JANUARY 23: FEAST OF ST. MARIANNE OF MOLOKAI’I
St. Marianne entered my life in July 2008, when I flew to Hawaii for the first time to explore the story of a miracle that would lead to Blessed Fr. Damien’s canonization. Marianne and a number of her Franciscan sisters had answered a call by Hawaii’s then king to come and work with the leper colony on Kalaupapa, Molokai’i. She worked side by side with Fr. Damien, and then for decades after his death. I learned of her story when I explored Kalaupapa on that first visit.
On that visit, I also met and interviewed the miracolata, Audrey Toguchi. We became good friends and still are today! I saw her in December (my 12th trip to Hawaii) when I was there for the cause of Joseph Dutton. Audrey is the young lady on the right! She is a living history book on Damien, Marianne, Joseph Dutton, Kalaupapa and pretty much all of Hawaii! By the by, on the left is Dr. Maria Devera, president of the Joseph Dutton Guild in the diocese of Honolulu, and the mover and shaker behind the guild and the cause!
I’ve written countless stories on Joan’s Rome about Molokai’i and its two saints, Fr. Damien and Mother Marianne, and a possible third saint, Joseph Dutton. I’ve also done a number of interviews for “Vatican Insider,” my EWTN weekend radio show. Several have been with Honolulu’s Bishop Larry Silva. Interesting enough, one of his grandfathers had leprosy and was exiled to Kalaupapa on Molokai’i and eventually buried there!
When St. Marianne’s remains were brought back to Hawaii in July 2014 to rest in Our Lady of Peace cathedral, I wrote this blog about my Hawaii pilgrimages “in search of saints”: (https://joansrome.wordpress.com/2014/07/22/st-marianne-cope-is-coming-home-to-hawaii-nuncio-appeals-for-dialogue-and-end-to-israel-gaza-conflict-1987/
In addition to the report below about Stevenson’s poem for St. Marianne, here is another wonderful Aleteia story about St. Marianne Cope: https://aleteia.org/2016/10/09/st-marianne-cope-she-opened-up-her-heart-and-soul-the-lepers/
Happy feast day, Mother Marianne! Continue to watch over your children!
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON’S POEM FOR ST. MARIANNE COPE
Known for his books, including ‘Treasure Island’ and ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,’ Stevenson visited St. Marianne Cope in Hawaii.
St. Marianne Cope had a profoundly generous heart. When an appeal was sent for help in caring for lepers in Hawaii, Cope leapt at the chance and was eager to help those in need.
One day in May 1889, poet and author Robert Louis Stevenson came to Hawaii while he was sailing the ocean with his family. Stevenson is best known for his books Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. At the time he was visiting a variety of islands, looking for a place to write that was favorable to his health, and spent an extended amount of time in Hawaii.
While in Hawaii, he visited St. Marianne Cope and observed the heroic charity she possessed while serving the leper colony there. Stevenson stayed for eight days, and before leaving, he wrote the following poem.
TO MOTHER MARYANNE
To see the infinite pity of this place,
The mangled limb, the devastated face,
The innocent sufferer smiling at the rod—
A fool were tempted to deny his God.
He sees, he shrinks. But if he gaze again,
Lo, beauty springing from the breast of pain!
He marks the sisters on the mournful shores;
And even a fool is silent and adores.Guest House, Kalawao, Molokai.
He was so impressed by St. Marianne that he had a piano shipped to her after he left her community.
Joan's Rome 