Sacred Calendar
The Roman year ordered for memory, penance, feasts, saints, and the daily pilgrimage of the faithful.
Calendar standard
Pre-1955 Roman usage
The calendar follows the universal Roman year under the rubrics of Pope St. Pius X, with the Roman Martyrology preserved as a distinct daily witness.
The day is presented for prayer, recollection, study, and perseverance in the City.
Daily observance
Today in the City of God
The Church keeps this day in holy time. The Pilgrim's Companion gathers the feast, daily quote, Martyrology, meditation, prayer, and related chapters into one daily path through the City.
Choose a date
Daily observance
Ss. Simon and Jude, Apostles
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Season: Time after Pentecost
The day is set within the Roman year so its feast, Martyrology, daily quote, prayer, and reading path may be received together without blurring their proper sources.
Today's pilgrimage
Ss. Simon and Jude, Apostles
Rank: Double of the Second Class
Color: red
Quote for the day
St. Jude
“Earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.”
Jude 1:3, Douay-Rheims
Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology - October 28
The birthday of the blessed apostles Simon the Cananean, and Thaddeus, who is called Jude. Simon preached the Gospel in Egypt, Thaddeus in Mesopotamia. Afterwards, entering Persia together, they converted to Christ a numberless multitude of the inhabitants, and then underwent martyrdom. — At Rome, in the reign of Claudius, St. Cyrilla, virgin, daughter of St. Tryphonia, who was pierced through the throat for the faith of Christ. — In the same city, the holy martyrs Anastasia the Elder, virgin, and Cyril. In the persecution of Valerian, under the prefect Probus, Anastasia was bound with chains, buffeted, subjected to fire and scourging, and, as she remained immovable in the confession of Christ, her breasts were cut off, her nails plucked out, her teeth broken, and her hands, feet and head severed from her body. Bedecked with her sufferings as with so many jewels, she went to her spouse. At her request, Cyril gave her some water to drink, and for his reward became a martyr. — At Como, St. Fidelis, martyr, under the emperor Maximian. — At Mayence, St. Ferrutius, martyr. — At Meaux, SL Faro, bishop and confessor. — At Naples, St. Gaudiosus, an African bishop, who came to Campania because of the persecution of the Vandals, and closed peacefully his holy career in a monastery near that city. — At Vercelli, St. Honoratus, bishop. I
Highlighted saint
Ss. Simon and Jude
Apostles of perseverance when help seems hidden.
Ss. Simon and Jude are honored among the apostles sent by Christ to preach the Gospel.
Their feast teaches the faithful to remain with apostolic doctrine even when the Church's life seems obscure, difficult, or opposed.
Virtue to practice
Apostolic perseverance under contradiction.
Error to resist
The desire to be loved by the world on terms that betray Christ.
For the pilgrim in exile
Let these apostles make you steady. Fidelity may cost approval, but it need not make the soul bitter.
Imitate today
- Persevere when consolation is lacking.
- Call on apostolic intercession in difficulty.
- Keep the faith received from Christ's witnesses.
Sources
- Luke 6:13-16; Jude 1:3, Douay-Rheims.
- Roman Martyrology, 1916 Baltimore edition, October 28.
From Matins
Contend for the faith once delivered.
Matins - Second Nocturn - Ss. Simon and Jude, Apostles
Roman Breviary, Proper lessons for Ss. Simon and Jude
“The faith which was once delivered unto the Saints.”
Doctrine taught
- The Breviary remembers St. Simon preaching in Egypt and St. Jude in Mesopotamia before their united apostolic witness in Persia.
- The feast sets before the Church St. Jude's warning against corrupt teachers and his exhortation to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.
- Their martyrdom teaches that apostolic charity is missionary, doctrinal, and public: they glorified the name of Jesus Christ by preaching, miracles, and blood.
For the pilgrim in exile
Let the apostles make fidelity firm without making charity harsh. Contend for the received Faith because souls are loved and because Christ's name must not be surrendered.
Sources
- The Roman Breviary, translated by John, Marquess of Bute, 1908, vol. IV, Autumn, Second Nocturn for Ss. Simon and Jude, lessons iv-vi.
- Bute 1908 is used here as an accessible pre-Pius X Breviary witness and is cited distinctly from the 1936-1937 Benziger / Burns Oates edition.
Breviary Witness
Chosen out of the world for apostolic witness.
Matins - Ss. Simon and Jude
Breviary witness
- The Breviary honors Ss. Simon and Jude among the apostolic witnesses sent by Christ to preach the Gospel.
- Their feast teaches perseverance when apostolic fidelity brings contradiction from the world.
For the pilgrim in exile
Do not purchase peace by softening Christ's claims. The apostles teach charity that remains faithful when the world withholds approval.
Sources
- Roman Breviary, Matins lessons for October 28, Ss. Simon and Jude.
- John 15:17-25, Douay-Rheims.
Gospel of the day
I have chosen you out of the world.
Ss. Simon and Jude, Apostles - John 15:17-25
“If the world hate you, know ye, that it hath hated me before you.”
What Our Lord teaches
- The apostles are chosen out of the world and must not expect the world's approval.
- Hatred of Christ continues in hatred of His faithful witnesses.
Virtue to practice
Remain charitable when fidelity costs approval.
Error to resist
The desire to be loved by the world on terms that betray Christ.
For the pilgrim in exile
Let the apostles make you steady. You need not become hard because the world is hard; you need only remain faithful.
Sources
- John 15:17-25, Douay-Rheims.
- Traditional Roman Gospel for apostles.
Meditation
Apostolic Fidelity
Today the Church turns the pilgrim toward apostolic order: the faith received, guarded, preached, and suffered for. In exile this is not an abstraction. The faithful must love the visible form Christ gave His Church without confusing office, truth, and fidelity.
Related paths
Walk the day through the City.
Today's chapters
Read with the feast.
Prayer
The day should become prayer.
O Lord, place this day beneath Thy Providence. Keep my mind in truth, my heart in charity, and my work in obedience until evening.
Thought for the pilgrim
The faithful soul receives the day before it spends it.
Practice
The day should become obedience.
Make one deliberate act of recollection before beginning ordinary labor.
Source notes
Universal Roman Calendar under the rubrics of Pope St. Pius X
Fasting and abstinence according to the laws observed in 1952
Daily quotations and pilgrimage excerpts should come from Scripture, Fathers, Doctors, saints, traditional popes before 1958, traditional catechisms, approved devotional works, or received liturgical texts.
The Roman Martyrology, Baltimore, 1916, published by John Murphy Company; the local 1916 text is displayed and traceable to its source lines.
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, Liturgical Calendar, pp. xvii–xxviii.