St. Jude is well-known as the "Patron Saint of Lost Causes."

But do you know why?

The reasons are fascinating.

1/ St. Jude is listed in the gospels as one of the Twelve Apostles.

His name appears six times in the New Testament as either "Jude" or "Judas."

2/ Jude (or Judas) shared his name with another Judas: Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.

The name was so similar that John's gospel had to clarify: "Judas (not Judas Iscariot)" (John 14:22).

3/ As the story goes, people were afraid to ask St. Jude for prayers because of this close similarity to the name of Judas Iscariot.

St. Jude was sometimes called the "Forgotten Apostle" because the other apostles were so much more popular.

4/ In time, however, people started to turn to this "Forgotten Apostle" to intercede for them.

The other apostles were popular. St. Jude was not.

The belief was that St. Jude would be eager to assist anyone who turned to him since he was so often overlooked.

5/ Thus, St. Jude, the "Forgotten Apostle," became the patron saint of lost causes, impossible causes, desperate situations, and hopeless situations.

But the story doesn't end there.

6/ Two saints had visions about the Forgotten Apostle, St. Jude.

God asked both St. Bridget of Sweden and St. Bernard to turn to St. Jude as "The Patron Saint of the Impossible."

7/ Jesus said to St. Bridget of Sweden in a vision:

“In accordance with his surname, [Judas] Thaddeus, the amiable or loving, he will show himself most willing to give help.”

8/ St. Bernard of Clarivaux's devotion to St. Jude was so great that he asked to be buried with a relic of St. Jude that he carried with him for most of his life.

9/ Devotion to St. Jude became popular during the middle ages and then again in the 20th century.

In the United States the Claretian Fathers established a national shrine to St. Jude in Chicago.

https://shrineofstjude.org/ 

From Chicago devotion grew throughout the U.S.

10/ If you have a moment, pray:

Most holy apostle, St. 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. https://www.archspm.org/faith-and-discipleship/prayer/catholic-prayers/prayer-to-st-jude-for-lost-causes/

11/ What did I miss about the life and devotion of St. Jude?

What can you add to the origin and history of this devotion?

St. Jude, patron saint of lost causes, pray for us!

#saintjude