A Note from Fr. Pisut
Friday, October 23, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
Next week on October 28 is the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles. They are often pictured in art together. Apart from St. Peter, St. James and St. John, however, relatively little is known about the remaining nine Apostles except what we have from various legends surrounding them. St. Simon is known as “the Canaanite” by St Matthew and St. Mark and “the Zealot” by St. Luke. He was perhaps a member of the Jewish sect known as Zealots, later responsible for the revolt against Rome that brought about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. He is also known as “Simon the Less,” to distinguish him from Simon Peter.
St. Jude is referred to as “Judas of James” by St. Luke and as “Judas not Iscariot” by St. John. He is normally mentioned as the Thaddeus in the list of the Apostles given by St. Matthew and St. Mark. The term “Judas of James” could mean that he was the son of James or the brother of James the Apostle. At the Last Supper when Jesus promised he would manifest himself to his followers St. Jude asked why he would not show himself to the whole world, to which Jesus replied that he and the Father would visit all those who love him. St. Jude is probably best known as the saint of lost causes. The origin of this devotion is not known for sure except perhaps, owing to his confusion with Judas Iscariot, he was often the last saint prayed to when all the other saints had failed to help. I have found his intercession helpful in my own life many times. I hope that does not make me sound desperate.
While no doubt the Apostles are important to all Christians, they hold a special place for us as Catholics. This is because ever since Apostolic Times the recognition that Christ specifically choose these twelve men as his followers and that they as well chose and laid hands on their successors and their successors have done so down to the present day has been seen as important. This “Apostolic Succession,” as mentioned in the Creed at Mass, includes all bishops, priests and deacons and is a hallmark of the Catholic Church that Christ gave us. This line of succession, along with the faithful transmission of the faith that Christ gave to the Apostles and what has been discerned and clarified by them down through the ages, is essential to understand what it means to be Catholic.
We are nearing the end of October, the Month of the Rosary, so please keep that prayer of Catholic devotion an essential tool in your spiritual life. Also, please remember to contact the office if you have someone you would like remembered at out Mass of All Souls on November 2.
Fr. Pisut
