Saint Jude, Hope of the Hopeless Cases

St. Jude, also known as Thaddaeus, was a relative of Our Savior and a brother of St. James the Less. He was one of Jesus’ 12 Apostles, and his symbol is a club. A flame is often depicted around the head of St. Jude to represent his presence at Pentecost, when he accepted the Holy Spirit alongside the other apostles. Another feature is St. Jude holding a representation of Christ in the Image of Edessa.

He is sometimes shown holding a carpenter’s ruler or holding a scroll or book, the Epistle of Jude.

Biblical scholars agree that St. Jude was the son of Clopas, and his mother Mary was a cousin of the Virgin Mary. According to ancient writers, he preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Lybia. He returned to Jerusalem in the year 62, according to Eusebius, and assisted in the election of his brother, St. Simeon, as Bishop of Jerusalem.

According to Legend, Jude was the one who asked Jesus during the Last Supper why He would not appear to the entire world after His resurrection. Little is known about his life.

Saint Jude is not the same as Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Our Lord and became despondent as a result of his great sin and lack of faith in God’s mercy.

According to legend, he visited Beirut and Edessa and may have been martyred alongside St. Simon in Persia.

Great St. Jude of heaven’s glory, patron of all hopeless souls.