Saint Jude Thaddeus – Patron Saint of the Impossible

Saint Jude was one of Jesus’s twelve apostles. He was the brother of James the Lesser, whose mother was a cousin of our Blessed Mother. He is believed to have been born in Galilee and lived there until he became an Apostle.

After Jesus’s resurrection and ascension, Jude is known to have preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Mesopotamia, and Libya. He wrote an epistle to the people in the East strongly condemning the heresies of Simonians, Nicolaites, and Gnostics and warning the faithful to beware of these heretics. He encourages them to remember the words of the other apostles and Our Lord and to pray in the Holy Spirit.

Saint Jude is believed to have been martyred with Saint Simon in Persia in 65 A.D. His body and that of Simon were brought to Rome and buried in a crypt in St. Peter’s Basilica. Almost immediately, pilgrims began to visit the crypt and ask for Jude’s intercession, and many miracles were reported. Saint Bridget of Sweden is said to have had a vision of God telling her that Saint Jude was the Patron Saint of the Impossible, and he already enjoyed a reputation for helping those with hopeless causes.

Jude is often referred to as Thaddeus after the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, perhaps to distance himself from the name.

Jude’s feast day is October 28, and he is the Patron of Lost Causes and Impossible Situations.

A Prayer to Saint Jude

O most holy apostle, Saint Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes thee universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, and of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, who is so miserable.

Make use, I implore thee, of that particular privilege accorded to thee, to bring visible and speedy help where help was almost despaired of. Come to mine assistance in this great need, that I may receive the consolation and succor of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly (here make your request) and that I may praise God with thee and all the elect throughout eternity.

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

Saint Jude Thaddeus. pray for us!

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