St. Marianne Cope
German-American Franciscan sister who in 1883 led six sisters from Syracuse, New York to Hawaii to staff hospitals serving the lepers. She continued and expanded the work of St. Damien at Kalaupapa, organizing care for the dying priest in his final illness, and remained for thirty-five years on Molokai without herself contracting the disease. With St. Damien she shares the title 'Apostle of the Lepers.'
Life & Times
Also known as: Barbara Koob; Marianne of Molokai; Mother Marianne · Born: January 23, 1838 · Died: August 9, 1918 · From: Heppenheim, Hesse-Darmstadt; Utica, New York; Hawaiian Islands; Kalaupapa, Molokai.
Patronage
St. Marianne Cope is invoked as the patron of lepers, outcasts, hiv/aids sufferers, the state of hawaii. Those in these callings or circumstances often turn to this saint in prayer.
“I am hungry for the work, and I wish very much to be one of the chosen ones.”— Letter accepting the Hawaii mission to lepers, 1883
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About Catholic Saints
Catholic saints, including St. Marianne Cope, are Christians whom the Catholic Church has formally recognized as having lived lifes of heroic holiness and who now dwell with God in heaven, offering an example of faith for those still on their earthly journey. Catholics don't worship saints, but ask them to pray to God with us and for us — much as one might ask a trusted friend to pray for them — trusting that those closest to God can join their voices to ours before Him. Discover more saints in the Catholic Shop Saints section.