Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian

Today is the Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damien, both Patron Saints of Physicians. Other doctor saints include St. Raphael, St. Luke, St. Panteleon, St. Joseph Moscati, St. Gianna Molla, to name all those I can think of immediately. Then there's Jesus Himself, the Divine Physician.

From Catholic.org:

Sts. Cosmas and Damian were brothers, born in Arabia, who had become eminent for their skill in the science of medicine. Being Christians, they were filled with the spirit of charity and never took money for their services. At Egaea in Cilicia, where they lived, they enjoyed the highest esteem of the people. When the persecution under Diocletian broke out, their very prominence rendered them marked objects of persecution. Being apprehended by order of Lysias, governor of Cilicia, they underwent various torments about the year 283. Their feast day is September 26th. They are patron saints of pharmacists.

Yes, and Physicians, too.

Here is a rather tame picture of them:

Yawn. Smile for the artist, boys!

But for all you doctor types, how about a little medical action?

Okay, then. here are two pictures from books I have at home, showing a miracle attributed to them. The transplant of a leg from a dead man to another man. So they might as well be the Patron Saints of Transplant Physicians as well.



The 'donor' leg is the black one. It looks like a calf-length sock.

And again:




People don't appreciate a working epidural enough.

Here is Fra Angelico's version of the martyrdom of Cosmas and Damian and brothers:



Sorry for the amateur photography. I hope you can see the one guy is just swatting off heads as if they were flies.

Here is a typical modern physician:



Get rid of the cigarette, substitute a styrofoam cup for the china, and there you have him.

Not likely to be martyred, but very likely to be sued.

Not working for free, sometimes.

Trying to see Christ in all his patients, but more often cynical, impatient, haughty, sarcastic - all the attributes Christ doesn't want to see when He goes looking for us.

Praying for the wisdom and fortitude to care for his patients, and praying for the repose of the souls of his lost patients.

Most likely to fall asleep during a sermon, most likely needing to hear what the priest is saying.

Spending much of his time at work, thinking about work when at home, and needing to be reminded that it's just a job, not his vocation.

Thanking God for what still is a privilege - to be a doctor. To be an instrument of healing in God's hands.

dadwithnoisykids