DE VEUSTER, DAMIAAN. - B. at Tremeloo (Belgium) on 3 Jan. 1840. He entered the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts (known as Picpus) and departed in Oct. 1863 for the Sandwich Islands.
At the beginning of May 1873 he obtained from the bishop of Mona, Maigret, permission to share the miserable lot of the lepers at Molokai. He arrived there on 10 May 1873, at the age of 33, and displayed admirable zeal in that place, devoting himself entirely to his 800 unfortunate people. Driven by despair, they had abandoned themselves to the most shameful vices, disregarding every divine and human law.
The unceasing efforts of the indefatigable Fr. D. V. transformed the hell of Molokai into a paradise of peace and Christian resignation.
Deprived of everything and stricken with leprosy, which had overcome his robust constitution, Fr. D. V. died on 15 Apr. 1886. His body was transported to his native country in May 1936, amid universal admiration for his heroism. The cause for his beatification is under way.