September 26 2023 - Sts. Cosmas and Damian - Making our day an offering to God

Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers born at the end of the third century in Syria, not far at all from Antioch, the home of our patron, Ignatius.  They were physicians known as “the moneyless ones”, because they didn’t charge their patients.  They were actually the first surgeons in history to successfully perform a limb transplant—transplanting the leg of a recently deceased Ethiopian onto one of their patients. 

Here are highly skilled, likely highly intelligent men, who could have lived a comfortable life profiting from their medical abilities. But they put their gifts at the service of the poor in the name of Christ. Because of their faith, they were rounded up in the empire-wide Christian persecution of the emperor Diocletian, and beheaded for their faith.

The saints are model Christians for us, show us that our lives are meant to be about sacrificing ourselves for others, living generously for others, pouring ourselves out in service, witnessing to the love of God, and the truth of the Holy Gospel, even with our lives.

The first reading for Cosmas and Damian is a reading we often find at Catholic funerals: “The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.” What does it mean to be just? The just give to God what belongs to God and gives to neighbor what belongs to neighbor: worship, obedience, praise, prayer, repentance to God, and kindness, generosity, respect, charity, forgiveness, mercy to the neighbor.

None of us, of course are “just” on our own, but we are made just by Christ, and are perfected in justice as we allow the life of Christ to animate us—our decisions, attitudes, work and rest. 

Whether we are spending 8 or 10 hours in the office, or able to spend warm autumn days in the garden, or sitting in the doctor’s waiting room, Christians can make their time an offering to God by being mindful of our Christian identity, lifting up souls to God, considering how we might serve them with our own meager gifts.

When our day is continually offered to God, the events of our day, even the hardships, can become opportunities for spreading the kingdom. When we meet God in our labors, then others can meet Him, through us. 

May all of our time, talent, and treasure be given to God today and all days, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Through the intercession of Saints Cosmas and Damien, we pray that all doctors, nurses, medical professionals and health care workers may use their training for God’s glory, always respecting the dignity of every human life.

For an end to all medical techniques which violate human dignity, for an end to abortion, euthanasia, and the destruction of human life for medical research.

That the dignity of works may be respected by their employers and by the state, and for the unemployed and underemployed.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of September: “That our parishes, animated by a missionary spirit, may be places where faith is communicated and charity is seen.” We pray to the Lord.

For the sick and afflicted, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, for victims of natural disaster and inclement weather, especially the people of Houston Texas, those who suffer from war, violence, and terrorism, for the mentally ill, those with addictions, and the imprisoned, for those who struggle to live the call of Christian chastity, for the comfort of the dying and the consolation of their families. 

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

Sept 26 2017 - Saints Cosmas and Damian - Offering the hours of the day to God

Saints Cosmas and Damien were twin brothers, born in the middle of the 3rd century. They both studied medicine in what is now modern-day Syria. They practiced their medical profession with not only great skill but great charity, offering their services for free to those who could not pay. They are the patron saints of physicians.

Since they were so prominent in the community, when the persecution of Diocletian swept through around the year 303, they were put to death, refusing to apostatize the faith.

As holy Christians and holy doctors, they remind us how important it is to offer the whole of our lives to the service of the Church. If we are doctors, to use our medical training for Christ, if we our lawyers, do use our legal expertise for Christ, if we are retirees, to use our time for Christ.

Many make use of their professional training and their time to make a name for themselves instead of service for Christ. The time we’ve been given is meant for our sanctification: whether we are a day- laborer or an expert in our field. As St. Paul says, “In whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

How we use our time matters for eternity. Christians are to be diligent, they should seek excellence in their work and true refreshment in their leisure, they should pursue virtue and the perfection of their character, subjecting every hour of the day to the Lord’s glory.

Whether we are spending 8 or 10 hours in the office, or able to spend warm autumn days in the garden, or sitting in the doctor’s waiting room, it’s not a bad idea to call to mind every hour our Christian identity, to dedicate that hour to God’s will over our own, to ask God to bless that hour for his purposes.

When our day is continually offered to God, the events of our day, even the hardships, can become opportunities for meeting Christ. We meet him in our labors, others can meet him, through us, because we have offered our hearts and minds and our diligence to Him.

As the Jews, in our first reading, returned from exile, rebuild the Temple to be a house for God to dwell, may the saints help us to build our lives, our bodies, minds, hearts and sufferings into a Temple where God is worshipped, adored, and served, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Through the intercession of Saints Cosmas and Damien, we pray that all doctors, nurses, medical professionals and health care workers may use their training for God’s glory, always respecting the dignity of every human life.
For an end to all medical techniques which violate human dignity, for an end to abortion, euthanasia, IVF, and the destruction of human embryos.
That the dignity of works may be respected by their employers and by the state, and for the unemployed and underemployed.
For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of September: “That our parishes, animated by a missionary spirit, may be places where faith is communicated and charity is seen.” We pray to the Lord.
For the sick and afflicted, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, for victims of natural disaster and inclement weather, especially the people of Houston Texas, those who suffer from war, violence, and terrorism, for the mentally ill, those with addictions, and the imprisoned, for those who struggle to live the call of Christian chastity, for the comfort of the dying and the consolation of their families.
For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

Homily: Sept 26 2016 - Sts. Cosmas and Damian - Suffering Servants

The next few days we will be hearing from the book of Job. We’ll hear how Job is afflicted with tremendous suffering; he loses everything precious to him: he bears the grief of seven dead sons and three dead daughters.  He becomes repulsive to his wife, loathsome to his brothers, he loses his land and property.  He’ll lay in unrelieved misery for months with open sores all over his body.  At first, he’ll bear these calamities with amazing trust in God and faith, but as his misery continues over many months his faith begins to waver. 

Perhaps some of us can relate. Extended periods of suffering, the loss of that which we hold dear, can really be a trial for our faith.

Today we honor two saints, who patiently endured their trial, and did so with tremendous grace, and an outpouring of Christian service.

Cosmas and Damien were twin brothers born at the end of the third century in Syria.  They were physicians and were known as “the moneyless ones”, because they didn’t charge their patients.  They were actually the first surgeons to successfully perform a limb transplant, and this was in the early fourth century. They could have become world famous and wealthy, but they chose faith over fame, and like Christ became sufferings servants of those in need.

Christians who openly professed their faith, in the early fourth century during the persecution of Diocletian, did so at great risk.  For openly practicing their faith, for living and seeking to pass on the Gospel of Christ, Cosmas and Damien were arrested, tortured and beheaded.

Cosmas and Damien are examples for us of what Christianity is all about: sacrificing ourselves for others., living generously for others, pouring ourselves out in service, witnessing to the love of God, and the truth of the Holy Gospel, even with our lives.

And though each of us are afflicted in our own way, like Job, we are still to look outside of ourselves, to look for opportunities to serve, to help, to uplift, even when this would bring upon us the scorn of the world.

May the grace of the Eucharist today bring about in us an increase of charity for those in need, fervor for the spread of the Gospel, and courage to face our trials for the glory of God and salvation of souls.