St. Marianne Cope
St. Marianne Cope
Mender of Molokai
1838–1918
Patronage Leprosy, Gardening, Administrative Work, Immigrants, New York, Hawaii & Beauty
Feast Day January 23
Barbara Cope, Franciscan sister of Syracuse, NY, ran administrative affairs for her organization. At the height of career success, she went to Hawaii, to tend to the Leper colony in Kalaupapa, Molokai. In charge, she beautified the place, tied ribbons around the young girls’ hair, and instructed the sisters to ask God for protection from leprosy. None of the sisters contracted the disease. She lived there for thirty years, dying naturally.
Small Snippet
Saint Marianne, intercede to the Holy Ghost that I be couragous when I see opportunities to give more of myself, that I may not become complacent.
Prayer
Artistic Process
Photographer is unknown, but the image was taken from the Sisters of Saint Francis’ website. This was taken around the time when she went to Hawaii.
Original photo
The map portion in the piece is derived from the larger island of Kalaupapa, Molokoi, which is an island in Hawaii. King Kalākaua made the request to several congregations of religious sisters around the world in the hope that someone would send a group to aid in caring for those exiled to the leper colony of Kalaupapa.
The ribbon is shown because she loved tying ribbons around the girls’ dresses and in their hair as she cared for them.
Map & Ribbon
These flowers are common in Hawaii and showcase the beauty that Marianne brought to the colony when she fixed it up and created gardens.
I took these photos at the New York Botanical garden in the bronx, and throughout the streets of midtown Manhattan’s planters, as well as along the streets of Little Italy in Boston.
Birds of Paradise & Hibiscus
These are also native to Hawaii. The Heliconia is known as the Hanging Lobster Claw and the Scarlet Honeycreeper is perched on the Māmane shrubs here.
Heliconias & Māmane Shrubs
