Saint Jude the Apostle, Chapel of the Holy Cross, Karlstejn, Master Theodoric of Prague, Mid 14th Century

[20] But you, my beloved, building yourselves upon your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, [21] Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto life everlasting. 

[25] To the only God our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and magnificence, empire and power, before all ages, and now, and for all ages of ages. Amen. 

Epistle of Saint Jude, 1.20-21 & 25. 

Saint Jude Thaddeus

During the 1st century Judah was a common name among Jews, and when Jesus called 12 men to become his apostles, he chose two with the name Judah. Based on the original Greek text this was rendered in Latin as Judas and for many centuries there wasn’t a linguistic separator between Judas Iscariot and Judas Thaddeus.

Early medieval Christians normally did not pray to the apostle Judas Thaddeus, because they were afraid of praying to Judas Iscariot, the traitor. Their fear was such that Judas Thaddeus became one of the least known apostles. Eventually the English language made a slight distinction between the two apostles and gave Judas Thaddeus the name Jude. Both names, Jude and Thaddeus (sometimes Thaddaeus), refer to the same person, and oftentimes one will hear St. Jude Thaddeus. Saint Jude was also called Lebbaeus (the courageous).

However, even during the Middle Ages St. Jude’s intercessory power was revealed to various saints. Our Lord told St. Bridget of Sweden (c. 1303-1373) to turn to St. Jude with a great deal of confidence. Our Lord told her that in accordance with Jude's surname Thaddeus (which means generous, courageous and kind) "he will show himself to be one of the most willing to give you help". Our Lord also told St Bridget to dedicate an altar to St. Jude in her church. "the fifth altar," He said, "must be for Thaddeus who with the purity of his heart will undoubtedly conquer the devil."

Our Lord also appeared to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) in visions and asked St. Bernard to accept St. Jude as "The Patron Saint of the Impossible".

St. Jude, was a brother of St. James the Less, and a relative of Our Saviour. Images of St. Jude often include a club (the instrument of his martyrdom), or a flame around his head, which represent his presence at Pentecost, when he accepted the Holy Spirit alongside the other apostles. Another attribute is St. Jude holding an image of Christ, in the Image of Edessa, and sometimes he can be seen holding a carpenter's ruler or is depicted with a scroll or book, the Epistle of Jude. St. Jude preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Lybia. According to Eusebius, he returned to Jerusalem in the year 62, and assisted at the election of his brother, St. Simeon, as Bishop of Jerusalem. He was martyred either in Armenia or Beirut.

St. Jude has become associated with hopeless and impossible cases, and countless miracles have been attributed to his intercession. His reputation for the impossible is so great, that he is known among a wide variety of Christians for his miraculous intercessory power.

Apostle St Jude Thaddeus, Painting in Side Chapel of Schottenkirche Church, Vienna

Unfailing Prayer to Saint Jude 

May be prayed individually or over 9 days as a novena.

O Holy St. Jude!
Apostle and Martyr,
great in virtue and rich in miracles,
near kinsman of Jesus Christ,
faithful intercessor for all who invoke you,
special patron in time of need;
to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart,
and humbly beg you,
to whom God has given such great power,
to come to my assistance;
help me now in my urgent need and grant my earnest petition.
I will never forget thy graces and favours you obtain for me
and I will do my utmost to spread devotion to you.
Amen.

St. Jude, pray for us and all who honour thee and invoke thy aid.

Pray 3 times:

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Francisco de Zurbarán, Saint Jude the Apostle, 1633

Prayer to Saint Jude from the Church of Santa Cruz, Madrid

The Church of Santa Cruz (Holy Cross) in Madrid is a centre of devotion to Saint Jude. It has a statue of St. Jude Thaddeus that many people visit on Wednesdays, with the queue often extending outside the Church. The following prayer is promoted by this Church as the 'Devotion of the nine Wednesdays of San Judas Tadeo':

Glorious Apostle, Saint Judas Thaddeus, relative and follower of Jesus!

The name of the traitor who betrayed the Master has been the cause of many forgetting you. But the Church honours you and invokes you as a special advocate for difficult and desperate cases.

You preached with tireless zeal the good news of the kingdom of God throughout the lands of the Middle East, achieving countless conversions and finally giving your life in defence of the faith.

Obtain for me from Jesus Christ a deeper faith, a firmer hope and a more ardent charity.

Today, also, glorious Apostle, I come to you in my anguish so that you intercede for me in this difficult and desperate case that I place before you ..... 

I thank you in advance and I promise to make your name and devotion known with my example of Christian life.

Saint Judas Thaddeus intercede for me before the Lord and for those who invoke your name!

Queue to visit statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, Church of the Holy Cross, Madrid, Wednesday 17 January 2018

Prayer to Saint Jude in Grievous Affliction

St. Jude Thaddeus, relative of Jesus and Mary, glorious Apostle and Martyr, renowned for thy virtues and miracles, faithful and prompt intercessor for all who honour thee and trust in thee, powerful patron and helper in grievous affliction, I come to thee and entreat thee with all my heart to come to my aid, for thou hast received from God the privilege of assisting with manifest help those who almost despair! 

Look down upon me: my life is a life of crosses, my days are full of tribulation, and my paths are strewn with thorns---and scarcely one moment passes but is witness of my tears and sighs. My soul is enveloped in darkness, disquietude, discouragement, mistrust---yes, sometimes even a kind of despair preys upon me. 

Divine Providence seems lost to my sight, and faith seems to falter in my heart. Overwhelmed by these thoughts, I see myself surrounded by a dark cloud. Thou canst not forsake me in this sad plight! I will not depart from thee until thou hast heard me. Oh, hasten to my aid! I will thank God for the graces bestowed upon thee, and will propagate thine honour according to my power. Amen.

Saint Jude, Stained Glass from National Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus, Chicago

Novena to Saint Jude

Prayer to Saint Jude.- O glorious apostle, Saint Jude Thaddeus, true relative of Jesus and Mary, I salute you through the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Through this Heart I praise and thank God for all the graces He has bestowed upon you. Humbly prostrate before you, I implore you through this Heart, to look down upon me with compassion. Oh, despise not my poor prayer; let not my trust be confounded! To you God has granted the privilege of aiding humankind in the most desperate cases. Oh, come to my aid, that I may praise the mercies of God. All my life I will be grateful to you and will be your faithful client until I can thank you in heaven. Amen.

LITANY

Lord, have mercy on us.  Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.  Christ hear us. 

Christ graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. 

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. 

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Saint Jude, relative of Jesus and Mary, pray for us.

Saint Jude, while on earth deemed worthy to see Jesus and Mary, and to enjoy their company, pray for us.

Saint Jude, raised to the dignity of an apostle, pray for us.

Saint Jude, who had the honour of beholding your Divine Master humble himself to wash your feet, pray for us.

Saint Jude, who at the Last Supper received the Holy Eucharist from the hands of Jesus, pray for us.

Saint Jude, who after the profound grief which the death of your beloved Master caused you, had the consolation of beholding Him risen from the dead, and assisting at His glorious Ascension, pray for us.

Saint Jude, who was filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, pray for us.

Saint Jude, who preached the Gospel in Persia, pray for us.

Saint Jude, who converted many people to the Faith, pray for us.

Saint Jude, who performed wonderful miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit, pray for us.

Saint Jude, who restored an idolatrous king to health, of both soul and body, pray for us.

Saint Jude, who imposed silence on demons, and confounded their oracles, pray for us.

Saint Jude, who foretold to a weak prince an honourable peace with a powerful enemy, pray for us.

Saint Jude, who took from deadly serpents the power of injuring people, pray for us.

Saint Jude, who disregarding the threats of the impious, courageously preached the doctrine of Christ, pray for us.

Saint Jude, who gloriously suffered martyrdom for the love of your Divine Master, pray for us.

Blessed apostle, with confidence we invoke you.

Blessed apostle, with confidence we invoke you.

Blessed apostle, with confidence we invoke you.

Saint Jude, help of the hopeless, aid me in my distress.

Saint Jude, help of the hopeless, aid me in my distress.

Saint Jude, help of the hopeless, aid me in my distress.

That by your intercession, both priests and people of the Church may obtain an ardent zeal for the Faith of Jesus Christ, we beseech you, hear us.

That you defend our Sovereign Pontiff and obtain peace and unity for the Holy Church, we beseech you, hear us.

That all heathen and unbelievers may be converted to the true Faith, we beseech you, hear us.

That faith, hope and charity may increase in our hearts, we beseech you, hear us.

That we may be delivered from all evil thoughts, and from all the snares of the devil, we beseech you, hear us.

That you aid and protect all those who honour you, we beseech you, hear us.

That you preserve us all from sin and from all occasion of sin, we beseech you, hear us.

That you defend us at the hour of death, against the fury of the devil and his evil spirits, we beseech you, hear us.

Pray for us, that before death we may expiate all our sins by sincere repentance and the worthy reception of the Holy Sacraments.

Pray for us, that we may appease the Divine Justice, and obtain a favourable judgment.

Pray for us, that we may be admitted into the company of the blessed, to rejoice in the presence of our God, forever.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us, O Lord.

Saint Jude, pray for us,

And for all who invoke your aid. (...Make your request to Saint Jude at this time...)

Prayer to St. Jude - Glorious apostle, martyr and relative of Jesus, Saint Jude Thaddeus, who spread the true Faith among the most barbarous and distant nations; who won to the obedience of Jesus Christ many tribes and peoples by the power of His Holy Word, grant, I beseech you, from this day I may renounce every sinful habit, that I may be preserved from all evil thoughts, that I may always obtain your assistance, particularly in every danger and difficulty, and that I may safely reach the heavenly country, with you, to adore the most Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen. 

Prayer to Saint Jude for Those who are Alone 

Holy Apostle Saint Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus! The Church honours and invokes you universally, as the patron saint of difficult and desperate cases. Pray for me, I'm alone and unaided.

I implore you to make use of the special privilege granted to you, to succour quickly and visibly when all hope is almost lost. Come to my aid in this great need, so that I can receive comfort and succour from heaven in all my needs, tribulations and sufferings, particularly... (make your request here) , and so that I can praise God with you and with all chosen forever.

I thank you glorious Saint Jude, and I promise never to forget this great favour, honour you always as my special and powerful patron, and gratefully do all I can to further your devotion. Amen.

Apostle St Thaddeus (Jude), El Greco, c. 1610-1614

Prayer to Saint Jude for Help

Most holy Apostle St. Jude Thaddeus,

faithful servant, friend of Jesus,

patron of hopeless cases,

I place myself in your care at this difficult time.

Help me know that I need not face my troubles alone.

Please join me in my need, asking God to send me:

consolation in my sorrow,

courage in my fear,

and healing in the midst of my suffering.

O St. Jude, ask our loving Lord to fill me with the grace

to accept whatever may lie ahead

for me and my loved ones,

and to strengthen my faith in God’s healing powers.

Thank you, Saint Jude Thaddeus,

for the promise of hope you hold out to all who believe

and inspire me to give this gift of hope to others

as it has been given to me.

Amen.

Saint Jude Thaddeus, Simone Martini, c. 1315-1320

Saint Jude The Apostle, Patron in Cases of Despair and or Desperation - Prayer for Conversion

Dearest Saint and my adopted Patron, and Defender of the Faith against heretics, I bring to thee the lukewarm, the faithless, and those bereft of all hope spiritually, those who deny the Truth as taught by Christ through the Apostles and His holy Church, and those who struggle to accept it. In particular I bring to thee my acquaintances, friends and neighbors who are outside of the Faith, for whatever reason, and for now who are beyond my reach; all Jews and Muslims, all pagans and unbelievers of other inclinations; and most especially, those members of my family who are no longer Catholic or who have never been Baptized. I beseech thee for their conversion through whatever means God wills and thou canst work though Him. I ask this through the Sacred Heart of Jesus Whom thou still serves faithfully in Heaven.

O Saint Jude, thou art beloved and trusted for thy countless miracles of grace and healing. Look down kindly one more time upon this little sinner who asks so much for so many, although unworthy to ask, yet is compelled by love to do so.

I will pray this pleading every day until thou consents to answer me, thanking thee in advance. Amen.

Saint Jude the Apostle, Georges de La Tour, c. 1624-1650

Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving

O Most Sweet Lord Jesus Christ, in union with the unutterable praise with which the Most Holy Trinity extols Itself and which thence flows upon Thy Sacred Humanity, upon Mary, upon all the Angels and Saints, I praise, glorify and bless Thee for all the graces and privileges Thou hast bestowed upon Thy chosen Apostle and intimate friend, St. Jude Thaddeus. I implore Thee, for the sake of his merits, to grant me Thy grace, and through his intercession to come to my aid in all my needs. Especially at the hour of my death, deign to strengthen me against the rage of my enemies. Amen.

The Last Journey of Saint Jude, Stained Glass from National Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus, Chicago

This Webpage first posted on

The Feast Day of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles, 28 October 2022.

Immaculate Queen of Peace, pray for us.