SAINTS FOR THE WEEK.

September 26th.

SS. Cosmas & Damian.

Their names are in the Roman Canon of the Mass, and they were honoured with fine churches dedicated to them in Constantinople and Rome, but apart from their martyrdom at Cyrrhus in the near East – at an unknown date – their lives are shrouded in mystery.  A late legend makes them twin brother doctors who asked for no fees and worked many cures of healing, and so they are shown in art, notably in a cycle by Fra Angelico.  In Italy their popularity was increased by the famous Medici dynasty of Florence, many of whom bore the name Cosmas [Cosimo].  Apparently it was the saints’ lack of concern with financial matters which appealed to the Medici, an ironical state of affairs in view of the opulent lifestyle of many of that ilk; a case of “I’m a humble man and I ain’t half proud to be so”.