Letter of September 2, 2005

Another American beatified: Servant of lepers
The Most Reverend Carl F. Mengeling, Bishop of Lansing

Did you miss the beatification of another American several months ago?  The likely answer is yes.  That's because our attention was riveted on the death of Pope John Paul II and the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to become Pope Benedict XVI.

During these historic events, another American was added to the growing number of AMerican saints and blesseds.  Marianne Cope was solemnly beatified in St. Peter Basilica on May 14.

The heroic love of this Franciscan sister from Syracuse, N.Y., is a needed witness and inspiration for our times.  She and her community served lepers in Hawaii, on the island of Molokai, known as Devil's Island.  Her 25-year mission to leprosy patients began in 1883.  She was blessed with the presence of the leper priest, Fr. Damian de Veuster.  He was diagnosed with leprosy in 1885.  She cared for him for two years and was present at his death on april 15, 1889.  Fr. Damien was beatified on June 11, 1995.  The church in the U.S. celebrated Blessed Damian on May 10.

Sr. Marianne stayed on Molokai until her death in 1918.

She was born Barbara Cope in the State of Hesse, Germany, January 23, 1838.  At age two the Koob (now Cope) family immigrated to the U.S. and settled in Utica, N.Y.

In 1862, at 24, Barbara entered the Franciscans in Syracuse, received the habit and the name Sr. Marianne.  For some years she was a teacher and principal in several New York Catholic schools.

As provincial, she got a letter in 1883 asking for sisters to serve leprosy patients in Hawaii.  She responded:  "I am hungry for work and wish with all my heart to be one of the chosen ones, whose privilege it will be to sacrifice themselves for the salvation of the poor islanders.  I am not afraid of any disease, hence, it would be my greatest delight even to minister to the abandoned lepers."

With six sisters, she arrived in Honolulu in 1883.  They managed a hospital that received patients with Hansen's disease from all the islands and improved treatment and living conditions for the 200 patients.

She met Fr. Damian in 1884.  In 1885 when he was diagnosed as a leper she gave hospitality to the outcast leper priest.  When the Oahu hospital closed, the Hawaii authorities asked her to take over Fr. Damian's home on Molokai.  She and three sisters ran the home for 103 girls and boys.

She taught the sisters:  "Make life as pleasant and comfortable as possible for those of our fellow creatures whom God has chosen to afflict with this terrible disease."

Mother Marianne never returned to Syracuse.  After 25 years, she died in Hawaii on August 9, 1918.

In his homily for the Mass of Beatification in St. Peter Basilica, Cardinal Jose Martins stated:  "Blessed Marianne, who was provincial superior at the time, heard the voice of Christ in the invitation of the Bishop of Honolulu.  He was looking for sisters to assist those suffering from leprosy on the island of Molokai.  Like Isaiah, she did not hesitat to answer,  "Here I am.  Send Me!" (Is 6:8).  She left everything, and abandoned herself completely to the will of God, to the call of the church and to the demands of her new brothers and sisters.  She put her own health and life at risk.

For 35 years she lived to the full, the cammand to love God and neighbor.  She willingly worked with Blessed Damian de Veuster, who was at the end of his extraordinary apostolate.  Blessed Marianne loved those suffering from leprosy more than she loved her very self.  She served them, educated them and guided them with wisdom, love and strength.  She saw in them the suffering face of Jesus.  Like the Good Samaritan, she became their mother.  She drew strength from her faith, the Eucharist, her devotion to our Blessed Mother, and from prayer.  She did not seek earthly honors or approval.  She wrote:  "I do not expect a high place in heaven.  I will be very grateful to have a little corner where I can love God for all eternity."