Say the prayer of Cosme and Damião to protect children

“May God bless the little children who are the future of this nation.” I don’t remember who spoke this wise and powerful phrase, but it sums up the pure truth. The child of today will be the adult of tomorrow, who will give the face and energy of a nation or planet Earth in this future.

So, let’s take care and educate our children well today and always. Let’s pray for them and ask God for protection to watch over our children, grandchildren, nephews, godchildren and friends every day.

A child is a special being. They have inborn purity, a unique sensitivity and intuition that, as they grow, are distorted by the society around them. Not to mention the energy it has. An energy of joy, love and truth. They don’t lie. They learn to lie with adults, who unfortunately do not always teach or set good examples. But child is child. So, may God protect and bless them.

May Cosme and Damião protect and bless children and young people.

For those who don’t know, Cosme and Damião are the protective saints of children. They were martyred in Aegea, Asia Minor, region of present-day Turkey, on September 27, 287, during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian (284-305).

Cosme and Damião were doctors and gave charity to the poor, curing their illnesses. They set up a kind of hospital at the time they lived and there they preached the good news about the time when one day a boy would be born among the poor called Jesus and that he would be the King of Kings. Thus, they began to be persecuted, but they did not stop curing their sick, especially little children who often did not want to take the remedies based on bitter herbs, the only resource for healing. So, so that the little ones could be distracted and take their medicine, Cosme and Damião gave him sweets to disguise the bitter taste.

One day, imprisoned and tortured to death and forced to swallow the same bitter medicines that they used to make, they ended up dying on a date that we believe today to be 09/26. The people, sad and regretting what had happened, asked for their bodies and buried them placing many sweets in their graves, because they believed that in this way their souls that were so mistreated could follow a path of peace and sweetness. This burial only took place on the 27/09th, so the Catholic Church recognizes the day of death, but not the day of the burial.

Here in Brazil it is a tradition to celebrate the day of the twin saints on September 27, when many parties with sweets, candies and soft drinks are distributed to children at many parties throughout Brazil.

Below are two prayers for the protective saints of children.

PRAYER 1

Saint Cosimo and Damião, who for the love of God and neighbor you dedicated yourselves to the healing of the body and soul of your fellow men, bless doctors and pharmacists, medicate my body in illness and strengthen my soul against superstition and all practices from evil.

May your innocence and simplicity accompany and protect all our children. May the joy of a clear conscience.

Who always accompanied you, rest also in my heart.

May your protection, Cosimo and Damião, keep my heart simple and sincere, so that the words of Jesus may also serve me: “Let the little ones come to me, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”.

Saint Cosimo and Damião, pray for us.

PRAYER 2

O child God, you grew in wisdom and grace with Mary and Joseph. Through the intercession of Saint Cosimo and Saint Damião, bless my children, brothers, relatives and neighbors. (remember the name of the child who needs prayers)

May the blood of these Martyrs, servants of the Holy Trinity, wash away my sins and purify my entire being.

Help me to grow in solidarity, compassion and mercy towards my closest neighbor, following the example of Saint Cosimo and Damião, Missionaries and defenders of life in fullness.

By Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Want to comment on the prayer? Want to send a prayer to share? Want to know more about Franco Guizzetti’s work, or get in touch with him, Click here.