St. Jude Thaddeus and St. Simon, two of the least known Apostles, were paradoxically among the closest to their Master. They were the cousins (“brothers”) of Jesus. Tradition is quite clear about this concerning Jude Thaddeus. Scripture says that his father, Alpheus, was the brother of St. Joseph, while his mother, Mary Cleophas, was a cousin of the Virgin Mary (cf. Mt. 13:55; Mk. 6:3). As for St. Simon, tradition is less clear. The Gospel names St. Simon as the tenth Apostle. Many identify him as the homonymous cousin of Christ, brother of St. James the Less. The Byzantines identify him with Nathanael of Cana, who was present at the wedding feast of Cana.

Both Apostles struggled with mistaken identities. Simon shares his name with Simon Peter, while Jude’s name—often rendered as “Judas”—is easily confused with Judas Iscariot, the betrayer.

St. Fortunatus of Poitiers states that Simon and Jude Thaddeus were buried in Suanir, Persia, where they suffered martyrdom. It was in this region that Simon the Zealot crossed paths with Jude Thaddeus. They became companions in mission until their final breath.

Jude, the faithful disciple (ca. 10 AD – ca. 65 AD) — When the Eleven dispersed from Jerusalem to proclaim the Kingdom of God, Jude Thaddeus preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Libya. According to Eusebius, Jude Thaddeus returned to Jerusalem in the year 62 and assisted in the election of St. Simeon as Bishop of Jerusalem. In Persia, Jude Thaddeus met Simon, and their missionary partnership converted thousands of Babylonians and people from neighboring cities to Christ.

But they also made enemies. Arrested and taken to the Temple of the Sun in Armenia, they were ordered to worship the goddess Diana and deny Christ. Jude Thaddeus denounced the pagan idols as false. Two demons then attacked them. The people brutally killed Jude Thaddeus and Simon—Jude was beaten to death with a club and then beheaded. His relics are kept in the Basilica of St. Peter, at Rheims, and in Toulouse, France.

St. Jude was the one who asked Jesus at the Last Supper why He would not manifest Himself to the whole world but only to the Apostles. Little else is known of his life, but legend claims that he visited Beirut and Edessa. St. Jude Thaddeus is the author of the Letter to the Churches of the East, addressed particularly to Jewish converts and directed against the heresies of the Simonians, Nicolaites, and Gnostics. He is the patron of desperate situations, impossible causes, and lost causes—invoked especially in times of great need because his letter emphasizes perseverance amid hardship and faith in adversity.

Nearly every image of St. Jude depicts him wearing a medallion with a profile of Jesus, known as “the Image of Edessa.” Legend says that he presented the image to the King of Edessa, who was stricken with leprosy. The image brought about the “impossible case” of healing the king. St. Jude is also shown with a small flame above his head, symbolizing his presence at Pentecost, and often carries a pen. The names of Sts. Simon and Jude occur together in the Canon of the Mass.

St. Simon the Zealot — Little is known about Simon’s life after Pentecost. In the New Testament, Simon is called the Zealot (“Zelotes,” Lk. 6:15; Acts 1:13). In Matthew and Mark, he is referred to as “Kananites,” or Zealot. However, Sts. Jerome and Bede suggested that “Kananites” means “Canaanean” or “Canaanite,” implying that Simon was from the town of Cana in Galilee. Others believe he belonged to the nationalist group called the Zealots, who advocated independence from Rome, while still others interpret “zealot” in a religious sense—meaning Simon was zealous in keeping the law of Moses.

One tradition holds that Simon is Simeon of Jerusalem, the second bishop of Jerusalem (62–107 AD), succeeding James the Just, the first bishop. He is believed to have preached in Egypt and later joined St. Jude in Persia, Armenia, or Beirut (modern-day Lebanon), where both were martyred around 65 AD. St. Simon the Zealot was martyred by being sawn in half—a tool he is often depicted holding. However, St. Basil the Great (4th century) wrote that Simon died peacefully in Edessa.

Prayer
O God, through the blessed Apostles, you have brought us to acknowledge your name. Graciously grant, through the intercession of Saints Simon and Jude, that the Church may continually grow by the increase of those who believe in you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.