On Ss. Cosmas and Damian, Holy Twin Physicians

    

    Today is the feast of Ss. Cosmas and Damian, twin brothers and physicians from Arabia who were martyred during the persecution of Diocletian. A number of readings have recently presented themselves which make for good reflection in light of these saints' chosen profession.

    First, from Divine Intimacy, part of the meditation on the beatitude, "Blessed are the merciful". What is medicine if not a work of mercy? 

"I have inhaled the fragrance of Your mercy and I come to You to be strengthened by it. Blessed is the man who, following Your example, has a heart filled with compassion for the unfortunate. Blessed is he who is merciful and quick to help those who are in need, he who remembers that it is more blessed to give than to receive, who is quick to forgive and slow to anger, who never takes revenge, but in all circumstances considers the needs of others as though they were his own. O Lord, pour into my soul the dew of Your mercy, fill my heart with charity, that I may know how to be all things to all men and be so dead to myself that I live only for the good of others. Teach me to distil the sweet perfume of mercy, which is composed of the needs of the poor, the anguish if the oppressed, then anxieties of the afflicted, the failures of sinners, and finally, all the pains of those who suffer, even if they be my enemies. All these things are repugnant to my nature, but the fragrance one draws from them surpasses all other odors, because, as You have said, it has the power to give eternal life: 'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall find mercy.' O Lord, grant that I may pour out this perfume, not only on Your head and on Your feet, but on Your whole body, which is the Church, so that it will lessen the sorrows of all Your suffering members." (Divine Intimacy no. 307; cf. St. Bernard).

    If medicine is practiced as anything less than a work of mercy, if it is entered into as a lucrative career, we may wish to pause and consider the fact that practicing medicine requires that there be a sick person, a suffering soul, who needs care. Using the suffering of others as a means to become rich is a disturbing prospect, though unfortunately not a nonexistent one. 

    Ss. Cosmas and Damian are known as the Anargyroi in the East -- The Moneyless Ones, as they were known not to charge for the care they provided. Now, the laborer is, of course, worthy of his hire; the reflection for today's feast from The Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints is worth considering:

"We may sanctify our labor or industry, if actuated by the motive of charity toward others, even whilst we fulfil the obligation we owe to ourselves and our families of procuring an honest and necessary subsistence, which of itself is no less noble a virtue, if founded in motives equally pure and perfect." (Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, p. 497. Benzinger Brothers, 1925). 

    If this resonates with you, consider joining my effort to establish a free, Catholic clinic in the U.S. You can read about it here.

Saints Cosmas and Damian, pray for us!