• St. Simon Zelotes (65). Apostle, Martyr. The Zealot. (Traditional)
• Sts. Simon and Jude (65). Apostle, Martyr. They are patrons of brothers. (Current, Traditional)

SIMON was a simple Galilean, called by our Lord to be one of the pillars of His Church. Zelotes, “the zealot.” was the surname which he bore among the disciples. Armed with this zeal, he went forth to the combat against unbelief and sin, and made conquest of many souls for his Divine Lord. The Apostle Jude, whom the Church commemorates on the same day, was a brother of St. James the Less. They were called “brethren of the Lord,” on account of their relationship to His Blessed Mother. St. Jude preached first in Mesopotamia, as St. Simon did in Egypt; and finally they both met in Persia, where they won their crown together.

REFLECTION: Zeal is an ardent love which makes a man fearless in defense of God’s honor, and earnest at all costs to make known the truth. If we would be children of the Saints, we must be zealous for the faith.

WORD OF THE DAY

VINCIBLE IGNORANCE. Lack of knowledge for which a person is morally responsible. It is culpable ignorance because it could be cleared up if the person used sufficient diligence. One is said to be simply (but culpably) ignorant if one fails to make enough effort to learn what should be known; guilt then depends on one’s lack of effort to clear up the ignorance. That person is crassly ignorant when the lack of knowledge is not directly willed but rather due to neglect or laziness; as a result the guilt is somewhat lessened, but in grave matters a person would still be gravely responsible. A person has affected ignorance when one deliberately fosters it in order not to be inhibited in what one wants to do; such ignorance is gravely wrong when it concerns serious matters. (Etym. Latin vincibilis, easily overcome; ignorantia, want of knowledge or information.)

Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)

October, Month of the Rosary

Maria Magnificata. Short Meditations for October, the Month of the Rosary. 28th Day — Mary the Mother of the Infant Church.