October 28 2022 - Sts. Simon and Jude - Political Zealots and Impossible Causes

 Much like our own day, in the time of the Lord’s public ministry, there were many different political parties and attitudes in the kingdom of Israel in the time of our Lord.  One of the groups was known as the Zealots.  Today, if someone called you a zealot it would mean that you had great passion for some subject or issue.  Well, the Zealots of the 1st century were passionate about their national and religious identity, and they wanted to overthrow the Roman government of their nation. The Zealots saw the Romans as this idolatrous, immoral, and oppressive occupying force that had no business in Israel, as God had given this land to the Jewish people, not to the Romans. 

Today, we celebrate two of the apostles, one of whom, Apostle Simon, was a member of the zealots. 

Peter, James, Andrew and John, abandoned their fishermen’s nets in order to follow the Lord. Matthew abandoned his lucrative career as a tax collector. And Simon gave up his political affiliations. Perhaps, Simon initially thought that Jesus was the Military-Messiah he and the rest of the zealots were hoping for. That Jesus would lead the Israel in a military uprising that would successfully overthrow its enemies once and for all. 

No doubt, very early on, it became clear to Simon, that Jesus had not come for this purpose—his kingdom is not of this world. He had not come to establish an earthly kingdom, but a spiritual one. And Simon, recognizing the superiority of the Christian Gospel--allowed Christ to change his life.

We do not know much more about the Apostle Simon, and we know even less about the apostle Jude, who shares a feast day with him. It is unclear if he Jude is the author of the New Testament Letter of Jude. 

Simon and Jude are celebrated together, perhaps due to the historical tradition that they preached the Gospel together in what is modern day Armenia and were martyred together. 

St. Jude is celebrated as the patron saint of impossible causes. Even this tradition has mysterious origins. It could be perhaps that even though Jude was martyred in Armenia, the Armenians did not initially convert to Christianity. Their conversion was thought by the Church to be impossible.  It took 250 years after the death of the apostles. But it did eventually happen: the impossible cause was granted through the intercession of the Apostle Jude.

So, if there is a real tough nut, a family member whose heart appears completely hardened to the faith, bring that family member daily to Saint Jude. Or, you may know someone who is zealous about politics but couldn’t care less about religion. They have passion and fire and anger. Those sentiments can be converted, they have been many times. So bring that family member daily in prayer to Saint Simon. St. Simon, your political zealotry was converted to zealous faith in Christ, convert my family member. 

These men were instrumental in the Gospel being spread to all corners of the world, and that mission continues, into the hearts of those hardened to the Gospel, those who hearts are a little misguided by attachment to worldliness and politics. Simon and Jude, pray for us, that the Gospel may be received in every place, in every heart, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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May Simon and Jude obtain courage for all bishops and priests to preach the fullness of the truth and teach authentic Christian doctrine.

May the holy apostles help all Christians to be strengthened in the faith, hope, and charity.

For the conversion of unbelievers, for Catholics who have fallen away from the faith; for the salvation of all men. 

On this special day of prayer and fasting for priests, that priests may be sustained in their labors by the example and intercession of the holy apostles.

That the sick, suffering, overburdened, and destitute, may know the help of the Lord who made heaven and earth.

For all who long to see the face of the Father, for all our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

May 22 2019 - St. Rita of Cascia - Remaining faithful throughout hardship

Jesus in the Gospel says, those who remain in me will bear much fruit. St. Rita, remained in Christ throughout her difficult marriage and the austerity of religious life.

St. Rita is a truly remarkable figure in the history of the church and the history of the saints. She was born in Umbria in 1381. From an early age she wanted to become a nun, a religious dedicated entirely to God. But her parents had other plans for her. They wanted her to marry, and so she did; she obeyed her parents’ insistence and married at a young age. But her husband turned out to be cruel and harsh and the marriage was very difficult, Rita’s only consolation during these years was God; she united herself often, in prayer, to Christ’s sorrowful passion.

After 18 years of a difficult, abusive marriage, her husband, got himself killed in a brawl. When her two sons vowed to avenge their father's murder, she feared for their souls. She tried to persuade them to let go of their anger, but to no avail, they began to plot a murder.

So she prayed, and she petitioned God to prevent her sons from sinning and losing their souls, even if it meant that they lost their earthly life. And it so happened that the sons developed fatal cases of dysentery; however, before they died, they were reconciled to God, repentant of their hatred.

Free from earthly ties, St. Rita entered the Augustinian nuns in the nearby town of Cascia. She became renowned for her austerity, devotion, prayer, and charity; and for her patience in long-standing illness, she received visions from heaven and the stigmata—a wound resembling the crown of thorns on her forehead, which she bore until her death, which occurred on May 22, 1457.

“Those who remain in me will bear much fruit”. St. Rita remained faithful when the world told her to be unfaithful. And because of her faithfulness, because she remained in Christ, she won the grace of repentance for her sons, she progressed in holiness, which blossomed into deep mystical union with Christ.

Jesus too says, the prayers of those who remain in him will be heard and granted. St. Rita’s prayers were likely so effective throughout her life because of her holiness and perseverance. She has been invoked as one of the patron saints of impossible causes for many centuries because her prayerful intercession in heaven continues to be greatly effective.

May we take her example of faithful long-suffering to heart, may we persevere in our own prayers for the conversion of fallen away family, friends, and neighbors, in our own life, and benefit, too, from Rita’s heavenly intercession, especially in those most impossible of cases, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Christians may grow in grace by uniting their sufferings to the Sufferings of Christ and know God’s presence with them in their sufferings.
For all those in difficult or abusive marriages, that the Lord will protect victims of abuse and bring healing and reconciliation where it is possible.
That all young people may come to value discipleship of Jesus Christ above all earthly pursuits, be preserved from sin, and grow in grace and holiness.
For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, and for a strengthening of all vocations of service.
For all those impossible cases which only the grace of God can remedy.
For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for all of the pour souls in purgatory, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.