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In 1863 Father Damien volunteered to become missionary for the leper colony at Molokai, Hawaii. He was chosen from the many applicants, despite concerns that he was too young and shouldn’t be subjected to living with the lepers. He chose to go to the leper colony “because he knew unerringly that this was to be his way of loving and following the Christ who said: “What you do for one of these least ones, you do for me” (cite database). Though leprosy has been known since ancient times in southern Asia and Africa, lepers were still shunned during the 19th century and leper colonies were not uncommon. Roman legions and later returning Crusaders brought the disease to Europe and during the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries it was epidemic throughout the Continent. During that period persons with the disease were considered social outcasts and were made to live in special leprosariums called lazar-houses or "lazarettos." (from Lazarus, the Gospel’s leper) By the year 1000, there were over 2000 leper hospitals in Europe (cite ewtn). In many places, whenever victims of leprosy walked in the street, they were required to sound a rattle to announce their presence to others. After the 13th century, leprosy waned in Europe but spread in Asia, Africa, and especially Oceania.
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