A meditation on the Feast of the Holy Apostles Simon and Jude, from Dom Guéranger’s The Liturgical Year.
The Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles, celebrated on October 28, commemorates two devoted followers of Christ who labored together in the early spread of the Christian faith. Saint Simon, known as the Zealot, and Saint Jude, also called Thaddeus and regarded as the author of the Epistle of Jude, were among the twelve chosen by Jesus to be His closest disciples. After Pentecost, tradition holds that they traveled far beyond the Holy Land—possibly to Mesopotamia, Syria, and Persia—preaching the Gospel and strengthening the fledgling Christian communities. Both apostles are believed to have suffered martyrdom for their faith, bearing witness to Christ with courage and perseverance. Their joint feast highlights the bond of brotherhood in apostolic mission and honors their steadfast commitment to bringing the message of salvation to the ends of the earth.
Dom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contemplative spirit, aims to immerse the faithful in the Church’s prayerful life, emphasizing the unity of faith through the axiom lex orandi, lex credendi ("the law of prayer is the law of belief"), and remains a cherished resource for Catholics seeking to deepen their spiritual lives.
Dom Prosper Guéranger (1805–1875) was a French Benedictine monk, liturgical scholar, and founder of the Solesmes Abbey, renowned for his pivotal role in reviving the Benedictine Order in France and restoring the Roman liturgy after the disruptions of the French Revolution. Born in Sablé-sur-Sarthe, he entered the priesthood in 1827 and, inspired by a vision to restore monastic life, reestablished the Benedictine community at Solesmes in 1833, becoming its first abbot. A staunch defender of ultramontanism and traditional Catholic worship, he also championed the revival of Gregorian chant, significantly influencing the liturgical renewal movement.
Please note: The entries of the Liturgical Year are primarily authored by Dom Prosper Guéranger, but occasionally contain editors’ additions of subsequent information and events that are relevant to the given feast.