Blessed Damien de Veuster will be the ninth saint canonized who lived and died in the land that would be the United States. The other eight are: Saints Elizabeth Ann Seton, John Neumann, Rose Duschesne, Isaac Jogues, Rene Goupil, Mother Katharine Drexel, Mother Frances Cabrini, and Mother Theodore Guerin.
Catholic Culture reports: Pope Benedict XVI has approved the canonization of Father Damien of Molokai, along with 9 others. At a consistory on February 21, the Pontiff approved a decree for the canonization of Blessed Jozef Damien de Veuster, the Beligan missionary who won renown for his care of lepers on the Hawaiian island colony. The Holy Father will preside at the canonization ceremony on October 11.
