Feasts of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles

Brief Background:

Saints Simon and Jude were two of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, remembered together because tradition holds that they worked side by side in spreading the Gospel and were martyred together in Persia. Saint Simon, known as “the Zealot” or “the Cananaean,” earned his title from his passionate zeal for God’s law and mission. Although little is known about his life after the Gospels, ancient traditions suggest that he preached in Egypt and Persia before dying for the faith around AD 65. Because of accounts that he was martyred by being cut with a saw, he is regarded as the patron saint of saw-workers, woodcutters, and tanners. Simon’s hidden yet faithful ministry reminds us that discipleship does not always mean being seen, but being steadfast in zeal for God wherever we are called.

Saint Jude, also called Thaddeus, is remembered as a relative of Jesus—possibly the son of Mary Cleophas, a cousin of the Blessed Virgin—and the author of the short Epistle of Jude in the New Testament. He preached the Gospel in Judea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia, where he is believed to have been martyred alongside Simon. Jude is best known as the patron saint of hopeless or desperate causes. Early Christians were reluctant to pray to him because his name was similar to Judas Iscariot, but when people began turning to his intercession in impossible situations, remarkable answers to prayer were reported, and devotion to him spread throughout the Church.

Their shared feast day, celebrated on October 28, reminds us of the power of zeal and hope. Saint Simon calls us to channel our passion and commitment toward the Gospel, while Saint Jude inspires us to trust in God even when all seems lost. Together, they remind us that no work of faith is too small and no situation is beyond God’s reach.



REFLECTION:

Have you ever pulled an all-nighter with family or friends? Maybe you had one of those nights where the conversation was so good you didn’t want it to end. Or perhaps you stayed up late talking with a sibling or friend you hadn’t seen in a long time, savoring every moment because you knew that soon they’d have to leave. There are also those nights when something heavy sits on your heart — when sleep won’t come because your mind keeps turning, replaying thoughts, ideas, or worries. I know I’ve had nights like that — times when I couldn’t quiet my mind because I was thinking about a project, a decision, or something that weighed deeply on me.

That’s the kind of image that comes to mind when I hear the words from Luke’s Gospel: “Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.” Imagine that — Jesus, the Son of God, choosing to spend the whole night in prayer. What must that have felt like? The stillness of the mountain, the quiet of the night, the stars overhead, and the deep conversation between Father and Son. For most of us, the thought of praying all night might feel exhausting or even intimidating. But for Jesus, it was a night of love, communion, and discernment.

When someone prays through the night, it usually means something important is stirring in the heart. There’s an urgency — not of panic, but of purpose. Jesus knew that the next day He would call His apostles, those who would carry His mission to the ends of the earth. Before that great decision, He didn’t rely on logic, emotions, or opinions. He relied on prayer. That night was not about asking for things, but about listening — aligning His heart with the will of His Father.

In our own lives, we face our own “nights on the mountain” — moments when decisions weigh heavily or when we simply need to hear God’s voice in the quiet. Those are the nights we’re called to stay with God, even if words fail us. Prayer, in those times, isn’t about getting quick answers; it’s about deep presence.

Ephesians 2:19–22 reminds us that the Church itself is built upon that kind of prayerful foundation — the apostles chosen after that night of communion between Jesus and the Father. The Church, and each of us as part of it, stands as a living reminder that great things begin in prayer.

So when we find ourselves restless or awake in the night, maybe that’s not just sleeplessness — maybe it’s an invitation. An invitation to sit with God, to bring Him our worries, hopes, and plans. Because when we stay with Him through the night, something happens — hearts align, strength is renewed, and the dawn brings clarity.