| Saint Jude (Thaddeus) the Apostle
—
Patron Saint of Desperate or
Impossible
Situations "St. Jude the Apostle, also
known as Thaddaeus, was a brother of St. James the Less; nephew of Mary and Joseph;
blood relative of Jesus Christ, and reported to look a lot like him.
Ancient writers tell us that he preached the Gospel
in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Libya. Jude is the author
of an epistle to the Churches of the East, particularly the Jewish converts, directed
against the heresies. 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, difficult circumstances, just as their forefathers had done before them.
Saint Jude is not the same person as Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus." Prayer
to St. Jude
"Faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the
traitor who delivered your beloved Master into the hands of the enemies has caused
you to be forgotten by many, but the Church honors and invokes you universally
as the patron of hopeless cases and of things despaired of. Pray for me who am
so needy; make use, I implore you of that paticular privilege accorded to you
to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired. Come to my assistance
in this great need that I may receive the consolations and succor of heaven in
all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings paaritcularly (here mention your
petition) ... and that I may bless God with you and all the elect throughout eternity.
I promise you, O blessed Jude to be ever mindful of this great favor, and I will
never cease to honor you as my special and powerful patron and to do in my power
to encourage devotion to you. Amen." Novena
to St. 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. Amen. Say 3 Our
Father's, 3 Hail Mary's and 3 Glory Be's." Prayer
to St. Jude
"Dear Apostle and Martyr for Christ, you left us an Epistle
in the New Testament. With good reason many invoke you when illness is at a desperate
stage. We now recommend to your kindness (mention request) who is in a critical
condition. May the cure of this patient increase his (her) faith and love for
the Lord of Life, for the glory of our merciful God." |
12mm
diameter 
