Prayer to Saint Jude

Most holy apostle, Saint Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Make use I implore you, of that particular privilege given to you, to 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 (here make your request) and that I may praise God with you and all the elect forever. I promise, O blessed Saint Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.  Amen.

Novena to Saint 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 Fathers, 3 Hail Marys and 3 Glory Be to the Father. Say this novena nine times in a row for nine days. Publication must be promised.

About Saint Jude

Very little is known about our patron saint. We do know that he was possibly a cousin of Jesus and certainly one of Jesus' disciples. We don't know the circumstances of his becoming a disciple, but we can imagine that Jude heard Jesus preaching and was moved by what he heard - God loves everyone!

For some time Jude followed Jesus as he went about Galilee preaching. And then one day, Jesus chose Jude as one of his 12 Apostles. In Luke's listing of the 12 (6:16) Jude's name appears. In Matthew (10:3) and in Mark (3:18) the name Thaddeus is used. That is why we call our patron, Saint Jude Thaddeus. Jude must have been both grateful to have been chosen and frightened about how he could possibly continue the work Jesus had begun. But like the other apostles, Jude quickly learned to rely not on his own strengths but on God helping him.

Like most of the other disciples of Jesus, Jude fled when Jesus was arrested in the garden (Mark 14:50) and like the others did not stand by Jesus during the crucifixion. There can be no doubt that their betrayal weighed heavily on each of the disciples - nor can there be any doubt that they rejoiced when the Risen Christ forgave them (John 20:19).

We don't know where St. Jude went to preach the good news of Jesus nor do we know when or where he died. He shares his feast, October 28th, with Saint Simon, presumably because they preached and died together.

The pictures of St. Jude show him with a flame over his head - a reminder that the Holy Spirit came upon him in tongues of fire at Pentecost. (Acts 2:3) He is also represented carrying an image of Jesus - a reminder that each of us is to bring Christ to others.

Prayer to our Sorrowful Mother for a particular grace

O most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, who stood on Mount Calvary when your Son was in agony: by the sword of sorrow which pierced your heart, by the sufferings of your whole life on earth, by your unspeakable joy in Heaven; look down with maternal pity and tenderness as I kneel before you to sympathize with your sorrows, and to place my petition, with childlike confidence, in your wounded heart.

I beg of you, dear Mother, to plead for me with your divine Son, since he can refuse you nothing, and, through the merits of his most sacred Passion and Death, together with your own suffering at the foot of his Cross, so to move his Sacred Heart that I may obtain this request....

To whom shall I go in my need and misery, if not to you, O Mother most merciful, you who pity us poor exiles still sighing in this valley of tears? Offer to Jesus for us but one drop of his most precious blood, but one pang of his loving heart; remind him that you are our life, our sweetness and our hope, and your prayer on my behalf will be heard. Amen.

The Memorare:

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your clemency, hear and answer me. Amen.