Molokai History:
(from ” History of the Catholic Mission in the Hawaiian Islands” by Father Reginald Yzendoorn, SS.CC., Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Ltd., Honolulu, U.S. Territory of Hawaii, 1927)
The last years of Father Damien’s life were considerably embittered by his ecclesiastical superiors, who appear to have been jealous of the popularity of their inferior. Their correspondence with the poor leper priest in the years 1886 and 1887 is saturated with acrimony, and one wonders what misconduct may have provoked such evident hostility.
The Good Father Damien had been used to pay occasional visits to Honolulu, chiefly for the sake of going to confession. Towards the end of 1885 his religious superiors forbade him yet to come to the capital. Father Damien remonstrated with the Vicar Apostolic against this measure which seemed tyrannical to him, since his health and the civil authorities allowed him to circulate.
On February 8, 1886, Father Leonore again addressed him an extremely rude letter. He writes: . . . . . “There is again a rumor that you are going to come to Honolulu. It is my duty, very dear Father, again to make known to you the decisions taken by the provincial council, and not by me. Have patience. If you come to Honolulu, there are but two places to go to: the Mission or Kakaako. At the Mission you will be confined to a room which you will not leave until your departure; otherwise you would quarantine the Mission, for the White people knowing that we keep a leper here, would be afraid even of us who are not lepers. Going to Kakaako, you would be in the chapel of the lepers, without saying Mass; for neither Father Clement nor myself will consent celebrating Mass with the same chalice and the same vestments which you have used; and the Sisters will refuse to receive Communion from your hands. Your pretensions, Dear Father, would show that you have neither delicacy nor charity towards your neighbors, and that you are thinking only of yourself. It is too much selfishness altogether, and I like to believe that all these feelings are neither in your heart nor in your head. Mr. Gibson has told you that he will allow you to come, but that he would have to see the Bishop first. Now he wanted to see him in order to prevent these visits, the consequences of which especially for Kakaako I see plainly. I know it from his own mouth. . . . .”
Mahalo nui & My Prayers Be With You,
Fr. Brian, ss.cc.
Priest
Molokai