St. Jude

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St. Jude

Feast Day:- October 28

Patronage: desperate situations; forgotten, hopeless, lost and impossible causes; hospital workers; hospitals

Jude was born in Galilee, the child of Alpheus and Mary, and was a fisherman by trade. He was a sibling of St. James the Less and a first relative of Jesus, who called him to be one of his apostles or disciples. Very little more is understood about Jude apart from his brief epistle, which is concerned with the purity of the Christian faith and the great credibility and determination of the faithful.

St. Jude appears once again in the apocryphal Passion of Simon and Jude, which acts as the basis for traditions about his later life. According to this source, Jude was a healer and an exorcist who can get rid of daemons from pagan idols, leaving the statuaries falling apart. With St. Simon, he left Palestine to evangelize Persia. Because the sixth century, there have actually been legends about their martyrdom there, though the manner of death varies. Some accounts say they were killed with a saw or falchion (a short sickle-shaped sword). Others state they were beaten to death with a club, then beheaded.

By tradition, this occurred on July 1, the day the Feast of Simon and Jude is celebrated by the Eastern Church. The Western Church celebrates the feast on October 28, the day the saints’ antiques were translated to St. Peter’s in Rome in the 8th or 7th century.

In art, St. Jude usually is represented as a middle-aged or young, bearded man holding a carpenter’s measuring rule or a club, saw, axe or halberd. He is in some cases confused with his fellow apostles St. Matthew (who might likewise hold an axe or halberd) and St. Thomas (who could also hold a carpenter’s rule).

NOVENA TO ST. JUDE

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of, Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone.

Intercede with God for me that He 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 –

(make your request here)

– and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.

Amen