Patron Saint of
Lost Causes
Patron Saint of Lost Causes Saint Jude also called Jude of James, Jude Thaddaeus, Judas Thaddaeus, or Lebbaeus but best known as Saint Jude or Thaddeus was one of Jesus’ Twelve Apostles.
For centuries, Saint Jude has been the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. People pray to Saint Jude in times when they feel their cause is impossible and they trust that his prayer will help them.
How did this come to be?
Why is Saint Jude the patron of desperate and desperate causes?
The Most Well-known Reason:
He wrote the Epistle of Jude. Many theologians believe this to be one of the most beautiful representations of praise to Our Lord in the New Testament. This epistle became associated with desperate causes because, in it, he wrote that we must keep from faltering even in difficult times.
This passage reads:
To the one who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished and exultant, in the presence of his glory, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord be glory, majesty, power, and authority from ages past, now, and for ages to come, Amen. ~Jude 24-25~
Not so Well-known Reasons
In a vision to Saint Bridget of Sweden, Jesus encouraged devotion to Patron Saint Jude.
Jesus told Saint Bridget,
“In accordance with his surname, Thaddeus, the amiable or loving, he will show himself most willing to give help.”
Jesus
Saint Bridget lived in the Medieval era, from 1303 to 1346. During this time, Apostle Saint Jude was held in high esteem but later became forgotten. He had a rebirth of popularity in 1929 after the Claretians in southeast Chicago started devoting services to him.
After Jesus’ Ascension, Saint Jude traveled throughout the Middle East.
It is said that he traveled as far west as Persia and Libya.
Saint Jude was martyred in Syria where he was killed with an axe. His bones were taken to Rome and now lie in the left transept of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Pilgrims visited the shrine and many told of having been blessed with miracles in answer to what they believed to be unanswered prayers.
This led to a connection between Saint Jude and Saint Bridget who referred to him as the Patron Saint of the Impossible.
Most Holy Apostle, St Jude Saint of lost causes, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor who delivered your beloved Master into the hands of his enemies has caused you to be forgotten by many.
But the Church honors you, and I involve you as the special advocate of those who are in trouble and almost without hope.
Help me to realize that through our faith we triumph over life’s difficulties through the power of Jesus who loved us and gave his life for us.
Come to my aid that I may receive consolation and assistance from heaven in all my needs trials, and sufferings, particularly (here you make your request), and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever
Devotion to Patron Saint of Lost Causes Saint Jude
To honor Saint Jude, many people wear Saint Jude medals which are believed to invoke his intercession.
There are many prayers and novenas for Saint Jude. The most popular:
O most holy apostle, Saint Jude, faithful servant, and friend of Jesus,
the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, and of things almost despaired of.
Pray for me, I am so miserable 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 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
Also, there are chaplets and rosaries to Patron Saint Jude.
So, if you are praying and feel your prayers are unheard, unanswered, or impossible and you are feeling desperate, Patron Saint Jude is the saint whose intercession to invoke for help.
Saint Bridget of Sweden
https://shrineofstjude.org/learn/saints/st-bridget-of-sweden/
Claretians
https://shrineofstjude.org/about-us/the-claretians/
Chaplet
https://www.gardenias4lina.com/saint-jude-40-bead-jasper-chaplet