Cosmas and Damian

If I was at home today (Monday 26 September 2016), there would be a feline party!  On this day last year, our two cats - Cosmas and Damian - took up residence!  They arrived on the feast of St. Cosmas and St. Damian and hence their names. 

So who were Cosmas and Damian?  Nothing is known of their lives except that they suffered martyrdom in Syria during the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian (c. 247AD). According to Christian traditions, the twin brothers were born in Arabia and became skilled doctors. During the persecution under Diocletian, Cosmas and Damian were arrested by order of the Prefect of Cilicia, one Lysias who is otherwise unknown, who ordered them under torture to recant. However, according to legend they stayed true to their faith, enduring being hung on a cross, stoned and shot by arrows and finally suffered execution by beheading. Anthimus, Leontius and Euprepius, their younger brothers, who were inseparable from them throughout life, shared in their martyrdom.

It is a sad reality that today, some 1,769 years later, Christians in Syria and across the Middle East face persecution and martyrdom for their faith.

Father in Heaven, you make your sun shine
on good and bad alike.
Your Son Jesus Christ died for us all
and in his glorious Resurrection
He still retains the five wounds of his Passion.
With his divine power he now sustains
all those who suffer persecution and martyrdom
for the sake of their fidelity
to the faith of the Church.
Merciful and mighty Father,
do not allow Cain to return again to murder
helpless Abel, innocent Abel.
May persecuted Christians around the world
remain, like Mary, their Mother,
together at the foot of the cross
of Christ the Martyr.
Comfort those menaced by violence
and those oppressed by uncertainty.
May your Holy Spirit of love
make fruitful the witness and the blood
of those who die forgiving.

Amen