Comments on: The Strange Case of Fr. Damien and Mr. Hyde http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/ Unity in charity, diversity in truth Mon, 10 Oct 2011 03:49:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Clara http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/comment-page-1/#comment-18442 Clara Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:08:09 +0000 http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/#comment-18442 That is very interesting, Mater Marci! In fact, I hadn't ever heard of Carville. It looks as though the lepers there received more humane treatment than the ones in Kalaupapa, though of course Carville opened later and was always part of the United States. I'm told that in Kalaupapa, they didn't actually get around to curing the lepers until several years after the cure had been found, in large part because they had halfway forgotten they were there! That's the downside, I suppose, to being housed on an isolated island. Apparently that colony still exists, though everyone in it has, of course, been cured by this time. They're allowed to leave, but they're guaranteed state support if they stay, so most of them stayed. Not a bad place to live, I suppose, if your needs are met there. That is very interesting, Mater Marci! In fact, I hadn’t ever heard of Carville. It looks as though the lepers there received more humane treatment than the ones in Kalaupapa, though of course Carville opened later and was always part of the United States. I’m told that in Kalaupapa, they didn’t actually get around to curing the lepers until several years after the cure had been found, in large part because they had halfway forgotten they were there! That’s the downside, I suppose, to being housed on an isolated island.

Apparently that colony still exists, though everyone in it has, of course, been cured by this time. They’re allowed to leave, but they’re guaranteed state support if they stay, so most of them stayed. Not a bad place to live, I suppose, if your needs are met there.

]]> By: Mater Marci http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/comment-page-1/#comment-18371 Mater Marci Mon, 03 Sep 2007 16:02:04 +0000 http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/#comment-18371 http://fortyandeight.org/thestar/carville/carville_history.htm Very interesting, Clara! Did you know that Louisiana had, I believe, the only leper colony in the lower 48? We grew up hearing tales of Carville. Most medical students would take a shift working there when it was open. My dad, when he was a resident at Tulane, has fascinating tales of Carville. Carville closed only recently, I believe; the sisters of Charity and the Vincentians were the religious in charge of the souls there. I remember tales of a holy priest who ministered to the Louisiana leper colony; he, like Fr. Damien, also contracted leprosy and died. I can't find his name though. Anyone know? http://fortyandeight.org/thestar/carville/carville_history.htm

Very interesting, Clara! Did you know that Louisiana had, I believe, the only leper colony in the lower 48? We grew up hearing tales of Carville. Most medical students would take a shift working there when it was open. My dad, when he was a resident at Tulane, has fascinating tales of Carville. Carville closed only recently, I believe; the sisters of Charity and the Vincentians were the religious in charge of the souls there. I remember tales of a holy priest who ministered to the Louisiana leper colony; he, like Fr. Damien, also contracted leprosy and died. I can’t find his name though. Anyone know?

]]> By: Discipulus http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/comment-page-1/#comment-18316 Discipulus Sun, 02 Sep 2007 11:40:30 +0000 http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/#comment-18316 I’m happy to hear that, Clara, I know you’ll enjoy “Molakai.” I think the life of Blessed Damien demonstrates clearly how to “hate the sin, but love the sinner.” He was more than a humanitarian; he was a priest, one that was very virile yet compassionate—a man who truly loved souls. I think that came through to R L Stevenson whom I also hope made it to Heaven. Many of Father Damien’s converts waited till their deathbed before converting. Perhaps Stevenson is among them. Hopefully he accepted the grace to make that all-important act of Faith in the One, True, Church before he died. I’m happy to hear that, Clara, I know you’ll enjoy “Molakai.” I think the life of Blessed Damien demonstrates clearly how to “hate the sin, but love the sinner.” He was more than a humanitarian; he was a priest, one that was very virile yet compassionate—a man who truly loved souls. I think that came through to R L Stevenson whom I also hope made it to Heaven. Many of Father Damien’s converts waited till their deathbed before converting. Perhaps Stevenson is among them. Hopefully he accepted the grace to make that all-important act of Faith in the One, True, Church before he died.

]]> By: Clara http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/comment-page-1/#comment-18266 Clara Sat, 01 Sep 2007 05:04:19 +0000 http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/#comment-18266 Thanks for the recommendation, Discipule; I'll look for it. Not that I need that it's very hard to convince me that Fr. Damien was cool -- the barest description of his life was enough to put him in my good books. Actually, the title "Bl" is generally enough to do that. Did I ever tell you that the Doctor and I rented "The Ghost in the Darkness", on your recommendation, before our trip to Africa? Quite an amazing story, especially seeing as how it's (more or less) true. Which reminds me, I was planning to post some stories from that trip... Thanks to Erasmus for the explanation of Fr. Damien's use of the first name. That clears that up. And I share in your hope, TP, that Fr. Damien interceded for Robert Louis Stevenson at his particular judgment. It would be sad to lose such a fertile imagination, and such a gifted storyteller. Thanks for the recommendation, Discipule; I’ll look for it. Not that I need that it’s very hard to convince me that Fr. Damien was cool — the barest description of his life was enough to put him in my good books. Actually, the title “Bl” is generally enough to do that.

Did I ever tell you that the Doctor and I rented “The Ghost in the Darkness”, on your recommendation, before our trip to Africa? Quite an amazing story, especially seeing as how it’s (more or less) true. Which reminds me, I was planning to post some stories from that trip…

Thanks to Erasmus for the explanation of Fr. Damien’s use of the first name. That clears that up.

And I share in your hope, TP, that Fr. Damien interceded for Robert Louis Stevenson at his particular judgment. It would be sad to lose such a fertile imagination, and such a gifted storyteller.

]]> By: Discipulus http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/comment-page-1/#comment-18258 Discipulus Sat, 01 Sep 2007 01:29:40 +0000 http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/#comment-18258 Good post. Robert Louis is certainly to be commended for his defense. It seems quite true that anyone who looks into the life of the “Leper Priest” is never repulsed but rather drawn in by him. As a good introduction, I recommend the movie, “Molokai” carried by Ignatius. It was made on location with the lepers on the island in the movie. The Latin Chant in the background is sung by the leper choir also. You will see Mother Maryann portrayed quite well. She promised her sisters that none of them would contract the disease. And Brother Dutton is a very saintly person also. For the most part it’s quite accurate with maybe just a little going out of the way to prove that Blessed Damien wasn’t “bigoted.” Good post. Robert Louis is certainly to be commended for his defense. It seems quite true that anyone who looks into the life of the “Leper Priest” is never repulsed but rather drawn in by him. As a good introduction, I recommend the movie, “Molokai” carried by Ignatius. It was made on location with the lepers on the island in the movie. The Latin Chant in the background is sung by the leper choir also. You will see Mother Maryann portrayed quite well. She promised her sisters that none of them would contract the disease. And Brother Dutton is a very saintly person also. For the most part it’s quite accurate with maybe just a little going out of the way to prove that Blessed Damien wasn’t “bigoted.”

]]> By: Erasums http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/comment-page-1/#comment-18253 Erasums Fri, 31 Aug 2007 23:03:39 +0000 http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/#comment-18253 Don't worry about referring to Fr. Damien by his first name. If I recall he is a religious priest and the religious always went by their first names because those were the names given to them by the community. It is the secular priests who should be addressed by their last names. This whole post was fascinating. I never knew the Robert Lewis Stevenson connection. Don’t worry about referring to Fr. Damien by his first name. If I recall he is a religious priest and the religious always went by their first names because those were the names given to them by the community. It is the secular priests who should be addressed by their last names.

This whole post was fascinating. I never knew the Robert Lewis Stevenson connection.

]]> By: Tobias Petrus http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/comment-page-1/#comment-18248 Tobias Petrus Fri, 31 Aug 2007 20:45:43 +0000 http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/#comment-18248 It is also cute how the apparently respectable Protestant Brits refer to the beatus as a lowly peasant! God uses the weak and foolish of this world to confound the might and the "wise," as Our Lady and St. Paul agree. It is also cute how the apparently respectable Protestant Brits refer to the beatus as a lowly peasant! God uses the weak and foolish of this world to confound the might and the “wise,” as Our Lady and St. Paul agree.

]]> By: Tobias Petrus http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/comment-page-1/#comment-18247 Tobias Petrus Fri, 31 Aug 2007 20:43:30 +0000 http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/#comment-18247 Another great piece of the letter is when Stevenson says that, even if Fr. Damien had been "impure," Mr. Hyde deserved to be cursed and soundly thrashed for so much as repeating it. Another great piece of the letter is when Stevenson says that, even if Fr. Damien had been “impure,” Mr. Hyde deserved to be cursed and soundly thrashed for so much as repeating it.

]]> By: Tobias Petrus http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/comment-page-1/#comment-18246 Tobias Petrus Fri, 31 Aug 2007 20:42:06 +0000 http://www.cornellsociety.org/2007/08/the-strange-case-of-fr-damien-and-mr-hyde/#comment-18246 "One does get rather the impression that Catholicity is, for Stevenson, a feature to be forgiven, not praised. Still, he does at least acknowledge that Fr. Damien’s own goodness was bred by his faith. It would have been a lovely thing for Robert Louis Stevenson to convert to Catholicism, but, after reading this letter, one can hardly feel surprise that this never happened." Yes, this was a great defense that Stevenson wrote. You note his equation of Catholicity and bigotry. It should be noted that when referring to his own Presbyterianism, Stevenson qualified his profession of belief in it with the stipulation "to the extent I identify with any sect." Stevenson was, you see, a Freemason, and as such probably objected to Catholicism from both the perspective of a Presbyterian *and* "an enlightened man" (and hence ultimately an indifferent one?). Yet this letter surely was a salutary act, and one hopes that Fr. Damien was pleading for him at his particular judgment. “One does get rather the impression that Catholicity is, for Stevenson, a feature to be forgiven, not praised. Still, he does at least acknowledge that Fr. Damien’s own goodness was bred by his faith. It would have been a lovely thing for Robert Louis Stevenson to convert to Catholicism, but, after reading this letter, one can hardly feel surprise that this never happened.”

Yes, this was a great defense that Stevenson wrote. You note his equation of Catholicity and bigotry. It should be noted that when referring to his own Presbyterianism, Stevenson qualified his profession of belief in it with the stipulation “to the extent I identify with any sect.” Stevenson was, you see, a Freemason, and as such probably objected to Catholicism from both the perspective of a Presbyterian *and* “an enlightened man” (and hence ultimately an indifferent one?). Yet this letter surely was a salutary act, and one hopes that Fr. Damien was pleading for him at his particular judgment.

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