Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

28 OCTOBER 2009. Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saints Simon and Jude, apostles of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The name of Saint Simon usually appears tenth or eleventh on lists of the Apostles. (see Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16; Acts 1:13) Other than being listed as an apostle, Saint Simon is not mentioned in the New Testament.The only things that we know for sure about Saint Simon is that he was born at Cana and his surname was "the zealot." Some ancient writers provide that Saints Simon and Jude traveled to Persia preaching the Gospel and were martyred there. If that is correct, it explains why the two are mentioned together in tradition.

Saint Jude, also called Thaddeus, was the apostle that asked Our Lord why he manifested Himself only to the Apostles, and not the whole world. (John 14:22) Saint Jude is the patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes. Saint Jude received these patronages because his New Testament espistle exhorts the faithful the persevere in difficult and harsh circumstances, just as our forefathers did before us. Thus, desperate cases are entreated to Saint Jude's intercession.

Prayer to Saint Jude:

Most holy apostle, Saint Jude,
faithful servant and friend of Jesus,
the Church honours and invokes you universally,
as the patron of hopeless cases,
of things almost despaired of.
Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone.
Make use I implore you,
of that particular privilege given to you,
to bring visible and
speedy help where help is almost despaired of.
Come to my assistance in this great need
that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven
in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings,
particularly (here make your request) and
that I may praise God with you and all the elect forever.
I promise, O blessed Saint Jude,
to be mindful of this great favour,
to always honour you as my special and powerful patron, and
to gratefully encourage devotion to you.

Amen.