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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.

Daily observance

Ss. Simon and Jude, Apostles

Thursday, October 28, 2027

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

The pilgrim's devotional rhythm

Keeping the month and the weekday in prayer

This chosen devotional rhythm does not change the feast, rank, or obligations shown above. It gives the passing days a steady intention, helping the pilgrim honor God, intercede for souls, and carry one Catholic practice into the day. It is a household aid to devotion, not another law of the Roman Calendar.

October intention

The Most Holy Rosary

The Rosary places the mysteries of Jesus Christ before the soul in the company of His Mother. Pray it as a school of faith and contemplation, not as hurried words.

Intention

For the defense of the Catholic Faith, peace in Christian homes, the conversion of sinners, and perseverance in mental prayer.

A faithful act

Pray five decades with attention, pausing briefly to place yourself within each mystery before beginning it.

Prayer

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, keep the mysteries of thy Divine Son living in our minds and fruitful in our conduct.

Thursday remembrance

The Most Blessed Sacrament

Thursday recalls the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the priesthood at the Last Supper. Adore Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and pray for priests, through whose consecrated ministry the Holy Sacrifice is offered.

Intention

For holy priests, worthy Communions, vocations, and reparation for neglect and sacrilege toward the Blessed Sacrament.

A faithful act

Make a visit or spiritual Communion and pray especially for priests by name.

Prayer

Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, increase our faith, receive our reparation, and sanctify Thy priests.

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

Read and verify the full entry

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 they met in Persia, preached Christ there together, and died for the Faith.
  • 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.

Full Breviary lessons

Fourth Lesson - Apostolic Mission and Martyrdom

Simon the Canaanite, called also Zelotes, went through Egypt preaching the Gospel, while the same was done in Mesopotamia by Thaddaeus, called also in the Gospel Judas the brother of James, and the writer of one of the Catholic Epistles. They met together afterwards in Persia, where they begat countless children in Jesus Christ, spread the faith far and wide in those lands, amid raging heathens, and glorified together by their teaching and miracles, and, in the end, by a glorious martyrdom, the most holy name of Jesus Christ.

Fifth Lesson - The Apostles Strengthened by the Holy Ghost

So much power then as have preachers, so much garniture have the heavens. Wherefore again it is written: "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made." For the Word of the Lord is the Son of the Father. But, to the end that all the Holy Trinity may be made manifest as the Maker of the heavens, that is, of the Apostles, it is straightway added touching God the Holy Ghost: "and all the host of them by the Breath of His mouth." Therefore the might of the same heavens is the might of the Spirit, for they had not braved the powers of this world, unless the strength of the Holy Ghost had comforted them. For we know what manner of men the Teachers of the Holy Church were before the coming of this Spirit: and since He came we see in Whose strength they are made strong.

Sixth Lesson - Obedience to God above Men

Verily, if we ask of the damsel that kept the door, she will tell us what was the measure of weakness and of strength in that Shepherd of the Church nigh to whose most holy body we are now sitting, before that the Spirit came. He was so stricken by the words of one woman, that for fear of death, he denied Life. And we may well remember that Peter denied in captivity Him, Whom the thief confessed, even when He was lifted up upon the Cross. But let us hear what that craven was after that the Spirit came. When the rulers and elders were gathered together, the Apostles were beaten, and commanded not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. And Peter answered with great boldness, "We ought to obey God rather than men."

Study apostolicity

Sources

  • The Roman Breviary, translated by John, Marquess of Bute, 1908, vol. IV, Autumn, Second Nocturn for Ss. Simon and Jude, lessons iv-vi, printed pp. 695-697.
  • Lessons v-vi are supplied from the Common of Apostles, printed pp. 352-353, exactly as directed by the proper office on p. 696.
  • 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 by Christ to preach His Gospel even when the world resists it.

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

  • The Roman Breviary, translated by John, Marquess of Bute, 1908, vol. IV, Autumn, Matins for Ss. Simon and Jude, printed pp. 695-697.
  • 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

The Faith Once Delivered

Ss. Simon and Jude belonged to the apostolic company from which the Church received doctrine, authority, sacraments, and mission. We honor them badly if we praise their courage while treating their Faith as material for revision. Hold fast one Catholic truth that the age finds difficult, and ask for the charity to hand it on unchanged.

Prayer

The day should become prayer.

O Lord, strengthen the little duties of this day with Thy grace, that nothing entrusted to me may be wasted through negligence or vanity.

Thought for the pilgrim

Grace is guarded by ordinary fidelity.

Practice

The day should become obedience.

Fulfill your ordinary duties promptly and offer them for the glory of God.

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 ordinarily come from eligible Catholic sources issued no later than December 31, 1954: Scripture, Fathers, Doctors, saints, Roman Pontiffs, traditional catechisms, approved devotional works, and received liturgical texts. Legitimate additions promulgated under Pope Pius XII may be retained when identified precisely; this does not adopt the reformed Holy Week or later rubrical changes.

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.
  • St. Andrew Daily Missal, Dom Gaspar Lefebvre, O.S.B., 1953 edition; proper Mass or devotion named in this entry.
  • Pope Leo XIII, Supremi Apostolatus Officio, September 1, 1883.
  • 1 Corinthians 11:23-29, Douay-Rheims.
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