THE GREAT FEAST OF SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES.
FEAST OF SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES.
The Choice and the Call of the Twelve.
"Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.
"When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
"Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor." (Luke 6: 12 - 16).
Monday 28th October 2024 of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of Saints Simon and Jude. They are among the 12 Apostles chosen by Jesus in today's Gospel. "Tradition has it that they preached in Mesopotamia and Persia and there were martyred." (Roman Missal).
St Jude is a very popular Saint. He is the patron saint of lost and impossible causes.
Jesus called the 12 after a night spent in prayer to His heavenly Father.
He chose twelve men who had been with Him from the Baptism of John. He chose them to become the pillar and foundation of the truth, the Church. (1 Timothy 3: 15).
Jesus built His worldwide Church on the foundation of the Apostles and prophets. Each year, we celebrate the glory of Saints Simon and Jude and the other Apostles.
Why do we not celebrate the glory of Caesar, King Henry VIII, Napoleon, Churchill or Stalin?
The message of the Apostles still goes out throughout the world.
It is the mind of Christ that the Church He founded be built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets.
What are the characteristics of this Church by which she can be recognized all over the world?
There are four marks. We profess every Sunday in the Apostles' Creed that the Church is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. What do these words mean?
#1 One: One faith, one Baptism, one Shepherd.
#2 Holy: The Holy Spirit that indwells the Church is the source of her holiness. The Holy Spirit continually cleanses the Bride of Christ from defilements.
In every Liturgy of the Mass, the Church confesses her sins as individuals and as a family.
#3 Catholic: Universal. Found in all the countries of the United Nations and every other place of human habitation.
I watched the closing Mass of the Synod led by Pope Francis in Rome on television on this Sunday 30th Week in Ordinary Time. There were Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons and Laity from all over the world.
This is an amazing testimony that the Catholic Church is the true Church founded by Jesus Christ.
#4 Apostolic: Every Bishop is directly traceable to the original 12 Apostles who were constituted in today's Gospel. Many Bishops would have their lines run through Saints Simon and Jude, our saints of today.
"Simon and Jude are the holy men whom the Lord chose in his own perfect love; to them he gave eternal glory." (Cf Entrance Antiphon).
October is the Holy Rosary Month.
"As for you, dear son of mine, persevere in praying to me. Hold fast to my Rosary and beware of every ploy of the Evil One to separate you from it. My Rosary is your safeguard and your weapon in the fight against the forces of evil. At the same time, for you it is a remedy and a comfort. Do you not see how the Rosary has stabilized you? Do you not experience its healing and all its benefits? Pray my Rosary and teach others to do the same." (IN SINU JESU).
Say the Holy Rosary every day in October.
For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:
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