Sep. 26 Saturday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time; Opt Mem of Sts. Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs, Opt. Mem.

Today is the Optional Memorial of Saints Cosmas and Damian (d. 303). According to tradition, Saints Cosmas and Damian suffered martyrdom in Syria during the Roman persecution of Diocletian. Not much is known about them, but tradition holds they were twin brothers and medical doctors, never charging a fee for their medical services. Their names are in the Roman Canon of the Mass and they are honored in both the Eastern and Western Church and highly celebrated in Italian communities.