From: trudie.Miller@cox.net   
      
   September 26th - Sts. Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs   
      
   (d. ca. 286)   
      
   Saints Cosmas and Damian were brothers, born in Arabia in the third century, of   
   noble and virtuous parents. Saint Gregory of Tours wrote that they were twins.   
   They studied the sciences in Syria, and became eminent for their skill in   
   medicine. Being Christians and filled with the charity which characterizes our   
   holy religion, they practiced their profession with great application and   
   wonderful success, but never accepted any fee. They were loved and respected by   
   the people for their good offices and their zeal for the Christian faith, which   
   they took every opportunity to propagate.   
      
   When the persecution of Diocletian began to rage, it was impossible for persons   
   of such distinction to remain concealed. They were denounced to the governor of   
   Cilicia, named Lysias, as "Christians who cured various illnesses and delivered   
   possessed persons in the name of the one called Christ; they do not permit   
   others to go to the temple to honor the gods by sacrifices." The two brothers   
   were apprehended by the order of the governor, and after various preliminary   
   torments were sentenced to be bound hand and foot and thrown into the sea.   
   Their   
   prayer has been conserved: "We rejoice, Lord, to follow the path of Your   
   commandments, as in the midst of immense riches; and even though we walk   
   through   
   the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil." And they recited the 23rd   
   Psalm. The sentence was accomplished, but an Angel untied their bonds and drew   
   them out of the sea. The witnesses of this fact returned to announce to the   
   governor what had happened. They were brought back to Lysias as magicians, and   
   he decided to imprison them until he could decide upon their fate.   
      
   He condemned them to be burnt alive, but they prayed to God to manifest His   
   power, lest His name be blasphemed, and an earthquake moved the fire into the   
   midst of the pagans and spared the martyrs. When the rack also left them   
   unharmed, the prefect swore by his gods he would continue to torture them until   
   they became the food of birds of prey. They were crucified and stoned by the   
   people, but this and still other tortures were ineffectual. They were finally   
   beheaded with three Christian companions.   
      
   Source: Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin (Bloud   
   et   
   Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 11.   
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear,   
   for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves   
   you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me.   
   --Saint Clare of Assisi   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Each will receive his own reward according to his labor.( I Cor. 3:8)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   An offering to God the Father   
      
   Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Blood, the Passion, and the Death of Jesus   
   Christ; the sorrows of Mary most Holy and of Joseph in satisfaction for my   
   sins, in aid of the holy souls of Purgatory, for the needs of Holy Mother   
   Church, and the conversion of sinners. Amen.   
      
   Eternal Father, I offer unto Thee the infinite satisfaction which Jesus   
   rendered to Thy justice in behalf of sinners upon the tree of the Cross;   
   and I pray that Thou wouldst make the merits of His Precious Blood   
   available to all guilty souls to whom sin has brought death; may they rise   
   again to the life of grace and glorify Thee for ever.   
      
   Eternal Father, I offer Thee the fervent devotion of the Sacred Heart of   
   Jesus in satisfaction for the lukewarmness and cowardice of Thy chosen   
   people, imploring Thee by the burning love which made Him suffer death,   
   that it may please Thee to rekindle their hearts now so lukewarm in Thy   
   service, and to set them on fire with Thy love, that they may love Thee for   
   ever.   
      
   Eternal Father, I offer Thee the submission of Jesus to Thy will, and I ask   
   of Thee, through His merits, the fullness of all grace and the   
   accomplishment of all Thy holy will. Blessed by God.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)