Normally
we wouldn’t pay much attention to one of these new-style secular designations
(which was mentioned on The Hamilton Corner on Friday, https://afr.net/podcasts/the-hamilton-corner/2019/november/peter-rosenberger-host-of-hope-for-the-caregiver-steps-into-the-corner/). However, it happens to coincide with a pair
of great saints celebrated on November 1st, Sts Cosman and Damian,
who were themselves caregivers (doctors).
Being honored also as protectors of marriage, we wished to post the life
of these saints for those interested in any of these subjects:
Saints
Cosmas and Damian were natives of Asia Minor. Their father, a pagan, died while
they were still quite small children. Their mother, Theodotia, raised the
brothers in Christian piety. The example of their mother and the reading of
holy books preserved them in chasteness of life in accord with the command of
the Lord, and Cosmas and Damian grew up into righteous and virtuous men.
Trained
and having become skilled as physicians, they acquired a graced gift of the
Holy Spirit – to heal by the power of prayer people's illnesses both of body
and soul, and they treated even animals. With fervent love for both God and
neighbour, the brothers went forth into social service. For the maladies which
the brothers treated they never took payment, and they strictly observed the
command of our Lord Jesus Christ: "Freely have ye received, freely in turn
give" (Mt. 10: 8). The fame of Saints Cosmas and Damian spread throughout
all the surrounding region, and people called them – unmercenaries.
One
time the saints were summoned to a grievously ill woman – whom all the doctors
had refused to treat because of her seemingly hopeless condition. Through faith
Palladia (thus was her name) and through the fervent prayer of the holy
brothers, the Lord healed the deadly disease and she got up from her bed
perfectly healthy and giving praise to God. In gratitude for being healed and
wanting them to accept a small gift from her, Palladia went quietly to Damian.
She presented him with three eggs and said: "Take this small gift in the
Name of the Holy LifeCreating Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit".
Hearing the Name of the Holy Trinity, the unmercenary one did not dare to
refuse.
Cosmas,
however, when he learned of what had happened, became very sad. He thought that
his brother had broken their strict vow. And soon approached the time when
Saint Cosmas was to expire to the Lord. Dying, he gave last instructions that
his brother should not be buried alongside him. After a short while Saint
Damian also died. All were greatly perplexed where Saint Damian's grave should
be. But through the will of God a miracle occurred: there came to the people a
camel, which the saints had treated for its wildness, and it spoke with an
human voice saying – that they should not doubt to put Damian alongside Cosmas
– because it was not for the reward that Damian accepted the gift from the
woman, but on account of the Name of God. The venerable remains of the holy
brothers were buried together at Theremanea (Mesopotamia).
Many
miracles were worked upon the death of the holy unmercenaries. There lived at
Theremanea, nearby the church of Cosmas and Damian, a certain man by the name
of Malchos. One day in setting off on a distant journey, and leaving behind his
wife all alone for what would be a long time – he prayerfully entrusted her to
the heavenly protection of the holy brothers. But the enemy of the race of
mankind, having taken hold over one of Malchos' friends, planned to destroy the
woman. A certain while went by, and this man went to her at home and said that
Malchos had sent him, – to take her to him. The woman believed him and went
along. He led her to a solitary place and wanted to molest and kill her. The
woman – seeing that disaster threatened her – called upon God with deep faith.
Two fiercesome men then appeared, and the cunning man let go of the woman, and
took to flight: he fell off a cliff! The men led the woman home. At her own
home, bowing to them deeply she asked: "What name do they call you? –my
rescuers, to whom I shalt be grateful to the end of my days!" "We are
the servants of Christ, Cosmas and Damian" – they answered and became
invisible. The woman with trembling and with joy told everyone about what had
happened with her, and glorifying God she went up with tears to the icon of the
holy brothers and offered up prayers of thanks for her deliverance. And from
that time the holy brothers were venerated as protectors of the holiness and
inviolability of Christian marriage, and as givers of harmony to conjugal life.
And from ancient times their veneration spread also to Russia.
We
will get a good health care system here in the South and in the other States,
not when we find the perfect economic model for it, but to the extent that it
is imbued with the same Spirit of which these Orthodox saints partook.
***
Mr
Walker Wildmon had quite a fit today on Exposing Washington (2 Nov.),
calling al-Baghdadi and other Muslims ‘animals’ numerous times. Two things to keep in mind:
1 All men are made in the image of God. It is a great crime for us to deny anyone
their essential, God-given humanity by calling them animals.
2 Mr Wildmon and other conservatives are
showing hypocrisy in dehumanizing Muslims as they decry their own demonization
at the hands of Leftists:
Indeed,
how can pro-lifers have any hope of convincing pro-abortionists to respect the humanity
of the unborn when the pro-lifers themselves are unwilling to show respect for
the humanity of fully grown Muslim men and women?
Words
and rhetoric matter. Hopefully Mr Wildmon
will be more careful about how he uses both of them in the future.
--
Holy Ælfred the Great, King of England,
South Patron, pray for us sinners at the Souð,
unworthy though we are!
Anathema to the Union!
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