No possible way. Not part of the plan.
Okay, you would consider your personal well-being ahead of those who needed to hear the Gospel.
They could hear it at a distance, or read about it.
Do not touch lepers at play, live to preach another day.
There is a difference between unnecessary risk and ministry.
Couldn't he have stayed healthy and worked to CURE leprosy?
If he had no talent for that, then make money and fund those with research skills?
I see no appreciable virtue in throwing away one's (God given!) life mucking about with contagious lepers.
Granted, I'm not terribly compassionate.
But hanging out with lepers is an affront to good sense.
Not part of the plan is not the same as impossible.
Couldn't he have stayed healthy and worked to CURE leprosy?
If he had no talent for that, then make money and fund those with research skills?
I believe Father Damien's calling was to work with lepers, he placed that above his own personal welfare. Mother Teresa worked with lepers for nearly half a century and never contracted leprosy.
To the best of my knowledge leprosy is treated with antibiotics and steroids, neither of which were available at the time. I do not believe that there is an actual cure for leprosy.
I see no appreciable virtue in throwing away one's (God given!) life mucking about with contagious lepers.
Granted, I'm not terribly compassionate.
But hanging out with lepers is an affront to good sense.
Read Matthew 25:31-46, throwing away one's life is a matter of perspective.