28 October 2012 Ss Simon and Jude, Apostles Simon the Zealot because he belonged to the Jewish party, ‘Zealous of the Law’. Jude, also called Thaddeus (Courageous), wrote an epistle in the New Testament. (Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1676) St Jude, ‘Patron of the Impossible’. Pray for me. I implore you, of that particular privilege accorded to you to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive consolations and succor of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings. (cf Novena prayer) The faith of the Apostles and our faith The Apostles were witnesses of the life and teachings of Jesus. They transmitted what they heard and saw with diligent fidelity. They did not spread their personal theories nor did they merely propagate human solutions gleaned from their own experience. “For we were not following fictitious myths when we made known to you the power and coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ but we were eyewitnesses of his grandeur.” (2 Peter 1:16) “I write of what was from the beginning, what we have heard with our ears and seen with our eyes. We have looked upon the Word of Life and touched it with our own hands. Thus we announce it to you.” (1 Jn 1:1) The doctrine of the Twelve is the foundation of the Christian faith. It is not the free interpretation of each one, nor is it derived from the authority of wise men. St Luke confirms that all events he relates are “just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the Word” (Lk 1:1-3). We know furthermore that in the first Christian community “all persevered in the teaching of the Apostles” (Acts 2:42). The Apostles that the Lord chooses are very different from one another. Still, they share the one Faith and the same message. Metaphorically, they would consider themselves the ‘envelope’ of a letter from God since their sole mission was to transmit the inheritance they had received. St Josemaria Escrivá [Founder of ‘Opus Dei’] occasionally used this metaphor to highlight the Christian virtue of humility. Christ’s closest followers had only one desire: to be faithful instruments of the Lord. ‘The letter’ containing the divine message was important to him, not ‘the envelope’ it came in. Thus, we have precious little information about the two great Apostles Simon and Jude. We know Jesus expressly chose Simon to be one of ‘the Twelve’. Also that Jude was the relative of Christ who asked him a question at the Last Supper: “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world?” (Jn 14:22) Nobody knows where their bodies are, nor the lands they evangelized. They did not care that their personal talents stand out, nor their apostolic victories and sufferings they endured for the sake of the Master’s kingdom. On the contrary, they tried to pass unnoticed and simply be useful in spreading the message of Christ. “I advise you not to look for praise, even when you deserve it. It is better to pass unnoticed, and to let the most beautiful and noble aspects of our actions, of our lives, remain hidden. What a great thing it is to become little! ‘Deo omnis gloria!’ -- all for the glory to God.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 1051) Then we will be efficacious since “when one works wholly and exclusively for the glory of God, one does everything with naturalness, like someone who is in a hurry and will not be delayed by ‘making a great show of things’. In this way one does not lose the unique and incomparable company of the Lord.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 555) Like one in a hurry we, too must go from one task to the next without pausing over personal matters. Today let us ask the Holy Apostles Simon and Jude to help us know and love the Master more each day. Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 7:228-4 Hearts Open to the Spirit The proclamation of the word of God has Christian conversion as its aim: a complete and sincere adherence to Christ and his gospel through faith. Conversion is a gift of God, a work of the Blessed Trinity. It is the Spirit who opens people’s hearts so they can believe in Christ and “confess him” (cf 1 Cor 12:3); of those who draw near to him through faith Jesus says: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (Jn 6:44) From the outset, conversion is expressed in faith which is total and radical, and which neither limits nor hinders God’s gift. At the same time, it gives rise to a dynamic and lifelong process which demands a continual turning away from “life according to the flesh” to “life according to the Spirit” (cf Rom 8:3-5). Conversion means accepting, by a personal decision, the saving sovereignty of Christ and becoming his disciple. Ref: Cf “Pope John Paul II, Breakfast with the Pope”, 1984, 47 Meditations on the Litany of Loreto ‘Queen of martyrs’ -- With reason is she called such for her martyrdom in the death of her Son on the cross exceeded the sufferings of all martyrs. “There stood by the cross of Jesus His Mother.” (Jn 19:25) Mothers fly from their children when they see them dying, unable to help them. Mary stayed with Jesus until she saw him expire. While Jesus was in his agony she offered the life of her Son to the Eternal Father for our salvation; but in doing so she also was in an agony, and experienced a torment greater than any death. My afflicted Mother, I beg you to help me at the hour of my death, and then obtain for me eternal salvation. Ref: “The Glories of Mary.” In “Documentation Service”, V:327 Fishers of Men 198 “He told you that this way is very hard. And, on hearing it, you heartily agreed, remembering that bit about the Cross being a sure sign of the true way ... But your friend noticed only the rough part of the road, without bringing to mind Jesus’ promise: My ‘yoke is sweet’. “Remind him about it, because -- perhaps when he realises it, he will give himself.” Ref: St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow” • Our Lady of Vivonne, in Savoy, where a miraclous image is venerated, which was found by a ploughman. This statue, having been removed three times into the village church, was always found again in its former place, which necessitated the building of a church, which was given to the Carmelites. — Astolphus, in Histor. univers. imag. B. Virg. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of Vivonne, Savoy, France. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (http://www/mariedenazareth.com) • “Notre Dame de Vivonne”. Savoy, France. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of the Trilles (Lille, France). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • “Notre Dame des Trilles”. Lille, France. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Feast of the Holy Protection of the Mother of God is celebrated in Greece. Elsewhere, October 1. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)