Ann_St.Jude

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St. Jude

St. Jude

Feastday: October 28
Patron of Desperate Cases

St. Jude, known as Thaddaeus, was the son of Alpheus, or Cleophas, brother of St.
Joseph the foster father of Our Lord. 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 f 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.

Jude was the one who asked Jesus at the Last Supper why He would not manifest
Himself to he whole world after His resurrection. Little else is known of his life.
Legend claims that he visited Beirut and Edessa; possibly
martyred with St. Simon in Persia.

Jude is invoked in desperate situations because his New Testament letter stresses
that the faithful should persevere in the environment of harsh and 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.

Saint Jude is not the same person as Judas Iscariot who betrayed Our Lord and
despaired because of his great sin and lack of trust in God's mercy.

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.

The labors and zeal of St. Jude attracted the hatred of some of the unbelievers whom he
had come to convert. He was clubbed to insensibility, his head being finally severed
from his body with a blow of a broadaxe. His mortal remains now lie in the great
basilica of St. Peter in Rome.

St. Jude is usually represented holding a club as a sign of his matyrdom. The following
words taken from the first chapter of his Epistle are often seen on a scroll held in his
hand: "Strive manfully for the faith once delivered unto the Saints".

Prayer

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 aplstle 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'm so helpless and alone. Make use I implore you, of that particular
privelege given to 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 consolation and help
of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, particularly --
(here make your request) and that I may praise God with you and the elcect forever.

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