St. Jude Thaddeus

Patron of Hopeless and Desperate Causes
Feast Day: October 28

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St. Jude (Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13) or Thaddeus (Matthew and Mark) or Lebbaeus (John 14:22; Matt. 10:3) is described in the New Testament as a relative (adelphos) of Jesus (Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3), and also the brother of James the Less (Epistle of Jude). The greek name for Jude is Judas, but before and especially after the Death of Christ there would have been a need to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot. "Thaddaeus" is possibly a variant of "Theudas," which in turn is perhaps used as a Greek equivalent of "Judas" (with the Hebrew Name of God replaced by the Greek "theos"). St. Jude may also have been the author of the shortest book in the New Testament, the letter of Jude which was written by a man passionately concerned both about the purity of the Christian faith and the good reputation of Christian people and warns against corrupt influences that have crept in. The writer had, he tells us, planned to write a different letter, but hearing of the misleading views put out by some false teachers in the Christian community, he is urgently writing to warn the church not to heed them. It includes a memorable exhortation to "contend for the faith once delivered to the saints," and an even more memorable closing:

     Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

- The Letter of Jude v.24-25

Ancient writers tell us that he preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Lybia. According to Eusebius, he returned to Jerusalem in the year 62, and assisted at the election of his brother, St. Simeon, as Bishop of Jerusalem. He is an author of an epistle (letter) to the Churches of the East, particularly the Jewish converts, directed against the heresies of the Simonians, Nicolaites, and Gnostics. This Apostle is said to have suffered martyrdom in Armenia, which was then subject to Persia. The final conversion of the Armenian nation to Christianity did not take place until the third century of our era. Jude was the one who asked Jesus at the Last Supper why He chose to reveal Himself only to the disciples and not the world. Jesus said "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:22f) Little else is known of his life. Legend claims that he visited Beirut and Edessa. Western tradition says that after preaching in Egypt, Simon joined Jude, and they went on missions for time in Persia. From the 6th century legends say Simon and Jude were martyred together in Persia at Sufian (Siani). Jude is invoked in desperate situations because his New Testament letter stresses that the faithful should persevere in the environment of harsh, difficult circumstances, just as their forefathers had done before them. Therefore, he is the patron saint of desperate cases and his feast day is October 28.

Prayers to Saint Jude

Saint Jude Parish prayer to Saint Jude

On the Feast of Saint Jude (October 28), our parish prays for the intercession of our patron saint. This is a prayer of our parish, not from any outside source.

Saint Jude, cousin and friend of our Lord,
Christ chose you to be his Apostle.
You learned from him the message of our salvation.
Join us in our prayers today.

Saint Jude, you helped lay the foundation of Christ's church.
You took the message of Christ's love to many distant place.
Join us in our prayers today.

Saint Jude, you died a martyr for the love of Jesus.
You inspire us by your generous love.
Join us in our prayers today.

Saint Jude, you share the happiness of heaven.
You have sealed forever your friendship with Jesus.
Join us in our prayers today.

Saint Jude, you share the name of Judas who betrayed our Lord,
and many have forgotten you.
But we have not forgotten you.
We pray to you, patron of hopeless cases
     and of those who despair.
We are sinners, but we trust in God's mercy and love.

Intercede for us,
that our faith be kept strong in our sorrows and trials.
Help us to see in our troubles God's plan for our salvation.

Intercede with God for us in our present needs.

Join us as we pray in Jesus' name.

Amen.

     Most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor who delivered your beloved Master into the hands of his enemies has caused you to be forgotten by many, but the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless causes, of things almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly add your own request here and that I may praise God with you and all the elect forever. I promise, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen.

To be said when problems arise or when one seems to be deprived of all visible help, or for cases almost despaired of.

     Most holy apostle, St. Jude,faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases,of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone.Make use I implore you, to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly add your own request here and that I may praise God with you and all the elect forever.

     I promise, O blessed St. Jude,to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.Amen.

To encourage devotion to St. Jude, acknowledge in writing favors received.

     St. Jude, glorious Apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor has caused you to be forgotten by many, but the true Church invokes you universally as the Patron of things despaired of; pray for me, that finally I may receive the consolations and the succor of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly (here make your request), and that I may bless God with the Elect throughout Eternity. Amen.