Saint Jude, also known as St. Thaddeus was an apostle to Jesus. He was a brother to St. James the Lesser. Depending on what documents you read, he was either a nephew to Mary and Joseph or the son of Joseph from his first wife prior to her death. He was said to look a lot like Jesus.
Besides being an apostle, St. Jude was also a healer and an exorcist. He could exorcise pagan idols which caused the demons to flee and the statues to crumble. He preached in Syria, Mesopotamia and Persia. He was martyred at Persia where he was beaten to death with a club and then beheaded post-mortem.
St. Jude is the patron saint
of desperate situations, forgotten causes, impossible causes, lost causes,
hospital workers and hospitals. His Feast Day is October 28.
Prayer To St. Jude
O Glorious Apostle St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor who delivered thy beloved Master into the hands of His enemies has caused thee to be forgotten by many, but the Church honors and invokes thee universally as the Patron of Hopeless Cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me who am so helpless and alone. Make use, I implore thee, of that particular privilege granted to thee to bring visible and speedy help where help was almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need, that I may receive the consolation and succor of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, but in particular, that . . . (Here make your intention) and that I may praise God with thee and with all the Saints forever. I promise thee, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor and never cease to honor thee as my special and powerful patron, and to do all in my power gratefully to encourage devotion to thee. Amen.
More On St. Jude
Patron Saints Index - - St. Jude Thaddeus
