Damien Becomes Hawaii's First Saint

HONOLULU -- Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday morning in the Vatican acknowledged Father Damien De Veuster as a saint, Hawaii's first.

Hundreds of people from Hawaii journeyed to Rome for the ceremony.

St. Peter's Square was packed with thousands of people for the canonization and Sunday mass from via della Conciliazione at the entrance to the piazza to the dome.

More than 500 Hawaii people were in St. Peter's Square and St. Peter's Basilica for the canonization mass. The mass was moved into the basilica because of rain.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka also attended the ceremony as a representative of the state and the country.

It has been 120 years since Saint Damien, who gave his life to comfort and care for the forgotten patients of Molokai, died from Hansen's disease.

Pope Benedict XVI pointed out during his homily that Saint Damien focused on "those things that join together," and that "he opens our eyes to leprosy."

The canonization of Damien de Veuster to sainthood ends a process that began in 1977 when the Vatican elevated the Belgium native to venerable. Pope John Paul II beatified Damien and raised him to the title of blessed. Sunday was the final step to sainthood.

The first miracle attributed to Saint Damien was when Sister Simplicia Hue prayed to Damien as she was dying of an intestinal illness. She appeared to be cured overnight from her symptoms.

Audrey Toguchi is considered to be the second miracle attributed to Damien and what he needed to qualify for sainthood. After praying to Damien, Toguchi's cancer, which had spread from her hip to her lungs, healed. Toguchi's doctor said the healing of Toguchi's lungs without medical treatment is one for the record books.

Toguchi was part of the mass, when at one point, she presented an item near the altar.

More events will be held throughout Hawaii by the Catholic church in the upcoming weeks.

The four other new saints include: Zygmunt Szcezesny Felinski, a 19th-century Polish bishop who defended the Catholic faith during the years of the Russian annexation; Francisco Coll y Guitart, who founded an order of Dominicans in the 19th century; Rafael Arniaz Baron, who renounced an affluent lifestyle at age 22 to live a humble life in a strict monastery and dedicate himself to prayer; and Jeanne Jugan, a Frenchwoman described by Vatican Radio as an "authentic Mother Teresa ahead of her time."

Read more about the canonization mass by clicking here.

Watch Island Television KITV 4 News at 5 p.m. for a report on the Hawaii delegation from Pamela Young who traveled with the group.