SS Simon and Jude, Apostles

The feast of SS Simon and Jude is a Double of the Second Class and the liturgical colour of the feast is red. 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 Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Exsultet orbis gaudiis. At Compline the Sunday psalms were sung and the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is 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, again, Exsultet orbis gaudiis. At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast has lost its Vigil and also loses first Vespers. Yesterday Vespers and Compline were from the ferial psalter. At Prime and the Hours today the antiphons and psalms are from the ferial psalter, the lectio brevis is of the season.