If you find yourself in a situation where the bills are overdue, the doctor has given up, and the lawyer says there is no hope... there is one name that Catholics have whispered for centuries: St. Jude.
He is known as the [Patron Saint](/guides/who-is-my-patron-saint) of Hopeless Causes (or "Lost Causes"). But why him? Why would one of the twelve apostles be specifically designated for the impossible? Ironically, it’s because for almost 1,500 years, he was the "forgotten" apostle.
October 28 is the Feast of St. Jude Thaddeus. Here is why you should never give up as long as you have this powerful intercessor on your side.
1. The Name That Caused a Crisis
St. Jude’s real name was Thaddeus (meaning "courageous"). He was one of the Twelve Apostles and a cousin of Jesus Christ (the son of Cleopas and Mary of Cleopas). However, in the Gospels, he is also called Jude (Judas in Latin).
The Problem: There was another Jude among the Twelve: Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. In the early Church, people were so horrified by the name "Judas" that they were afraid to pray to any Jude. They didn't want to accidentally address the traitor. As a result, St. Jude Thaddeus became the "forgotten" apostle. While people flocked to Peter, James, and John, St. Jude stood in the background, his intercession largely untapped.
2. Why He is the Patron are "Hopeless Causes"
Tradition says that because Jude was ignored for so many centuries, he became extremely "eager" to help anyone who finally asked him. According to the visions of St. Bridget of Sweden (14th century), Jesus told her:
"In accordance with his surname, 'Thaddeus,' the amiable or loving, he will show himself most willing to give help."
Jesus specifically recommended that people turn to Jude for their most desperate needs, as his name had been "purified" by his long period of neglect. He became the "Reserve Tank" of the Church—available when all other resources have run dry.
3. The Symbols: Why He Carries a Face
When you look at a statue of St. Jude, you see specific details that tell his story:
- The Flame: A tongue of fire on his head, representing the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Jude was there when the Church was born.
- The Club or Axe: The instrument of his martyrdom. He was beaten to death or beheaded in Persia around 65 AD for refuses to sacrifice to pagan gods.
- The Green Robe: Symbolizing hope and renewal.
- The Medal (The Mandylion): This is the most interesting one. Jude is usually holding a gold medallion with the face of Jesus on it.
The Miracle of King Abgar
According to ancient tradition, King Abgar of Edessa was dying of leprosy. He sent a letter to Jesus asking for a cure. Jesus told Jude to go to him after the Resurrection. Jude took a cloth (the Mandylion) that had been miraculously imprinted with the face of Jesus. When the King touched the cloth, he was instantly healed. This is why Jude is the patron not just of hopeless cases, but of healing.
4. The Epistle of Jude: A Warning
Jude is also the author of one of the shortest books in the Bible: The Letter of Jude. It is a "fiery" letter. He doesn't hold back. He warns the early Christians against "false teachers" who try to pervert the grace of God into licentiousness. He tells us to "contend for the faith" (Jude 1:3). He reminds us that even when the world seems to be falling apart and the Church is being attacked from within, God is still in control.
5. St. Jude in the Modern World: Danny Thomas
The modern popularity of St. Jude exploded in the 1950s because of a struggling comedian named Danny Thomas. Danny was broke, with a baby on the way, and his career was going nowhere. He went to a church in Detroit, put his last $7 in the collection box, and prayed: "Help me find my way in life, and I will build you a shrine."
He soon found work, his career skyrocketed, and he became a superstar. He kept his promise. He built St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee—a place where no child is ever turned away because of a family's inability to pay. That hospital has saved thousands of lives, becoming a "living shrine" to the patron of the impossible.
6. How to Pray the St. Jude Novena
A Novena is nine days of prayer. The St. Jude Novena is famous for its effectiveness. People often say: "St. Jude has never failed me."
The Key is Persistence. If you have a hopeless case—a broken marriage, a terminal illness, a financial disaster—don't just pray once. Pray for nine days. Or nine months. Show Jude that you trust him.
The Prayer:
"Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, 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 and invokes you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone..."
Conclusion: Nothing is Impossible
St. Jude stands as a rebuke to our despair. He tells us that "forgotten" doesn't mean "gone." He tells us that "desperate" doesn't mean "done." If you feel like your life is a "lost cause," remember that St. Jude spent 1,500 years as a lost cause himself. He knows the way back.
October 28 is his feast day. But you don't have to wait until then. Call on the Apostle of the Impossible today.
Running out of hope? Light a candle to St. Jude on the MyPrayerTower app.