26 September 2019
Memorial of Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs
[In the hospital waiting room] “I was asked before the doctor could proceed, to read and sign a waiver, sometimes known, humorously, as ‘signing your life away’. In other words, in spite of the best efforts of the doctors and the hospital, things might go wrong and they wanted me, the patient, to know that possibility. Here is an example of a fleeting intimation of another order over which the hospital as such had no control or information about. Neither the doctor nor the hospital, as such, was directly concerned about the ultimate purpose of my life. They were properly concerned only with the present condition of my bodily health. To find out ultimate purposes, I would have to go elsewhere – to the philosophers, perhaps, or to wise men or the law and the prophets.” (James V. Schall, SJ, The Order of Things, Chapter 1).
Today is the memorial of Saint Cosmas and Damien, who lived around the second century. Not much is known about them, but tradition holds they were twin brothers and were educated in science and medicine and later became skillful physicians. The legend says that Cosmas and Damian saw every patient as a brother or sister in Christ. Therefore, they showed great love to their patients and provided the best treatment for them. Moreover, they not only cared about the physical health of their patients, but also their souls. For that reason, whenever opportunity came, Cosmas and Damian told their patients about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Surprisingly, the patients listened to them attentively. The bottom line is that Cosmas and Damian brought health back to both the bodies and the souls of those who came to them for medical help.
We, Christians, are aware of Jesus’s healing power through his miracles, how he cured the sick, the lame, the blind etc. But we often forget or are unaware that Jesus’ main interest is not simply healing people’s sickness. Jesus, first and foremost, cares deeply about our salvation; salvation for the whole person that involves the unity of body and soul. Indeed, our body needs healing, but more importantly, the human heart needs to be touched by the love of God. Through the intercession of Saints Cosmas and Damian, pray for the healing of souls of any sick people that you may know. You may also want to pray for physicians so that they may care about the soul of their patients, not only for their physical health.