SS Simon and Jude Apostles

The feast of SS Simon and Jude, translated from yesterday, is a Double of the Second Class. The feast of these two apostles is kept on the anniversary of the transfer of their relics to Old St. Peter's in Rome in the seventh century. St. Simon is traditionally believed to have been martyred by a curved sword and St. Jude, also known as Thaddaeus, was martryed by a club. The two probably met, preaching the Gospel, in Mesopotamia.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the hymn Aeterna Christi munera. In the first nocturn the antiphons In omnem terram etc are sung with psalms 18, 33 & 44. The lessons are taken from the Incipit of St. Jude's Epistle. In the second nocturn the antiphons Principes populorum etc are sung with psalms 46, 60 & 63. The fourth lesson is an historical one and the fifth and sixth from a sermon of St. Gregory. In the third nocturn the antiphons Exaltabuntur etc are sung with psalms 74, 96 & 98. The homily on St. John's Gospel is from the writings of St. Augustine. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung with the Dominical psalms. At Lauds the Office hymn is Exsultet orbis gaudiis.

At Prime the the Hours the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung with the festal psalms. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii) the lectio brevis is Ibant Apostoli.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria and Creed are sung and the preface is that of the Apostles.

At second Vespers of the feast the antiphons Juravit Dominus etc are sung with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 139. The Office hymn is Exsultet orbis gaudiis. At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast simply vanishes into thin air this year. Sweet feck all, niente! Not only has the Vigil of the feast been suppressed but in the mad hatter rite of 1962 these Apostles are simply ignored this year and today is a IV class feria. As the great and good Dr. Fortescue wrote almost a century ago:

By the way will you give a message from me to the Roman Ordinary? Tell him to look after his own diocese and not to write any more Encyclicals. Also that there were twelve Apostles and that all bishops are their successors. Also, to read the works of St. Paul, also to open his front door and walk out, also that the faith handed to our fathers is more important than either the Sacred Heart or certain alleged happenings at Lourdes.