Cristy Li

(Franciscan Media) Today Christians celebrate the ‘Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple’ occurring 40 days subsequent to the Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ  — This day is also known as ‘Candlemas’ which Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI celebrated in 2013 marking the ‘World Day for Consecrated Life’ thousands attended the Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.

We process in with lit blessed candles, writes EWTN and the light of our blessed candles, symbolizes Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world–It symbolizes the Infant Savior, entering into the temple with Mary and Joseph–God our Father who is the source of all light, revealed to Simeon the light of revelation to the nations. It symbolizes also, that we are to always bring that light of Christ we received at our own baptism to those who live in darkness.

Coinciding with this Feast, it is also a special day of all consecrated Women and Men throughout the world. Of course, all baptized persons are truly consecrated to God, the moment we were baptized, we were consecrated to God, becoming separated from the world, yet being in the world especially to fulfill the mission God gave to us but this day is particularly highlighting those who consecrate themselves more radically through their profession of the evangelical counsels–like out dearest Sisters here and others who profess the vows of purity, chastity and obedience as their permanent state of life.

There are indeed many forms of consecrated life that exist today within the Church, as the Catechism (starting with paragraphs 914 — stating at 917) its ‘One great tree with many branches.’ Our dearest Sisters (mentioned earlier) are living one of the many forms of consecrated life, that is the form of ‘religious life’ — specifically, religious life who has the privilege of ‘Solemn Vows and Papal Enclosure’ this is just one form within the main branch of religious life within the bigger branch of consecrated life.

At the end of the 4th Century, a Woman named Etheria made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, her journal discovered in 1887 provides an unprecedented glimpse of liturgical life there. Among the celebrations she describes is the ‘Epiphany’ the observance of the Birth of Jesus Christ and the gala procession in honor of His ‘Presentation in the Temple’ 40 days later–This Feast emphasizes Jesus’ first appearance in the Temple.

At the beginning of the 8th Century, Pope Sergius inaugurated a candlelight procession and at the end of the same century, the blessing and distribution of candles which continues to this day, became part of the celebration.

Related: Feast of Presentation of the Lord (Most Holy Scripture Readings) Visit:  -USCCB

Saint Timothy &  Saint Titus
Image Courtesy: Hilltop Farm

(CNA) Today the Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of Saint’s Timothy and Titus, close companions of the Apostle Paul and Bishops of the Catholic Church in its earliest days. Both men received letters from Saint Paul which are included in the New Testament.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI spoke of these early Bishops during his general audience on the 16 December, 2006 noting, “their readiness to take on various offices” in far from “easy” circumstances. Both Saint’s “teach us to serve the Gospel with generosity realizing that this also entails a service to the Church herself.”

The Son of a Jewish mother and a non-Jewish father, Timothy from Lystra (today known as Turkey) his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois are known to have joined the Church and Timothy himself is described as a student of Sacred Scripture from his youth.

Following Paul’s visit to Timothy’s home around the year 51 the young man joined the apostle and accompanied him in his travels. After religious strife forced Paul to leave the City of Berea, Timothy remained to help the local Church. Paul later sent him to Thessalonica to help the Church during a period of persecution.

Paul and Timothy met up again in Corinth  —1 Thessalonians 3:6 and Timothy eventually journey to Macedonia on Paul’s behalf. Problems in the Corinthian Church brought Timothy back for a time after which he joined Paul and accompanied the apostle in subsequent travels.

Like Paul, Timothy endured a period of imprisonment in the course of his missionary work Hebrews 10:30-36  “For we know Him who said ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God but recall the former days when you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and affliction and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on the prisoners and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised.”

Hebrews 13:16-21 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you sooner.

Benediction: Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in you, that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Around the year, Timothy became the first Bishop of the Church of Ephesus. During that same year he received the first of two surviving letters from Saint Paul, the second written the next year, urges Timothy to visit St. Paul in Rome where he was imprisoned before his martyrdom.

Ancient sources state that Saint Timothy followed his mentor in dying as a martyr for the faith. In the year of 93 during his leadership of the Church of Ephesus, he took a stand against the worship of idols and was consequently killed by a mob.

In contrast, to Timothy’s Jewish heritage and student of the Sacred Scriptures from his youth, Saint Titus was born into a pagan family, studying Greek, philosophy and poetry during his early years but he pursued a life of virtue and purportedly had a prophetic dream that caused him to begin reading the Hebrew Scriptures.

According to tradition, Titus journeyed to Jerusalem and witnessed the preaching of Jesus, during the Lord’s ministry on earth. Only later however, after the conversion of Saint Paul and the beginning of his ministry, did Titus receive baptism from the apostle who called the pagan to convert his ‘true child in our common faith.’ —Titus 1:4

Saint Paul was not only Titus’ spiritual father but depended on his convert as an assistant and interpreter. Titus accompanied Paul to the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem during the year 51 and was later sent to the Corinthian Church on two occasions. After the end of Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, the apostle ordained Titus as the Bishop of Crete.

Paul sent his only surviving letter to Titus around the year 64 giving instructions in pastoral ministry to his disciple as he prepared to meet up with him in the Greek City of Nicopolis. Titus evangelized the region of Dalmatia (modern day Croatia) before returning to Crete.

Saint Titus is credited with leading the Church of Crete well into his 90s, overturning paganism and promoting the faith through his prayers and ministry. Unlike Saint Timothy, Saint Titus was not martyred but died peacefully in old age.

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Timothy & St. Titus, Visit: -USCCB

Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Image Courtesy: Catholic Online

(Franciscan Media) Francis was raised in a very religious home with great devotion to St. Francis of Assisi according to Catholic News Agency when he came of age, his father believed that Francis was destined to be an Atty so that the young man could one day take his place as a Senator in France, Savoy province and for this reason, Francis was sent to Padua to study law, excelling in his studies in philosophy and other subjects, arousing his most fervent enthusiasm in theology and the Scriptures of the Bible.

In his youth, Francis was obedient, truthful and habitually generous to those less fortunate than himself, he loved books and knowledge. At the age of 8 he was sent to a nearby college of Annecy and there in the Church of St. Dominic he made his first Communion and received Confirmation–Francis’  heart became more-and-more fixed on devoting his life to God and he took a vow of perpetual chastity according to EWTN placing himself under the special protection of the ‘Blessed Virgin Mary’ he was, never the less not free from trials. The love of God always meant more to him than anything else.

After Francis receiving his Doctorate in Law he returned home, his father’s plans for his life were not his plans.

Francis subsequently informed his parents that he wished to enter the Priesthood which his father strongly opposed, only after much persuasiveness on the part of a gentle Francis did his father finally consent.

The Catholic Bishop of Geneva Claude de Granier was living at Annecy, his own diocese now being in Calvinist hands, found Francis a position in the Swiss Church. Francis already so prepared by his purity of life and theological studies that there was no reason for the usual delay, that 6 months after Francis’ father gave his consent at the age of 26 he was Ordained a Priest and took on the difficult task of bringing Swiss Calvinists back to the Church said Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in 2011

The Bishop so impressed by Francis’ character is reported to have made this prophetic utterance about him:

“This young man will be a great personage some day, he will become a pillar of the Church and and my successor in this See.”

Francis ministered lovingly to the poor and in the confessional devoted himself to the needs of the humblest with special care–his style of teaching was so simple that it charmed his hearers, scholar though he was, he refrained from filling his sermons with Greek and Latin quotations and theological subtitles which was the prevailing fashion.

Very tender in his ministry and with those who had fallen away from Christianity later returning, Francis greeted them warmly saying:

“Come my dear children come, let me put my arms around you. Ah, let me hide you in the bottom of my heart, God and I will help you, all I ask of you is not to despair. I will take on myself the rest of the burden.”

Francis’ affectionate care of them extended even to their physical needs and his purse was open to them as well as his heart. When told that his generosity would only encourage some to take advantage of him he replied:

“Has not our Blessed Lord shed His blood for them and I shall refuse them with my tears? These wolves will be changed into lambs, a day will come when, cleansed of their sins, they will be more precious in the sight of God than we are. If Saul had been cast off, we should never have had St. Paul.”

Following the death of the Bishop de Granier in the Autumn of 1602 Francis succeeded him just as the late Bishop earlier expected. Taking up residence at Annecy, living in a style appropriate to the office but with a household conducted on line of strict frugality, Francis’ personal life was one of evangelical poverty.

Francis conducted his episcopal duties with devotion, along with his administrative work, continued to minister and serve in the confessional–Francis, instituted the teaching of Catechism throughout his diocese and at the Annecy gave the instruction himself with such fervor that years after his death the ‘Bishop of Catechisms’ were still remembered–Children loved Francis and followed him about eager for his blessing.

Through an immense correspondence, Francis brought encouragement and guidance to innumerable persons. Francis helped Jeanne Francoise Fremyot who would become Saint Jane Frances de Chantal establish the ‘Order of the Visitation’ to meet the needs of widows and lonely women in poor health ‘strong souls with weak bodies’ who were deterred from joining other orders because of the physical condition.

Francis passed away in December 1622 following a paralytic seizure at the age of 56 in his ‘Treatise on the Love of God’ he had written: “The measure of love is to love without measure,” a precept which he had consistently taught and lived.

Beatified by Pope Alexander VII in 1661 he was subsequently canonized by him 4 years later and proclaimed the ‘Doctor of the Church’ during the pontificate of Pope Pius  IX in 1877

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings, Visit: -USCCB

St. Gregory of Nyssa (330-395)
Image: 1 Timothy 3:15@Twitter

(Franciscan Media) The son of two Saints, Basil the Elder and Emilia of Caesarea young Gregory was raised by his older brother St. Basil the Great and sister, Marcinia in modern day Turkey.

Gregory’s success in his studies, suggested that great things were ahead for him. After becoming a professor of rhetoric, he was persuaded to devote his learning and efforts to the church.

By then married, Gregory went on to study for the Priesthood and become Ordained–that was at a time when celibacy was not a matter of law for priests.

Gregory was elected Bishop of Nyssa in 372, a period of great tension over the Arianism heresy , which denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ. Arrested after being falsely accused of embezzling Church funds, Gregory was restored to his See in 378, an act met with great joy.

It was after the death of Fr. Gregory’s beloved brother Basil, that Gregory really came into his own. Gregory wrote with great effectiveness against Arianism and other questionable doctrines, gaining a reputation as a defender of orthodoxy.

Gregory was subsequently sent on missions to counter other heresies and held a position of prominence at the ‘Council of Constantinople’ his fine reputation stayed with him for the rest of his life but over the centuries it gradually declined as the authorship of his writings became less-and-less certain but thanks to the work of scholars in the 20th century, his stature is once again appreciated.

Indeed, St. Gregory of Nyssa is seen not simply as a pillar of orthodoxy but as one of the great contributors to the mystical tradition in Christian spirituality and to monasticism itself.

More here on St. Gregory of Nyssa from EWTN

St. Angela of Foligno (1248-1309) Image Courtesy: Saints & Martyrs

(Franciscan Media) Some Saints show marks of holiness very early–Not Angela. Born of a leading family in Italy Foligno, she became immersed in the quest for wealth and social position and later as a wife and mother, she continued this life of distraction.

Around the age of 40, Angela recognized the emptiness of her life and sought God’s help in the ‘Sacrament of Penance’ her Franciscan Confessor helped her to seek God’s pardon for her previous life and to dedicate herself to prayer and the works of charity.

Shortly after Angela’s conversion, her husband and children died–selling most of her possessions, she subsequently entered the ‘Secular Franciscan Order’ and became absorbed in meditating on Jesus Christ and in serving the poor of Foligno as a nurse and beggar for their needs, other Women joined her in the religious community.

At Angela’s Confessor’s advice, she wrote her ‘Book of Visions and Instructions’ in it, she recalled some of the temptations she suffered after her conversion–she also expresses her thanks to God, for the incarnation of Jesus Christ. 

This book and her life earned Angela the title ‘Teacher of Theologians’ in 1693 she was Beatified and Canonized by Pope Francis on the 09 October, 2013

More here on Angela of Foligno — Vatican

St. Andre Bessette (1845-1937)
Image Courtesy: uCatholic

(Franciscan Media) St. Andre Bessette, expressed a Saint’s faith by a lifelong devotion to St. Joseph — Sickness and weakness dogged Andre from birth–he was the 8th of 12 children born to a French-Canadian couple near Montreal.

Andre adopted at 12 when both of his parents died, he became a farmhand and various trades followed: Shoemaker, Baker, Blacksmith–all failures. He would become a factory worker in the United States during the boom times of the Civil War.

At the age of 25 Andre applied for entrance into the ‘Congregation of the Holy Cross’ and after a year’s novitiate he wasn’t admitted because of his weak health but with an extension and urging of Bishop Bourget, he was finally received. Andre was given a humble job as the doorkeeper at Notre Dame College in Montreal, with additional duties as Sacristan, laundry worker and messenger.

In Andre’s little room near the door, he would spend much of the night on his knees. On his windowsill facing Mt. Royal, was a small statute of St. Joseph to whom he had been devoted to since childhood. When asked about it, Andre said, “Some day, St. Joseph is going to be honored in a very special way on Mt. Royal.”

Whenever Andre heard that someone was ill, he would visit to bring cheer and to pray with the sick person–Andre would rub the sick person lightly with oil taken from a lamp burning in the college chapel, word of healing powers began to spread.

When an epidemic broke out at a nearby college, Andre volunteered to nurse–not one person died. The trickle of sick people to his door became a flood–his superiors were uneasy, diocesan authorities were suspicious and doctors called him a quack, Andre would say again and again, “I do not cure, St. Joseph cures.” In the end, Andre needed 4 secretaries to handle some 80,000 letters he received each year.

For many years, the Holy Cross authorities had tried to purchase the land on Mt. Royal–Brother Andre and others would climb the steep hill and planted medals of St. Joseph, suddenly the owners yielded and Brother Andre collected two hundred dollars to build a small chapel and he began receiving visitors there–smiling through long hours of listening, applying St. Joseph’s oil and praying, some were cured, some were not. The pile of crutches, canes and leg braces grew.

The Chapel that Brother Andre built also grew and by 1931 there were gleaming walls but money ran out.

“Put a statue of St. Joseph in the middle if he wants a roof over his head, he’ll get it.”

The magnificent Oratory on Mt. Royal took 50 years to build. Brother Andre the sickly boy that couldn’t hold a job died at the age of 92 and was buried at the Oratory and in 1982 was beatified.

At Brother Andre’s canonization in October, 2010 Pope Benedict XVI said, that St. Andre “lived the beatitude of the pure of heart.”

More here from EWTN

Pope Saint Leo the Great (400-461)
Image: St. Paul Street Evangelization

(CNA) Born in Italy Tuscany into nobility, Pope Leo I was a strong student especially in Scripture and theology according to SQPN together with being an eloquent writer and minister. — Pope from 440 to 461 during the time of the invasion of Attila the Hun (406-453) he was met by Pope Leo I in 452 when approaching Rome and was dissuaded from attacking the city.

Pope Saint Leo I known as “St. Leo the Great, as the nickname soon attributed to him by tradition tradition suggests,” said Pope Benedict XVI in 2008 “he was truly one of the greatest Pontiff’s to have honored the Roman See and made a very important contribution to strengthening its authority and prestige.”

Little is known of Pope Leo I youthful days, he became a Deacon in Rome in approximately 430 during the Pontificate of Celestine I, which during this time, central authority was beginning to decline in the Western portion of the Roman Empire. At some point between 432 and 440 during the reign of Pope Celestine I successor Pope Sixtus III, the Roman Emperor Valentinian III commissioned Leo to travel to the region of Gaul (modern day France, Belgium and the Netherlands) and settle a dispute between military and civil authorities.

Pope St Sixtus III died in 440 and like his successor Pope St Celestine I Leo was away on a diplomatic mission at the time of Celestine I death and was chosen to be Bishop of Rome.

Pope Leo the Great, reigned for over two decades, he sought to preserve the unity of the Church in its profession of faith and to ensure the safety of citizens against frequent barbarian invasions. — Pope Leo would use his authority in both doctrinal and disciplinary matters against a number of heresies troubling the Western Church including Pelagianism (involving the denial of original sin) and Manichaeism (a Gnostic system that saw matter as evil) during this same period, many Eastern Christians began arguing about the relationship between Jesus’ humanity and His divinity.

As early as 445 Pope Leo had intervened in this dispute in the East, which had threatened to split the Churches of Alexandria and Constantinople–Its eventual resolution was in-fact rejected in some quarters, leading to a split between Eastern Orthodoxy and non-Chalcedonian Churches.

As the 5th century Christological controversy continued, Pope Leo urged the gathering of an Ecumenical Council to resolve the matter. At the Council of Chalcedon in 451 Pope Leo’s teaching was received as authoritative to the Eastern Bishops which proclaimed: “Peter has spoken through the mouth of Pope Leo.”

Pope Leo’s teaching confirmed that Christ’s eternal divine personhood and nature did not absorb or negate the human nature that He assumed in time through the Incarnation. Instead “the proper character of both natures was maintained and came together in a single person. So without leaving His Father’s glory behind, the Son of God, comes down from His heavenly throne and enters the depths of our world, Pope Leo taught. “Whilst remaining pre-existent, He begins to exist in time. The Lord of the universe veiled his measureless and took on a Servant’s form. The God who knew no suffering, did not despise becoming a suffering man and deathless as He is, to be subjected to the laws of death.”

One year after the Council of Chalcedon in 452 Pope Leo would lead a delegation which successfully negotiated with King Attila preventing the invasion of Rome. — When the Vandals leader Genseric occupied Rome in 455 Pope Leo, implored him to abstain from murder and destruction by fire, being satisfied only with pillage.

Pope Saint Leo the Great passed away on this date in 461 and was proclaimed a ‘Doctor of the Church’ in 1754 by Pope Benedict XIV

More here from Franciscan Media

St. Narcissus of Jerusalem (99-215)
Image: St. Paul Street Evangelization

(Franciscan Media) Life in second and third century Jerusalem couldn’t have been easy but St. Narcissus, managed to live well beyond 100 and some speculate he lived until 160

Details of Narcissus’ life are sketchy but there are many reports of his miracles. The miracle by which he is most remembered, was turning water into oil for use in the Church lamps on ‘Holy Saturday’ when the Deacons had forgotten to provide any.

We do know that Narcissus was already an old man when he became Bishop of Jerusalem according to SQPN during the late second century. Known for his holiness, there are some hints also that many people found him to be harsh and rigid in his efforts to impose Church discipline.

One of Narcissus’ many detractors accused him of a serious crime however none of the Christians in his diocese believed it, nevertheless he would use the occasion to retire from his role as Bishop and live in solitude and prayer–his disappearance was so sudden and convincing that many people believed that he died.

Several successors were appointed during Narcissus years in isolation. Finally, Narcissus appeared in Jerusalem and was persuaded to resume his duties as Bishop, by then he had reached an advanced age, so a younger Bishop was brought in to assist Bishop Narcissus until his death.

Blessed Chiara Luce Badano (1971-1990)
Image: St. Paul Street Evangelization

(CNA) Born in Italy Savona on this date in 1971, ‘The Congregation for the Causes of the Saints’ issued a decree in 2008 recognizing the heroic virtues of Chiara Luce Badano, who belonged to the Focolare Movement and died at just 18 yrs of age.

Chiara was the daughter of Ruggero Badano and Maria Teresa Caviglia, who waited 11 yrs to have a child.

“Amidst our great joy, we understood immediately that she was not only our daughter but also a daughter of God,” her mother Maria Teresa said, according to a biography published by Focolare. — Since childhood, Chiara showed a deep love for God and a strong but docile character, she was joyful, kind and very active.

At the 9 Chiara joined the Focolare Movement and in 1985 Chiara moved to Savona, to continue her education. According to her biographers, “Chiara had a difficult time despite her great efforts, she was held back one year and this made her suffer greatly.”

Chiara had made many friends, loved sports, especially tennis, swimming and hiking, together with singing and dancing, she dreamed of one day becoming a flight attendant however at the age of 16 she decided to pursue the consecrated life. — Chiara had a close relationship with the founder of Focolare Movement Chiara Lubich, who have her the name ‘Luce.’

Soon after this time, Chiara Luce was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in her shoulder, she would begin intensive chemotherapy while continuing on with her daily life with the same joy and faith. — This same joy and faith moved Chiara Luce even though she was ill, to donate all of her savings to a friend who was going to be a Missionary to Africa.

Despite the efforts by her doctors, Chiara Luce illness progressed rapidly and she lost the use of her legs in which she said to her family: “If I had to choose between walking or going to heaven, I’d choose heaven.”

In July 1989 Chiara Luce suffered a severe hemorrhage and her death appeared to be imminent, she told her parents: “Don’t cry for me, I’m going to see Jesus. At my funeral, I don’t want people to cry but rather to sing with all their voices.”

Chiara Luce would pray for the strength to do God’s will. “I don’t ask Jesus to come for me to bring me to heaven. I don’t want to give Him the impression that I don’t want to suffer anymore.”

Chiara Luce would ask her mother to help her prepare and plan her funeral, or as she would call it her “wedding feast.” Giving her mother Maria Teresa specific instructions about how she should be dressed, the music, the flowers, the hymns to be sung and the readings, she then asked her mother to repeat the words:

“Now Chiara, go to Jesus.”

Chiara Luce would breathe her last and went to be with her Savior Jesus Christ on the 07 October, 1990 surrounded by her parents, her friends had gathered just outside her door. Chiara’s final words were: “Ciao, be happy because I am.” — Some 2000 people would attend her funeral.

The cause for Chiara Luce Beatification was opened in 1999 by Bishop Livio Maritano, he said that his decision was based upon, “Chiara’s way of living, especially the extraordinary example she gave during the last stage of her life. — I had no doubt about promoting her cause,” he said.

Chiara Luce was Beatified in 2010 by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Related: Chiara Luce Badano, A Radiant Life

Pope Benedict and Vatican Prelates Remember Example of Blessed Chiara ‘Luce’ Badano -CNA

Saint Simon the Apostle and Saint Jude Thaddeus
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization

(Vatican) Today Christians honor two of the Twelve Apostles: Simon the Cananean and Jude Thaddeus (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Christ) — Let us look at them together says Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, not only because they are placed next to each other in lists of the Twelve according to:

Matthew 10:3-4  Mark 3:18  Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13 but also because there is very little information about them, apart from the fact, the New Testament Canon preserves one Letter attributed to St. Jude Thaddeus.

Simon was given a nickname that varies in the four lists: While Matthew and Mark describe him as a ‘Cananean’ Luke instead describes him as a Zealot. — In fact, the two descriptions are equivalent because they mean the same thing. In Hebrew, the verb ‘qana’ means to be jealous, ardent and may be said both of God, since He is jealous with regard to His chosen people. See: Exodus 20:5 and of men who burn with zeal in serving the one true God with unreserved devotion such as Elijah. See: 1st Kings 19:10

Therefore it is highly likely that even if this Simon was not exactly a member of the nationalist movement of ‘zealots’ he was at least marked by passionate attachment to his Jewish identity, hence for God, his people and (the) Divine Law.

If this was the case, Simon was worlds apart from Matthew who–had an activity behind him as a tax collector, that was frowned upon as entirely impure. This shows that Jesus called His disciples and collaborators without exception, from the most varied social and religious backgrounds. It was people who interested Him, not social classes or labels and the best thing is, that in the group of His followers, despite their differences, they all lived side-by-side, overcoming imaginable difficulties. Indeed what bound them together was Jesus Himself, in whom they all found themselves united with one another.

This is clearly a lesson for us (today) who are often inclined to accentuate differences and even contrasts, forgetting that in Jesus Christ, we are given the strength to get the better of our continual conflicts.

Lets us also bear in mind, that the group of Twelve is the prefiguration of the Church, where there must be room for all charisms, people and races, all human qualities that find their composition and unity in communion with Jesus.

Then with regard to Jude Thaddeus, this is what tradition has called him, combining two different names, in fact: Matthew and Mark call him simply ‘Thaddeus’ Matthew 10:3 and Mark 3:18 — Luke calls him ‘Judas son of James’ see: Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13

The nickname ‘Thaddeus’ is uncertain as explained either as originating from the Aramaic ‘tadda’ which means breast and would therefore suggest ‘magnanimous’ or as in an abbreviation of a Greek name such as ‘Teodoro’ as Teodoto.

Very little about Saint Jude has come down to us. John alone mentions a question that he addressed to Jesus at the Last Supper:

Thaddeus asks Jesus: “Lord how is it that You will reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?” See: John 14:22

This is a very timely question that we also address to the Lord: Why did not the Risen One reveal Himself to His enemies in His full glory in order to show that it is God who his victorious? Why did He only manifest Himself to His disciples?

Jesus’ answer is mysterious and profound. The Lord says: “Those who love Me will keep My word and My Father will love them and We will come to them and make Our home with them.” See: John 14:23

This means that the Risen One, must be seen, must be perceived also by the heart, in a way so that God may take up his abode within us. The Lord does not appear as a thing. He desires to enter our lives and therefore his manifestation is a manifestation that implies and presupposes an open heart. Only in this way do we see the Risen One.

Rest here from Pope Benedict XVI on St. Simon and St. Jude

Related: St. Simon the Apostle –EWTN