St. Jude Thaddeus - When Everything Seems Hopeless, Take It to St. Jude
Feast Day: October 28
Is there an intention you have almost stopped praying for?
A family situation that seems impossible to repair?
A loved one who will not return to the Faith?
An illness, financial difficulty, troubled marriage, employment problem, or private burden for which you simply cannot see a solution?
Meet St. Jude Thaddeus, Apostle of Jesus Christ and one of the most beloved patrons of desperate and seemingly hopeless causes.
When every earthly door seems closed, Catholics have long turned to St. Jude and asked:
“Please pray for me. I don't know what else to do.”
His Story
St. Jude was one of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Our Lord.
He is also traditionally identified as the author of the Epistle of St. Jude in the New Testament.
For many years, devotion to St. Jude was less widespread than devotion to some of the other Apostles, possibly because his name, Judas, could easily be confused with Judas Iscariot, the Apostle who betrayed Jesus.
But Jude was the faithful Judas.
Over time, Catholics increasingly turned to this lesser-invoked Apostle with their most difficult intentions. This contributed to his widespread reputation as the patron of hopeless and desperate cases.
Today, churches and shrines throughout the world receive prayers of thanksgiving from people who believe St. Jude's intercession helped them during some of the darkest moments of their lives.
When Should You Pray to St. Jude?
Turn to St. Jude when you are praying for:
A seemingly impossible situation
A serious illness
A troubled marriage
Family reconciliation
The conversion of someone you love
Financial difficulties
Employment
A courtship or relationship that needs God's guidance
Freedom from addiction
A child who has wandered from the Faith
A situation that has continued for years
A prayer that appears unanswered
Hope when you are tempted to give up
You do not have to wait until everything falls apart before asking St. Jude to pray for you.
But if everything has fallen apart, he is a wonderful friend to call upon.
Testimonies of St. Jude's Intercession
One of the striking things about devotion to St. Jude is the tradition of public thanksgiving.
For generations, people who believed they received a favor through his intercession have placed notices in newspapers, parish bulletins, church publications, and other public places saying simply:
“Thank you, St. Jude, for favors received.”
These little notices became a recognizable part of devotion to him.
Behind each one was a person with a story.
Someone had been praying.
Someone had been waiting.
Someone had believed their situation was hopeless.
And someone wanted to say thank you.
A Devotion That Spread During Desperate Times
Devotion to St. Jude grew strongly in the twentieth century, particularly through shrines dedicated to him.
People began sending intentions involving illnesses, unemployment, family crises, financial hardship, and other desperate circumstances.
Many later sent messages of thanksgiving for favors they believed had been received through his prayers.
The custom became so closely associated with St. Jude that devotees were often encouraged, after receiving a favor, to make his name and intercession known to others.
That is one reason you may have seen:
“Thank you, St. Jude.”
Sometimes those four words represent years of prayer.
Testimonies Today
People continue to share personal testimonies of turning to St. Jude during circumstances that appeared impossible.
Some describe employment arriving when money was running out.
Others speak of reconciliation within families after long periods of separation.
Some tell of unexpected improvement during serious illnesses.
Others speak of freedom from addictions, help during financial emergencies, marriages strengthened, or loved ones returning to the Faith.
And some testimonies are quieter.
The situation did not immediately disappear—but the person received peace, courage, perseverance, or hope when previously they had none.
Personal testimonies are not guarantees that God will grant every request exactly as we desire.
Every grace comes from God.
St. Jude does not perform miracles independently of Him. We ask St. Jude to intercede—to pray to God with us and for us.
Prayer to St. Jude
Most holy Apostle, St. Jude,
faithful servant and friend of Jesus,
the Church honoreth and invoketh thee universally
as the patron of hopeless cases
and of things almost despaired of.
Pray for me, who am so miserable.
Make use, I implore thee,
of that particular privilege accorded to thee,
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:
[Mention your intention.]
And that I may praise God with thee
and all the saints forever.
I promise thee, O blessed Jude,
to be ever mindful of this great favor,
and I will never cease to honor thee
as my special and powerful patron
and to do all in my power
to encourage devotion to thee.
Amen.
Pray a Novena to St. Jude
If you are carrying a particularly difficult intention, consider praying a nine-day novena to St. Jude.
Choose your intention and bring the same request to him each day.
But add one important prayer:
“St. Jude, obtain this for me if it is according to God's holy will. If God desires something different, obtain for me the grace to trust Him.”
That little addition changes everything.
We are asking boldly while still surrendering completely to God.
What If You Have Been Praying for Years?
Then St. Jude may be exactly the saint you need beside you.
Sometimes the hardest part of prayer is not beginning.
It is continuing.
It is praying again when yesterday seemed to change nothing.
It is asking for someone's conversion for the hundredth time.
It is returning to Mass with the same burden.
It is beginning another novena.
It is choosing hope when circumstances tell you to despair.
Do not confuse “I cannot see the answer” with “God is not listening.”
Keep praying.
When the Answer Comes — Say Thank You
There is a beautiful lesson in the traditional St. Jude thanksgiving notices.
When we are desperate, we remember to ask.
When the crisis passes, we sometimes forget to thank.
If you receive a favor after seeking St. Jude's intercession, stop and give thanks.
Have a Mass offered in thanksgiving.
Light a candle.
Perform an act of charity.
Tell someone about St. Jude.
And above all, thank Almighty God, Who is the source of every grace.
You might even continue the old tradition with four simple words:
“Thank you, St. Jude.”
Learn More About St. Jude
Would you like to deepen your devotion to the patron of desperate causes?
Visit our parish bookstore to see our books and devotional materials about St. Jude and the other saints.
A prayer card or novena booklet can also be a beautiful thing to give someone who is carrying a burden and does not know where to turn.
Sometimes giving someone a prayer is another way of telling them:
“Don't give up yet.”
Have You Received a Favor Through St. Jude's Intercession?
Perhaps our parish can continue the beautiful tradition of thanksgiving.
If you have prayed to St. Jude and believe you received a special favor through his intercession, consider sharing your testimony with us.
It does not need to be dramatic.
Maybe the impossible door opened.
Maybe someone came home.
Maybe work appeared just when you needed it.
Maybe healing came.
Maybe reconciliation began.
Or maybe the circumstances remained difficult, but God gave you the strength to continue.
Your testimony could be exactly what another person needs to read when they are about to give up.
When everything looks hopeless, remember the faithful Apostle who has become the friend of desperate souls.
Take the impossible intention to St. Jude.
Ask him to carry it with you before Jesus.
Then pray.
Hope.
Persevere.
And trust God with the answer.
St. Jude Thaddeus, patron of desperate and seemingly hopeless causes, pray for us!
