Son of Cleophas, who died a martyr, and Mary who stood at the foot of the Cross and who annointed Christ's body after death. Brother of Saint James the Lesser, Nephew of Mary and Joseph, and blood relative of Jesus Christ (and reported to look a lot like him). May have been a fisherman. Apostle.
Writer of canonical letter. Preached in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia with Saint Simon. Healer. Exorcist. Could exorcise pagan idols, which caused the demons to flee and the statues to crumble.
His patronage of lost or impossible causes traditionally derives from confusion by many early Christians between Jude and Judas; not understanding the difference between the names, they never prayed for Jude's help, and devotion to him became something of a lost cause.
Died
Beaten to death with a club, then beheaded post-mortem in 1st century Persia; relics at Saint Peter's, Rome, at Rheims, and at Toulouse, France.
Name Meaning
Sweetness or gentleness of character (Thaddeus)
Patronage
Desperate situations; forgotten causes; hospital workers; hospitals; impossible causes; lost causes diocese of Saint Petersburg, Florida
Prayers
Novena to Saint Jude
To Saint Jude, Holy Saint Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depths of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition, in return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. Saint Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid.
As other organizations such as the St. Jude’s children’s hospital, we invoke the name of St. Jude, for his patronage of desperate situations, forgotten causes, as injuries, pain, inflammation and tension are at times feeling like a lost cause.
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