St. Jude Thaddeus: Feast Day, Patronage & Prayers

Feast day: October 28 (Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles)

Patron of: Desperate cases and lost causes.

About St. Jude Thaddeus

St. Jude, also called Thaddeus, was one of the Twelve Apostles. St. John's Gospel carefully calls him "Jude, not the Iscariot," and records his question at the Last Supper: "Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered with a beautiful promise: "If any one love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and will make our abode with him." Tradition also credits him with the short Letter of Jude in the New Testament, which urges Christians to "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints."

According to Western tradition, Jude preached with St. Simon in Persia, where both were martyred, and they share a feast on October 28. Popular devotion made him the patron of desperate cases, perhaps because his name resembled that of Judas and so people turned to him last, when every other hope seemed gone. Countless people have found that he answers such prayers generously. St. Jude reminds us that with God no situation is truly hopeless.

Prayers to St. Jude Thaddeus on Daily Catholic Prayers

• Litany of the Saints

• Prayer to St. Jude Thaddeus

• Prayers for the Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles

Learn more: “Epistle of Saint Jude” in the Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent)

Browse every saint in our Catalog of Saints A–Z.

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