As we approach the Jubilee Year of 2025, St. Jude Thaddeus and St. Simon the Zealot stand as powerful symbols of hope and zeal. Known to be the closest Apostles to Jesus, and His cousins, their relics are enshrined in the “Eternal City” of Rome. These guardians of faith offer a unique opportunity for pilgrims to reconnect with their legacy during this Holy Year. Join us as we explore the remarkable stories of these Apostles and the profound influence they continue to have on the faithful.
Unveiling the Legacy of St. Simon and St. Jude
Art and church historian Elizabeth Lev delves into the history of St. Simon the Zealot, thought to have been present at one of Christ’s most famous miracles. Lev explains, “Simon, known as Zealot, apparently was a man from Cana. The story I like best is that he was the wine steward at the wedding of Cana. And after Jesus made all of this wine and great wine, Simon decided to follow Jesus, which sounds pretty understandable to me.” This anecdote offers a glimpse into Simon’s devotion, spurred by witnessing Jesus’ miraculous power firsthand.
St. Jude’s life is equally captivating. According to Lev, “There’s a very wonderful story about Jude, who makes his way to Edessa, where the king of Edessa is sick with leprosy. He asks for a miracle…and then he asks for an image of Jesus Christ who can cure him.” In the absence of portrait painters, Jude provided the king with a cloth upon which Jesus had pressed His face, an artifact now known as the Mandylion. “We owe to Jude one of these images of Jesus’ face,” Lev adds, underscoring the Apostle’s significant role in early Christian history.
Both saints met their martyrdom, with Elizabeth Lev recounting that “Sts. Simon and Jude, they died, perhaps in Beirut, perhaps in Persia, perhaps in Edessa. And they made their way, as far as we understand, in the fourth century, after the legalization of Christianity, they made their way to Rome.” Their relics now rest in St. Peter’s Basilica, placed under the altar of Saint Joseph, a symbol of their enduring legacy.
The Martyrdom in Art and Relics
Although rarely depicted in art, one notable 14th-century painting in the Vatican Museums commemorates their martyrdom. Lev shares the story behind it: “In about 1370, there was a little painting made to show the story of the death of Simon and Jude. They exorcized the demons from the statues. And then they forced the little dark demons to start destroying their own idols. And then the people get so angry…that at the lower part you see the saw and the ax. They’re about to kill both Jude and Simon.” This painting offers a dramatic visual narrative of their faith and ultimate sacrifice.
Their relics are equally significant, particularly that of St. Jude’s arm, which is housed in the Church of San Salvatore in Lauro, Rome. Fr. Pietro Bongiovanni, the parish priest, explains the importance of this relic: “He wore this locket around his neck with a portrait of Jesus. A portrait made in his lifetime, so a portrait that expressed the likeness of Jesus, through which St. Jude Thaddeus himself performed great miracles.” The relic of St. Jude’s arm has gained worldwide recognition, particularly after Fr. Bongiovanni rediscovered it and helped revive devotion to the saint.
St. Jude’s Relics on Pilgrimage: A Source of Miracles
In an unprecedented event, the relics of St. Jude’s arm are now on a pilgrimage through Mexico and the United States, marking the first time in 1,700 years that these relics have left Italy. Fr. Carlos Martins, who oversees the U.S. tour, has witnessed many miraculous healings through the relics’ veneration. He shares, “I have seen hundreds of people, maybe thousands, come in and then proclaim subsequently a testimony of healing. I had a phone call two days ago; somebody with stage-4 cancer…came to this Saint Jude event. They touched the reliquary and subsequently felt a whole lot better. They went to the doctor, and then they were cancer-free.”
This pilgrimage is not only a source of hope for the faithful but also supports the restoration of the dome of San Salvatore in Lauro, where the relics are housed. Donations collected during the tour will contribute to this restoration, ensuring that St. Jude’s legacy continues to inspire generations to come.
A Jubilee Year of Hope and Renewal
As millions of pilgrims prepare to journey to Rome for the Jubilee Year of Hope in 2025, they will have the chance to venerate the relics of Sts. Simon and Jude. Elizabeth Lev reminds us of the importance of their intercession in times of darkness: “This would be a good moment to bring them back to light and remind ourselves that again, in this period where it seems like there’s a lot of obscurity and dark forces, there is always hope. And Jude is there to light the way, waiting for us in St. Peter’s Basilica.”
With their relics enshrined in St. Peter’s, these Apostles offer a powerful connection to the roots of Christianity and a beacon of hope for those seeking spiritual renewal during this Holy Year.
Adapted by Jacob Stein
