SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES - A ZEALOT AND PATRON OF LOST CAUSES..........

In a liturgical week that has been a sea of green on  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and will be Friday, and Saturday, today - Thursday October 28, is a red letter day, the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles.  Although two of the more obscure of the Twelve Apostle of Jesus, they indeed were called to follow Christ and learn from Him directly during the 3 years of Public Ministry the Mysteries and Teachings of God's Kingdom.  St. Simon the Apostle was known as both, "the Canaanite", and, "the Zealot".  Zealots were an anti-Roman political party in the 1st Century A.D., so that Simon could well have been somewhat a radical activist, in his outlook and actions, when Jesus chose him.  It is thought that Simon as an Apostle, most likely preached the Gospel in Egypt and Persia.  St. Jude, also known as Thaddeus, which means, "Courageous", most likely preached the Gospel in Palestine and Persia.  There is a short Epistle in the New Testament written by Jude, and he is most widely known through the centuries of Catholic-Christianity as the patron saint of the lost, despairing, forsakem, and the hopeless.  Given St. Jude shares a similar name to  Judas Iscariot, Jesus' apostolic betrayer, who in the end despaired of what he had done, is the reason he he has this patronage.  As Apostles of Christ who preached the Gospel in the 1st Century, both St. Simon and Jude are mentioned in the Roman Canon, the First Eucharistic Prayer.  As we commemorate their Faithful Witness to Jesus Christ today, may we too embrace a sufficiency of zeal and courage to proclaim and live the Gospel Values we too, profess to follow in the 21st Century of Discipleship in Jesus the Lord..........Saints Simon And Jude, Pray For Us,   Fr.  Troy