Catholic Heroes… Saints Cosmas And Damian
By DEB PIROCH
“These two physicians cured as many people by their prayers as they did by their medical knowledge, and now in Heaven they still care for the sick miraculously” — St. Gregory of Tours.
- + + Saints Cosmas and Damian (270-303) and their three brothers were born of Arabian blood to a faithful Christian mother. The brothers are often referred to as “twins,” though they may have just been close in age. Tradition says they worked together as physician (Cosmas) and pharmacist (Damian), charging no fees and treating those they could. Giving away medical care was unheard of, as the fees one collected for this service could normally be quite high. This was laudable and the men’s services were desperately needed; however, they were just as interested in spiritual works of mercy as bodily ones. Miracles happened, a testimonial to their saintliness.
Regrettably, the ruling emperor was Diocletian, who we know was responsible for the most bloody of Christian persecutions. Though initial years of his rule were peaceful, in an attempt to strengthen his rule, he declared himself and colleague Galerius descendants of the god Jupiter. His son and son’s colleague Maximian were labeled sons of Hercules. Suddenly the Roman rulers were “gods” and the people were required to honor and sacrifice to these pagan gods.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me” is the Christian cry, and a purge came for those who could not and would not swear allegiance to evil leaders masquerading as heretical gods.
“And behold, men brought in a bed a man who had the palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before Him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in, because of the multitude, they went up upon the roof, and let him down through the tiles with his bed into the midst before Jesus. Whose faith when He saw, He said: Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and Pharisees began to think, saying: Who is this who speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
“And when Jesus knew their thoughts, answering, He said to them: What is it you think in your hearts? Which is easier to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins (He saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say to thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house. And immediately rising up before them, he took up the bed on which he lay; and he went away to his own house, glorifying God” (Luke 5:18-25).
The twins, along with their brothers Anthimus, Leontius, and Euprepius, were all sentenced to death. First, the men were condemned to drowning, but this failed as they were rescued by angels. Next, an attempt was made to burn them alive. Miraculously, the fire in no way affected them. Then stoning and crucifixion were attempted, and again the men came away unscathed. However, finally the men were decapitated. Their remains were buried near Aleppo in Syria and a basilica in their honor built there.
Even in death, miracles attributed to the saints continued. There is proof their cult of veneration began the same century they died, in the fourth century. The Emperor Justinian in the fifth century believed they had helped heal him and built two churches dedicated to them in Constantinople.
In the sixth century, Pope St. Felix IV built another church named for the twin saints, incorporating an even older Roman structure. Cosmas and Damian were also well-loved in the Middle Ages, though known more in Europe and eastwards. Their relics are said to be all over, Germany to Italy, and have moved to various places over the centuries. Indeed, it was not uncommon in former times for a person in need of healing to sleep in a church named for them or with a relic from them as a sort of penance or offering. They hoped to dream of a forthcoming healing or awake healed, if God so willed it.
One of the most remarkable healings, which is also memorialized in numerous paintings, is the first leg transplant! A man with a damaged leg, probably eaten by cancer, presented himself to Cosmas and Damian. While asleep, the patient dreamt the saints removed his leg and gave him a new one from a recently deceased Ethiopian man. On awakening, this was the case and he was healed! (On an interesting side-note, an article in the American Journal of Transplantation analyzed many largely Renaissance paintings to see how many painters had made the colossal error of painting two left or two right legs before the leg was reattached.) Indeed, if one searches for “cosmas and damian leg transplant,” this author thought primarily hagiography links would pop up, but instead medical literature links showed up first!
How are these saints relevant to your daily life? Consider it; all of us struggle with health. Why not ask these saints to intercede for you or your family’s own medical needs? Or perhaps a member of your family works in the medical field? Pray that God guides his or her hands to provide the utmost care. My father was a physician and my grandfather a druggist; almost like Cosmas and Damian! I am hopeful as I can be when I pray to all four as intercessors for sick family members or even myself.
Many of you are caregivers for a loved one — a parent, spouse, or child. This is a work of love just as it is a work of mercy, but the duties are lighter if God helps carry the load. Cosmas and Damien cared as much for spiritual works of mercy as the corporal ones. Whatever your profession, ask yourself, “What would Christ do?” Pray for both. God may not always heal us, but He hears our prayers. So, whatever our role in life, like Cosmas and Damian, let us go about our apostolic work freely and “without charge.” This goes for everyone, whether a housewife caring for a household of sick children, or a stockbroker praying the rosary in our lunch hour for those suffering COVID; we pray for all our neighbors’ welfare, and that all open their hearts and minds to God.
“O Physicians of souls, Saints Cosmas and Damian, stand before the Lord of All and ask Him to heal me and all those dear to me of any spiritual ills we may endure. Drive away from us all sin and sadness of mind, all darkness and despair. Make us then willing and loving servants of Christ, following your holy example of detachment from the things of this world and care for the needs of our neighbors.
“On the glorious day of the Universal Resurrection may we shine with you in the full health of our nature restored by the mercies of Jesus who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.”
The Feast Day of Saints Cosmas and Damian is September 26.