ST. JUDE THADDEUS
The tradition of devotion to St. Jude is a reflection of the ability of ordinary people to call upon their powerful faith to triumph over seemingly impossible odds in their daily lives.
Jude was described by St. Matthew (13:55) as being a relative of Jesus. His mother, Mary, was referred to as a cousin of Jesus' mother Mary, while his father, Cleophas, was the brother of St. Joseph.
Jude had several brothers, including St. James, who was another of the original Apostles. His own first name, "Jude", means giver of joy. His other name, "Thaddeus", means generous, courageous and kind; while "Lebbaeus”,another name he was called, means "man of heart."
Jude was called to be one of the 12 Apostles, and began preaching the Good News of Jesus to Jews throughout Galilee, Samaria, and Judea.
St. Jude went to Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) around 37 C.E., and became a leader of the Church of the East that St. Thomas established there.
St. Jude travelled with St. Simon throughout Mesopotamia, Libya, Turkey, and Persia, preaching and converting many people to Christianity. He was credited with helping the early creation of the Armenian Church, and other places beyond the borders of the Roman Empire.
Around the year 60 A.D., St. Jude wrote a Gospel letter to recent Christian converts in Eastern churches, who were under persecution, to persevere in the face of the harsh, difficult circumstances they were in, just as their forefathers had done before them. He exhorted them to keep their faith and to stay in the love of God as they had been taught. His inspirational support of these early believers led to him becoming the patron saint of desperate causes.
He is believed to have been martyred in Persia or Syria around 65 C.E. The axe or club that he is often shown holding in pictures symbolizes the way in which he was killed. Truly, he paid the ultimate price for his faith. After his death, his body was brought back to Rome and was placed in a crypt beneath St. Peter's Basilica, which people visit to this day.
St. Jude is traditionally depicted carrying the image of Jesus in his hand or close to his chest. This represents the cloth with Jesus’ image, given to him by Jesus to be taken to King Abgar of Edessa. This cloth is believed to be the famous Shroud of Jesus which is currently on display in Turin, Italy.
St. Jude is often shown in paintings with a flame around his head. This represents his presence at Pentecost, when he received the Holy Spirit with the other apostles.
Jude is often, in popular usage, referred to as the "saint of last resort," the one you ask for help when all else fails.
Since his name reminds hearers of Judas Iscariot, there is a tendency for someone asking a Christian brother for intercessory prayers to try one of the other apostles first. Hence, Jude has come to be called "the saint of last resort," the one whom you ask only when desperate.
Jesus inspired devotion to St. Jude when, in a vision, he directed St. Bridget of Sweden to turn to St. Jude with great faith and confidence. In accordance with his surname, Thaddeus, Our Lord said, “He will show himself most willing to give help.”
We celebrate his feast day on October 28, the day he was martyred in 65 C.E.
Jude was described by St. Matthew (13:55) as being a relative of Jesus. His mother, Mary, was referred to as a cousin of Jesus' mother Mary, while his father, Cleophas, was the brother of St. Joseph.
Jude had several brothers, including St. James, who was another of the original Apostles. His own first name, "Jude", means giver of joy. His other name, "Thaddeus", means generous, courageous and kind; while "Lebbaeus”,another name he was called, means "man of heart."
Jude was called to be one of the 12 Apostles, and began preaching the Good News of Jesus to Jews throughout Galilee, Samaria, and Judea.
St. Jude went to Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) around 37 C.E., and became a leader of the Church of the East that St. Thomas established there.
St. Jude travelled with St. Simon throughout Mesopotamia, Libya, Turkey, and Persia, preaching and converting many people to Christianity. He was credited with helping the early creation of the Armenian Church, and other places beyond the borders of the Roman Empire.
Around the year 60 A.D., St. Jude wrote a Gospel letter to recent Christian converts in Eastern churches, who were under persecution, to persevere in the face of the harsh, difficult circumstances they were in, just as their forefathers had done before them. He exhorted them to keep their faith and to stay in the love of God as they had been taught. His inspirational support of these early believers led to him becoming the patron saint of desperate causes.
He is believed to have been martyred in Persia or Syria around 65 C.E. The axe or club that he is often shown holding in pictures symbolizes the way in which he was killed. Truly, he paid the ultimate price for his faith. After his death, his body was brought back to Rome and was placed in a crypt beneath St. Peter's Basilica, which people visit to this day.
St. Jude is traditionally depicted carrying the image of Jesus in his hand or close to his chest. This represents the cloth with Jesus’ image, given to him by Jesus to be taken to King Abgar of Edessa. This cloth is believed to be the famous Shroud of Jesus which is currently on display in Turin, Italy.
St. Jude is often shown in paintings with a flame around his head. This represents his presence at Pentecost, when he received the Holy Spirit with the other apostles.
Jude is often, in popular usage, referred to as the "saint of last resort," the one you ask for help when all else fails.
Since his name reminds hearers of Judas Iscariot, there is a tendency for someone asking a Christian brother for intercessory prayers to try one of the other apostles first. Hence, Jude has come to be called "the saint of last resort," the one whom you ask only when desperate.
Jesus inspired devotion to St. Jude when, in a vision, he directed St. Bridget of Sweden to turn to St. Jude with great faith and confidence. In accordance with his surname, Thaddeus, Our Lord said, “He will show himself most willing to give help.”
We celebrate his feast day on October 28, the day he was martyred in 65 C.E.
