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Today we celebrate the feast of two apostles, Simon the Zealot and Jude Thaddeus.  They are usually listed as a pair, as for example in the Roman Canon. Their relics lie together in St. Peter’s in Rome.

History provides little reason for their close association in the tradition, although in the Middle Ages the two apostles were believed to be brothers, nephews of St. Joseph and therefore first cousins of the Lord.  This legend and the reason St. Jude is usually depicted with an image of Christ are recounted in the Golden Legend, a medieval collection of saints’ lives authored by the Dominican Jacob of Voragine.

Simon Cananean and Judas Thaddeus were brethren of James the Less and sons of Mary Cleophas, which was married to Alpheus.  And Jude was sent of Thomas to the king Abgarus of Edessa after the ascension of our Lord.  And it is read in the History Scholastic that the said Abgarus sent an epistle unto our Lord Jesus Christ in this manner.

Abgarus, the son of Euchania, to Jesus, blessed Saviour, which appeareth in the places of Jerusalem, sendeth salutation.  I have heard of thee, and that the healths and recoverings that thou makest and dost, be without medicines and herbs, and that thou makest the blind to see by thine only word, and the lame to go, the mesels to be cured and made whole, and the dead bodies to live again.  Which things heard of thee, I ween in my courage that thou art one of two, that is that thou art God that art descended from heaven for to do this, or that thou art the son of God that dost such things.  Wherefore I pray thee by writing that thou wilt travail so much as to come to me and heal me of my malady, of which I have long been vexed.  And I have heard say that the Jews murmur against thee and lie in await against thee.  Come therefore to me, for I have a little city, but it is honest, and shall shall well suffice to us both.

Our Lord Jesus answered him by writing in these words:

Blessed art thou that hast believed in me when thou hast not seen me.  It is written of me, that they that see me not shall believe in me, and they that see me shall not believe.  Of that thou hast written to me that I shall come to thee, me behoveth to accomplish that which I am sent for, and after to be received of him from whom I am sent.  When I am ascended, I shall send to thee one of my disciples to heal thee and quicken thee.

This is written in Historia Ecclesiastica.  And when Abgarus saw that he might not see God presently, after that it is said in an ancient history, as John Damascene witnesseth in his fourth book, he sent a painter unto Jesus Christ for to figure the image of our Lord, to the end that at least that he might see him by his image, whom he might not see in his visage.  And when the painter came, because of the great splendour and light that shone in the visage of our Lord Jesus Christ, he could not behold it, ne could not counterfeit it by no figure.  And when our Lord saw this thing he took from the painter a linen cloth and set it upon his visage, and emprinted the very phisiognomy of his visage therein, and sent it unto the king Abgarus which so much desired it.

[. . .]

Also it is read in the History Ecclesiastic that when our Lord was ascended into heaven, Thomas the apostle sent Thaddeus, that was Jude, unto the king Abgarus according to the promise of our Lord.  And when he was come to him, and had told to him that he was messenger of our Lord Jesus Christ, which had promised to send him one, then Abgarus saw in the visage of Thaddeus a marvellous and godly brightness.  And when he had seen it he was all abashed and afeared, and worshipped our Lord saying: “Verily, thou art the disciple of Jesus Christ, Son of God, which sent to me word that he would send to me some one of his disciples that should heal me and give to me life.” To whom Thaddeus said: “If thou believest in the Son of God thou shalt have all the desires of thine heart.”  And Abgarus said: “I believe on him, verily . . .”  And as it is read in some places and books, that Abgarus was leper, and Thaddeus took the epistle of our Saviour, and rubbed and frotted therewith the visage of Abgarus, and anon he received full health.

For the old Catholic Encyclopedia articles on Saints Simon and Jude, click here and here.

Father,
you revealed yourself to us
through the preaching of your apostles Simon and Jude.
By their prayers,
give your Church continued growth
and increase the number of those who believe in you.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.

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The 43rd Annual Opera Gala is a fundraising event for Padre Pio’s Charitable Works in NYC.  The event will  take place at 7:00 PM on Saturday, November 22, at St. Ignatius Loyola School/McKinnon Hall, 48 East 84th Street.   Semi-formal attire is required.  The event is for adults only.

The evening will consist of performances from the world of Broadway and opera. There will also be live music, dancing, raffle prizes, and hors d’oeuvres.

Tickets are on sale now at $30 per person. Please make checks payable to the “Office of the Devotees of Padre Pio” and mail them to Mario Bruschi at 245 East 63rd Street, #1205, NY, NY 10065.

For more information please email us at info(at)cspya(dot)org.

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