A Vintage Bust, a Case of Mistaken Identity, and the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude
On the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, the Diocese of Lansing reported a unique reflection from Father David Speicher regarding a vintage antique store find and the enduring legacy of the apostles. According to tradition, the two apostles suffered martyrdom together in Beirut, Lebanon, around 65 AD. While the diocese does not maintain a parish dedicated specifically to Saint Simon, it does oversee the Catholic Community of Saint Jude located in DeWitt.
“Before I became the pastor in DeWitt seven years ago, Saint Jude didn’t mean that much to me. But now, yes, he means quite a lot,” Father Speicher stated. While Jude is frequently invoked as the patron saint of desperate causes, the pastor prefers a different designation: “the saint of hope.”
Finding Saint Jude in an Antique Store Bust
The reflection centers on a recent discovery made by the pastor while browsing local history and artifacts. Father Speicher detailed finding a vintage statue in an antique shop that bore a striking initial resemblance to traditional depictions of Jesus Christ.
“Recently, I found a vintage statue in an antique store that was labelled as a bust of Jesus, but then I looked more closely. He had a flame on his head and was holding a medallion bearing the face of Christ! That’s not Jesus, I realised; it’s Saint Jude!” Father Speicher recalled.
That visual mix-up sparked a deeper theological realization regarding apostolic ministry. “It then occurred to me that, as an apostle, it’s a privilege and an honour to be mistaken for Jesus, for people to look at us but see Christ,” the pastor noted.
