Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles.  Tradition holds that Jude traveled to Mesopotamia and Simon went to Egypt to preach. Eventually they both ended up in Persia, modern-day Iran. There they worked together evangelizing the people until they were both martyred.

 

Simon was often called “the Zealot.” A zealot is a person who is strongly committed to something. Simon firmly believed in the importance of people following Jewish law. Once he met Jesus, his life was changed, and he became convinced that the most important thing was to follow Jesus and his teachings. It is believed that another reason Simon was nicknamed “the Zealot” was to keep people from confusing him with the other apostle named Simon, the one Jesus called Peter.

 

Jude was also known as “Jude Thaddeus.” People used this formal title so that he was not confused with Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus and handed him over to be arrested. Jude is the patron saint of hopeless cases and desperate situations. People often pray to Jude when they feel that there is no one else to turn to. They ask Jude to bring their problem to Jesus. Because Jude had such great faith, we know that nothing is impossible for those who believe in the Lord.  St. Jude is also identified as the author of the Letters of Jude in the New Testament.  

 

Deacon Joe Trevino

St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church

Houston, TX