next week…
Are you planning to interview monkeys?
Isn’t there anything else?
Yes, yes, there is something better.
Today at the Sacred Hearts Convent,
three young men will receive their religious profession.
And what is interesting about that?
Convent’s stories seasoned
with a gloomy and romantic tone are very curious news today.
There you have the great sensation that will take Paris’ breathe away,
the reason for an impressive heading with big letters
“Men under the shroud of death”
“Rotten smel in the monastery church”
“Funerals on beauty and youth”
Bravo! Bravo! You begin to become a real reporter
You have finally understood what I have been wishing for so long.
That is the way to write!
“They die alive…
Their old names are forgotten…”
The French Dominique Vincent will take the name of “Brother Martin”,
the Italian so far know as Adriano Maestri will be called “Brother John Baptist”
And... a Flemish, called Joseph de Veuster,
will be named “Brother Demian”
And so, with the fall of their old names, a lamentation will be sing
for the young energy that is broken, for the dead of those who slowly die
within the walls of the monastery”
“Dead alive”.
This is not wáter from the sprinkler.
This is the purest and most exquisite champagne!
That morning of 1860,
the day so awaited for our souls arrived.
Before the steps of the altar,
me made the three solemn vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience.
A triple “yes” consecrated our hearts forever to the service of Jesus.
In exchange of this He provides us with his divine grace.
Out father Joseph Coudrin,
the man who, with no fear of death,
exposed his life daily in the spirit’s trench;
also wanted to inspire his heroism in his disciples.
Laying en the church’s floor,
the sacred place where our martyrs sleep
a black cloth covered our bodies,
as a sign that the voluntary death
is the beginning of a new life, which is always ready to be sacrificed.
Fort he Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
we will son depart to the far away islands.
That Mission filed where men who expect everything from our charity live.
That Charity that is the source of the greatest heroism
and supreme joy for our hearts.
TREMELO, FLANDERS, 1863
This is the place where you took the plough for the first time Joseph
remember?
Good land, father!
Yes, good land, my son.
It is already time to leave, father
Thank to our sacrifices, one day we’ll bless life
Boy! don’t you ever forget your homeland.
Take always Flanders with you to the world.
Not as a piece of soil in your handkerchief.
May the strenght of Flanders reside forever in your heart!
Don’t cry mother.
Always resort to the Mother of God,
There you will find confort.
It seems as if you are in a hurry to leave,
Sin This is the last time I see these places,
let me fill my eyes with them.
Well, let say goodbye.
Well, Goodbye to you all!
Holy Virgin, I now understand
the pain you felt being separated from your Son…
HONOLULU, HAWAII, 1864
Honolulu’s chathedral!
I feel like in a dream!
We have sailed seas to convert cannibals and savages,
and we are welcomed by an angelic choir…
Like missionaries sent to Paradise!
My dear Brother,
you will have time to get to know the other face of this island.
Not every day is Palm Sunday.
I greet you before the Altar,
where everyday Christ raises to the Cross.
I greet you before the shine of the eternal flame of sacrifice.
The path of mission is also for you the path
of the altar, the path of heroism the parth of an endless sacrifice.
And now, let’s sing to thank God
for tour brothers who come here to extend the Reign of Christ in these islands.
You are very young, but you will march to the front, my sons.
In a few months you will be ordained priest,
and you will soon go to your own positions
don’t you ever stop imploring the grace of God, you will need it, a lot.
…and then, the poor and the oppressed will be his father and his mother, his brother and sister…
and the far away island, the barren and sterile homeland
will be his country, because men who expect everything from charity live there caridad.
Good luck my friend!
Good shot, Kekela!
You shoot to Makua Kamiano!
White father, will you dare beating Kekela,
champion of logging, in the Puna woods?
A collar of shells for Kekela!
An axe for Makua Kamiano!
My arms and legs for the White Father!
Friends! in this roll goes what you already own: my heart.
But if I win, you will have to help me build a new chapel.
Do you agree?
For a church.
We will build you a church.
A big new church.
White Father, I am happy I was beaten by you!
I crown you Puna’s King of shooting
Tomorrow we will take our axes and build the Lord a new house!
Aloha, makua Kamiano!
Aloha
What’s en your mind, Father?
That island…do you know its name?
Yes, it’s Molokai island,
the isle of the lepers.
The government sends lepers to die there…
Young, old people, kids…
They say it’s hell itself.
They call it the “cursed island”.
Molokai island…
May God have mercy for those poor souls.
2 YEARS LATER
Aloha, Mary! Aloha, Mary!
Aloha Mary! There is no people en this earth
thar couldn’t understand what the image of the Mother of God means.
From today, the Lord will luive within us forever,
and his light will not fade away.
The Mother of God, dwells in us as well, to listen to all our pleas.
How would you like to name your daughter?
I want to name her Mary, like the Mother of God.
“The heavens, the earth and the….”
The mansión of eternal fire! That is the punishment of spirits
It’s God!
The divine fire burns in volcanoes too…
It’s Pelé! Pelé!
The goddes is mad because we have built a temple for White people’s God!
Aloha Mary!
My sons are abandoning me…
Why are you making me feel so tired and exhausted?
Makua Kamiano! My daughter!
My daughter!
His father has taken her to the volcanoes
to offer her as a sacrifice for the goddess Pelé.
Keep calm, my dear.
I will bring her back!
Kaleo! Kaleo!
Pelé demands the sacrifice of my baptised daughter.
If I don’t do it we’ll be devoured by the fire!
All of my children!
It is best to sacrifice one
instead of losing them all!
Come on, my friend, let’s go back home!
And Pelé?
Pelé has never existed.
This fire was also created by the Heavenly Father.
Pelé has died!
Makua Kamiano has seized my daughter from her, and the goddes didn’t kill him.
God and Mary have saved my daughter.
Thank you Makua Kamiano!
Aloha, Makua Kamiano!
Look, my sons!
I rescued this baby from the mansion of eternal fire
and Pelé couldn’t do anything to me,
because Pelé doesn’t exist!
Pelé has died!
The misguided father wanted to offer his daughter to the hands
of the burning monster,
but I put her in the hands of Mary, our Mother.
She is kindness, love and peace.
Aloha, Mary!
Thank you Lord for letting me rescue that little girl from death
And to you Mother,
you gifted me the heaven at the shores of hell saving my mission.
I will trust my life and death to you.
Aloha, Mary!
How long has she had this temperature?
She’s been like this all night
Don’t worry, with the medicine we gave her
and some cold cloth, son the temperature will go down.
Do you have any pain, grandma?
Let me see your hands…
Come on grandma, you’ll see, I won’t hurt you…
Leprosy! It’s leprosy! My God!
Not Molakai, no! Not Molakai, no!
No, not to Molakai, no…
If she stays here, she will infect all of us…
Why am I so cruel to her?
If God has placed his hand over the forehead of lepers…
No!! Not to Molokai, no, white father!
Not to Molokai, no!
God loves you very much,
very very much, grandma.
God let people who he loves the most feel the weight of his hand upon them.
According to government’s laws,
she must be taken to Molokai the isle of lepers.
But, don’t you take her to Molokai! no, white father!
Molokai is hell.
If they at least had a priest in Molokai…
MAUI ISLAND, 1873
It is a great joy to meet with all of you
Today is really a Thanksgiving Day
As you may all note, our efforts are prospering
in the multiple islands of Hawaii.
Thank God, the outcome is abundant and
Reign of our Lord is being established little by little in this lands
Don’t you agree, Father Raymond?
I’m sorry Monsignor,
I don’t agree completely with your words.
You have forgotten one island, reverend Father.
You have forgotten Molokai.
That island is hell.
I have been there for weeks at different times.
As you all may know, last year I built a church in Molokai
But what for?
These poor people are like sheeps with no shepherd…
and nevertheless, they are the closest to the doors of God.
Yes, brothers, Molokai needs the presence of a priest.
Reverend father, one word from you and I am willing to depart to Molokai
Brothers! You all know leprosy.
It is a horrible disease It is God’s hardest scourge.
How could I order any of you to go to
that region where you would have to live as the only living beig among the deads.
Monsignor, the day I made my vows, a funeral cloth was laid on my body,
as a signal of voluntary death being the beginning of a new life.
I am ready, if you order so,
to bury myself alive among those unhappy,
some of whom I know personally.
We are all willing to depart if you order so Monsignor
This is right Lord Bishop.
You can count on the Availability of each one of us.
How old are you, Father Demian?
Thirthy three years-old Monsignor
The same age the Lord had when he took the cross on his shoulders
Do you know leprosy, father Demian de Veuster?
Face to face, monsignor!
If you give up your desire previously mentioned,
I will not doubt your apostolic zeal for a second.
I know well the work you are doing in Kohala
Send me to Molokai, Monsignor
and I will glady go with a cheerful spirit
You go then, in the name of God!
Thank you Monsignor!
I know well you would have felt equally happy to go to Molokai
This is the most beautiful day of my life.
I feel proud of my missionary sons…
Father Schaefer, you will take Father de Veuster’s place in Kohala.
ISLAND OF MOLOKAI, HAWAII
The ship has not set sails yet, Demian de Veuster;
you’re still on time to go back.
I’m staying here Monsignor.
This is my new homeland.
Monsignor! Monsignor! It’s the bishop
My sons! How are my sons?
Makua Kamiano!
Do you still recognize us, Father?
Yes, I know you.
You are my dear sons from Kohala.
We don’t want any priest in this island
We don’t want anyone talking about resignation and hope.
Go back to your homes, where you live healthy and happy,
With needs at all!
Let them leave in peace.
Misery has made some of them mean,
they have become like wild beasts
I bet my life I will make them human again
My sons,
so far you have been alone in this island
away from your homeland and the ones you love.
Today I bring you a priest who wants to be a father to you.
He loves you so much,
that he has wished to come here to live and die among you.
My sons!
I have come to this island to share the same luck as you.
My life, my heart and my hands are for you from now
And if God wants me to carry the cross of leprosy en my shoulders,
I am willing to accept
it to be just another leper among the lepers of Molokai.
Hungry! I’m hungry! I’m hungry!
Where is your home, my son?
I had a hut…
then others came and kick me out of it.
They say there is no need of a house to die
Come with me, my son.
I don’t need a roof while there are other who
don’t have a place where they can shelter
What do you want from here, Demian de Veuster?
Do you intend to end all the misery in ther bodies and souls?
Give me strenght, Jesus!
What do you want to do by yourself,
a poor man, facing the hell of Molokai?
Your desfigured face Lord!
I recognize your face…
in the lepers of Molokai!
“I will climb to God’s altar,
the God that brightens my youth”
Divine Shepherd of sould,
withou your comforting presence in each Mass,
I couldn’t bear on my shoulders the heavy Cross of Molokai.
But with you by my side,
I enjoy your relief and strength.
I have the honor of planting
The divine seed among my poor lepers every day
I’m surrounded by moral and physical miseries that break my heart.
But the fire of your Charity,
transform the the heavy yoke into a light burden.
Lord, I see your suffering face in each inhabitant of this island.
Teach me how recognize you under the horrible veil of leprosy!
Because hidden in that veil it’s You…
claiming for consolation.
“I will climb to God’s altar, the God that brightens my youth”.
Because in your altar Lord,
all sacrifices become real joy.
«…Father Demian, making his resolution,
has stayed in Molokai among the lepers.
With no roof to shelter,
he is happy with what sick people give him.
Whatever his religion
Is we have to acknowledge that he is a real cristian hero.»
A cristian hero!
And this is said by a protestant newspaper.
It is a shameful scandal!
It is a clear propaganda for the catholic mission
that we, puritans, have been fighting for decades.
There are rumors that father Demian de Veuster
has been seen in Honolulu today.
Of course, he must have come to look for his laurels
Not only his laurels, Excellency.
He is also looking for material help for his lepers.
It is outrageous!
Think, his mere presence here could be a source of infection for the whole city.
What we have to do is intimidate him
so he refrains from such visits again.
That is the only way to put and end to this situation
And how are we going to do, Excellency?
Come in
Minister, father Demian de Veuster is here to visit you.
He is welcome, make him come in.
You will soon see how
This priest will never ever want to go back to Molokai…
Good afternoon, Minister
Good afternoon.
Are you coming from Molokai?
I do, sir, I come from Molokai.
And I’m here to ask for help for my lepers, who lack everything.
I ask you a question, Father…
Are you going to take care of catholics
alone who, according to my information, are the minority in Molokai?
Minister, christian charity doesn’t know of boundaries.
I am there for everyone.
But let’s focus en the matter.
You surely arrived to the island and
found everything in perfect conditions, right?
As for food supplies, the government care is enough
But we lack everything else in Molokai,
we don’t even have medical supplies.
But you know perfectly
well that it doesn’t exist a medication that cures leprosy…
But there are medications that help
ease the pains and seal horrible wounds
Father, you are not living in a world of reality,
can you see that?
What you ask is completely ridiculous!
In that case, I have nothing else to do here.
May the pain of the lepers fall en your head, Minister!
I’m going to try to ignore those last words Father,
but I still hace something to tell you
It is not convenient that you come from Molokai to Honolulu.
You might be a source of contamination for our city.
We are therefore forced to forbid you to go back to the island.
On the contrary, if you want to go back,
you will have to stay there forever.
You want to prevent me to go back to Molokai becuase you
don’t want any catholic missionary among the lepers.
But you were wrong believing
that your plost can make a catholic priest desert his position
You are greatly mistaken, Minister!
And remember, boys, it is very important to learn the prayer
of the “Confiteor” so you can help during the Mass.
Come on, Ankalea! it’s your turn,
today you will perform your masterpiece!
Bravo, Anakalea! You have done it perfectly.
Tomorrow you could help mi during the Mass.
Thank you, Makua Kamiano!
Beppo!...
Don’t cry, Beppo!
Can you pray the confiteor?
Is it correct, Father?
Nobody recites it as well as you, Beppo
And couldn’t I never kneel next to you at the altar?
Of course you could!
Tomorrow you will kneel next to Anakalea
and you will help him when he doesn’t know how to follow
You will ring the little silver bell!
I will grab your surplice when you have to do it.
What beautiful flowers grow in your garden, Makua Kamiano!
You are right, Joane:
flowers grow vibrantly in my garden.
Besides donations of clothes, medicines and blankets,
there arrive letters, many letters!
A letter from Honolulu with the royal seal,
several newspapers, letters from authorities…
and a letter from Tremelo!
A letter from your own mother!
Let’s go to the most importante.
There will be time to look at all that
Is anything wrong, Makua Kamiano?
My father has died Joane… He has died!
Don’t cry, Father!
My father has died Beppo!
Tomorrow Beppo will kneel before the alta and pray for your father
then God will take him to heaven.
You always say it yourself that in Heaven is where men really find their home.
You’re right, Beppo;
in Heaven is where we are really at our home…
I had forgotten for a second.
Makua Kamiano, everything is almost
ready for the arrival of the Princess and the Bishop.
Tomorrow will be a great day for the island of Molokai!
hat’s right Joane.
But you know? I’m concerned about something
I haven’t seen Beppo or Anakalea in the afternoon.
Do you know anything about them?
They were here earlier, gathering flowers with the other kids
but after that I haven’t seen them
Help me look for them.
It’s getting dark and they night
Have gone lost in some dangerous area of the mountain.
It’s late Joane
and we know nothing of Beppo and Anakalea
Right father, Beppo is blind and both kids are very young,
and the mountain is dangerous at night.
I hope those who have gone
out looking for them will bring good news soon.
I hope that too, Father.
Have you been able to read the newspapers that arrived?
What?
The newspapers that arrived.
Look, «Father Demian de Veuster, the héroe of Molakai»
Am I know reporter’s food?
«Father Demian de Veuster, Martyr of Charity»
Such nonsense!
«The Apostl of the lepers».
Look Father, they talk about you here as well…
But What? What is all this?
Have they gone crazy?
Don’t reporters have other matters to attend to,
that they feel obliged to unload their incenses en a poor man of God?
I don’t want this!
I just want to take care of my lepers, build them houses
Save their souls! I just want that…
Is the world interested in this?
I don’t want to be proclaimed to the tune of the trumpets
of those market’s charlatans
The kids have not come back Joane,
and we can’t stay here waiting and doing nothing.
I’ll go now and look for them.
I’ll go with you Father.
Don’t be mad at us, Makua Kamiano!
Don’t be mad, Father!
But of course I am very angry.
Where have you been all this time, for God’s sake?
We’ve been gathering flowers
And after that?
Then we went to the see and threw all the flowers.
What for?
What for?!
The sea will drag the flowers and will take them to your father’s tomb
Go to bed, kids!
You’re not angry anymore, Makua Kamiano?
No, I’m not angry anymore, but go to bed.
How much is the indiscrete sound
of this world worth compared to the love and tenderness of those lepers boys?
With just this, Lord,
you make me rich and happy.
Father Demian!
What a joy to see you again!
The joy is mine too, Governor.
The Princess has just gone down from her ship.
Today is a historical day for the island!
Father, she is a noble woman
and she will surely help your leper sons
I have no doubt about it.
I have heard great words of her.
If I may, Father.
It is an honor for us to receive in this island of Molokai,
Lady Princess sister to the King
Mum! Mum!
The Father of Molokai!
You are a man with a noble heart!
I’m just a priest.
Allow me to honor you with one of our little artists.
His name is Beppo, he is a great singer
God bless you beautiful child!
What beautiful flowers you have in your hands!
Tell me, lady.
Are you my mother?
Yes, my child, I am your mother
Mother!
Many of them will soon be knocking en Heaven’s doors…
But… Are there no doctors or nurses here?
No one, your Highness…
except for the lepers themselves who perform that service.
I have asked thousands of time for a doctor
And competent personell,
but with no positive result.
I will deal with getting a doctor.
And as for nurses
it would be better to look for them among catholic nuns…
do you think you kind find them?
As many as you wish!
So far, the Minister has put many obstacles to grant the necessary authorization
They will no longer put obstacles
how are you?
Well, very well!
Molokai was a hell before…
but now, now is completely different.
Molokai is a happy island now.
We will have the words of the Sandwich Island’s Bishop
monsignor Kóckemann who is also honoring us today with his presence.
don't cry sister
Your daughter is well taken care of.
There is a man in Molokai who is for he and for everybody
more than a father and a mother
My sons! Your are all closer to God, because your carry his Cross.
But be assured that, in the meanwhile, our Charity will always be with you.
But look, my sons,
I bring a new cross for this missionary, a gold cross.
The regent princess, the great lady here,
has given it today for me to hand it to
solemnly to the Priest and Father of you all.
Demian de Veuster!
In the name of Her Highness, the regent pricess of Hawaii,
I impose the Cross of the Royal Commander
of the Order of Kalakaua.
Hello, kids!
The Father is here!
Hello Makua Kamiano!
So long no seeing you!
How are you Makua Kamiano?
How was the tour of the Island of Molokai?
Very well Meleku.
We were surprised by a storm en the way,
even if there is a lot of sun, it has not been enough to dry myself.
Father!
Are you ok, Father?
Yes Meleku, I only feel my feet very heavy.
But it will pass!
Clean the horse, and give him some good grass.
Easy, Father.
We’ll prepare a good dinner for you.
Kids tell Mother Ann to prepare hot water for Father Demian’s feet.
But very hot!
Did you understand?
Yes, Father!
Hello Father, welcome!
Hello Mother Ann!
How was the mission?
It was very good!
Though the rain surprised us on our way…
Please prepare a hot water bath for my feet.
my legs seem to have gone to sleep
Yes Father, right away.
Careful, Makua, the water is boiling.
That’s what I’m needing!
But… what kind of water is this, Mother Ann?
it steams like hell but is barely warm!
You’ll burn yourself, Makua!
I repeat…it was barely warm.
You can prove it yourself.
I burnt myself,
and nevertheless, I haven’t felt anything.
Mother Ann, do you know what does that mean?
Finally a leper!
I have sensed some years ago,
When those weird feet pain started…
Finally!
But what are you doing there blubbering, Mother Ann?
make me a tea
my stomach will appreciate something warm
Yes, Makua Kamiano.
Lord, how heavy is your hand!
There’s still strenght!
The strenght of a Flemish countryman Lasts in both hands.
Fever! That’s all I need…
Lay down Joshep, you’re sick.
So in a couple of day you’ll be healthy again.
Healthy?... Demian de Veuster?
You’ll never be healthy again
Lay down on that bed;
you are no more than a fallen tree that
will soon be filled with worms…
No, no!
I don’t want to lay down!
I’m healthy, very healthy!
Nothing’s wrong with me!
Absolutely nothing!
You see my friends?
I broke it in two in one blow!
I stiil have the strenght!
The strenght of a Flemish countrymen!
Father! Father!
TREMELO, FLANDERS, 1886
«Next to Jesus’ cross,
there was his Mother
and his mother’s sister, Cleofas, and Mary Magdalene…»
Read that paragraph again, Julia.
«Next to Jesus’ cross, there was his Mother…»
And his Mother was next to Him…
Of course, granny!
Didn’t you know?
I’ve known this gospel for a long time!
Have you forgotten it?
Are you sad, granny?
Look at this shell,
if you put it close to your ear you’ll hear the sea roar inside it
Isn’t it beautiful, granny?
Neverthells, you have a sad face
But look, now you’re going to smile.
Here, in the newspaper, where the baker
wrapped the bread yesterday, there is a picture of a man, a priest
who has such big ears
Joseph! My son!
Granny! Granny!
Wake up granny!
Mother, we would have wished to spare you this pain.
Some cases of leprosy are curable in its first phases…
It’s all right Leonce, don’t you worry.
It’s God will, may he be blessed.
We’ll go to Heaven together…!
Son, read me a little of the Sacred Book.
Chapter 53, Isaiah.
Yes, there, where there is the holy card of the Cross.
« Who has given credence to what we have heard? »
Is this it, mother?
Yes, that’s it.
But read loudly, very louldy,
so I can hear you word by word…
« Who has given credence to what we have heard?
And who has seen in it a revelation of Yahweh's arm?
He had no form or charm to attract us,
no beauty to win our hearts.
«Yet ours were the sufferings he was bearing,
ours the sorrows he was carrying,
while we thought of him as a leper
and wounded with sorrow for God;
«The punishment reconciling us fell on him,
and we have been healed by his bruises…
«Ill-treated and afflicted, he never opened
his mouth, like a lamb led to the slaughter-house,
like a sheep dumb before its shearers
he never opened his mouth.»
May the Lord be en his side!
As he carries the face of his son Jesus Christ!
Mother! Mother!
A doctor, call a doctor, quickly!
Thank God, the Father keeps getting better.
With some rest and some cold cloths the fever will get down
¡Makua Kamiano! ¡Makua Kamiano!
We wanted to give you this beautiful shell we found at the sea side
Listen Makua Kamiano, greetings come from The other side of the sea.
Mother! My dear mother!
The English painter, Edward Clifford,
will pass onto posterity and will be famous.
Sincerely dear, I’m no more than a mediocre painter
but I had the fortune of painting your portrait.
It was hard work; Letters Provincial Delegate,
fighting the stubborness of my friend de Veuster and finally I sign:
Edward Cliffor.
You’ve been hiding your curiosity,
but now you can see how your portrait has resulted.
What do you think?
Is that me?
I didn’t think the disease had come so far…
Maybe I went a litlle overboard…
No my friend, you’ve come to tell me the truth.
I haven’t beeng wishing to see me;
I was a coward.
But I thank your warmly.
Father Demian, the manger they sent from Europe is ready.
The kids and we too, want to bring you some joy with this surprise.
Let’s go see it then!
Today is Christimas, and I really feel like celebrating this day.
We’ll wait for you at the celebration, Mr Edward.
Our Father, your will be done!
I thank you Lord for this Christmas gift.
I warmly thank you for the cross of leprosy…
You have given the father the face of his sons.
Merry Christimas, Makua Kamiano!
I think this would be enough to finish this piece of furniture.
Let’s rest a little bit my friend, we’ve been working all day.
I want you to try this exquisite beverage that was sent to me from Spain.
It will be a pleasure, Father.
Who is Lambert Conrady?
He’s an old friend.
A missionary like you?
Yes, a missionary priest among the red skin in the wild West.
I met him a long time ago at school in Wallonia, when I studied French.
We’ve been great friends since then.
Is it true he is coming to Molokai?
Yes, it is.
Soon, my old and dear friend will be here.
He has heard of my condition and he’s coming to help me in the Mission.
Father, I think this a strong storm.
The kids at the orphanage, David!
Careful, Father!
Come on David! The kids at the orphanage are in great danger!
Take cover! Protect the kids!
Don’t abandon us Father!
Makua! A woman and her daughter are trapped!
Fast, go to the corner!
Help me David!
Let’s get out of here!
This place won’t hold any longer!
Quickly Father! Let’s get out of here!
Don’t fear child, come with me
The church’s tower, Father!
My sons, we will start again.
Cabins will be soon rebuilt,
but to our Lord, we will not repair his house,
we will build a new temple.
After a long trip, I’m in Molokai, Joseph!
Lambert, my friend!
You’re just on time!
Wear some old clothes and let’s get to work
Joseph!
We will see again, my fellow!
Lambert, the world feels sorry for me,
nevertheless, I am the happiest missionary of the world.
Let’s get to work!
In Molokai, time is gold every minute is a diamond.
Joseph, my friend!
We have toi rebuild Molokai.
We have to raise a new church, much better than the previous one.
And soon, very soon, with your help and the help of all these people,
God will have a new house in Molokai.
Let’s get to work, Joseph!
Give me a hammer and
you’ll see how in one hit I put the nails down their head!
We’ll se who is stronger, the Flemish or the Walloon.
Molokai, a year later
The Lord of Heavens and Earths,
that today will come through our island today,
made a promise once:
“Blessed are the ones who cry, the ones who suffer…”
and that great Lord always keeps his promises.
Even though he has to sacrifice his own creation to keep his promise.
Don’t feel sorry for us!
The land is for the man as a place of exile.
Our real homeland is the Heaven,
where we, the lepers, are sure of arriving
to receive a decent reward for what we have born in this valley of tears
There will be a day in which these truths
will not be just words of a leper priest.
And then, my sons,
my beloved sons, my soul mates,
we’ll be envy by the generations
who despise our wounds
not knowing they were awards,
the glorious emblems with which our supreme King and Lord distinguished us,
so that we could have a place next to him in the endless homeland.
I’ll be forever grateful to God
for choosing me in this condition,
and by thanking him,
I will pray for my fingers to be preserved from this disease so
I can take him in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
and drive him in procession through the holy lands of Molokai
Father Lambert, I’ve noticed Father Demian very sad these past days.
I’ve noticed that too.
I have heard him whisper he felt God very far from him.
Thank you for telling me.
I think he needs our prayers and help now.
Joseph, we need to talk.
Go away! Leave me alone!
No, I’m not leaving you alone.
You have to listen to me.
God has abandoned me!
I can’t listen to any man.
I’m dying and I’m not worthy of going to Heaven
Don’t be senseless!
Angels will welcome you in Heaven with trumpets and drums!
Listen now, I’m going to read to you
the judgment that God once made of you:
“The Lord will tell those on his right;
Come, blessed by my Father,
to own the kingdom that has been prepared for you from the beginning of the world.
Because I was hungry and you fed me.
I was thirsty and you gave me to drink.
And foolish father Demian will ask
Lord when did I see you starving, thirsty, naked or imprisoned?
so the Lord will answer
“Truly I say, when you did it for the smallest
of my brothers you did it for me”.
Go my friend. You cannot help me.
Take this my friend.
It’s a greeting from homeland
It’s the Virgin of Tremelo!
The Mother of Consolation
Our Lady of Flanders comes to me!
The Virgin of Consolation is homeland.
Thank you my friend.
A thousand times thank you for bringing comfort to my soul!
But now, please leave me alone.
I beg you.
Yes, Joseph, I go now.
I can go in peace knowing
I leave you with the Mother of Consolation.
Thank you, my Mother!
You have given me the peace a man needs to die.
Now, Lord, you can let your servant leave in peace,
because my eyes have seen your salvation.
Father!
How comforting is dying as a son of the Sacred Hearts!
I’m no longer necessary here Lambert.
Look at my hands, my friend!
My wounds are sealing…
God calls me to celebrate Easter in Heaven with Him.
Help me Lambert,
so I can blessed my sons of Molokai
for the last time
Lord, take my pains and sorrows!
Everything, everything for my poor leper sons of Molokai!
ON THE 3RD OF MAY 1936, THE REMAINS OF FATHER DEMIAN WERE REPATRIATED TO FLANDERS, BELGIUM, WHERE HE WAS WELCOME AS A HERO
ON THE 4TH OF JUNE 1994, POPE JOHN PAUL II AFTER PROVING THE MIRACLES ACHIEVED BY THE INTERCESSION OF THE MISSIONARY, DECLARED HIM BLESSED.
ON OCTOBER THE 11TH 2009, HE WAS CANONIZED BY POPE BENEDICT XVI, RAISING HIM AS SAINT TO THE HONOR OF THE ALTARS
On April the 15th 1889,
God called to his eternal glory the missionary of Molokai.
He died sweetly,
with peace reflected on his face.
Father Demian de Veuster was the man who,
in a far away island in the vast ocean,
gave his life for his brothers plunged in pain.
He was the martyr of Charity
and the Apostl of lepers.
The priest who gave his life in the island of death.
The last hero of Flanders:
a hero in the kingdom of God and a saint in garden of the church.
His glorious figure will shine forever in the Eternal Homeland,
together with the Divine Heart,
source and origin of all Charity.
“THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAN GIVING YOUR LIFE FOR A FRIEND” John 15.3