St. Jude Thaddeus: Helper in Desparate Cases

 

Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration, 1931

Powerful Helper in Extreme Need

St. Jude Thaddeus shows his particular assistance and protection in circumstances deemed most difficult and desperate. His aid has been widely experienced, for he is universally known as the "Patron of hopeless and desperate cases." From earliest times he has been considered a helper in urgent need. Thousands who have implored his aid, have received extraordinary and miraculous help in cases which, according to all human calculations, seemed hopeless. Ven. Columba of the Order of St. Dominic realized how pleasing it is to God if we zealously venerate the holy apostle Thaddeus and promote his honor, because he is so little known and loved. She understood that by venerating this saint, one can obtain assistance in difficulties where help is despaired of, in trials and afflictions of a grave and serious nature.

St. Jude has obtained recovery for those stricken with maladies which defy all human skill and remedies; he has obtained grace for persons to overcome deeply rooted evil habits--those afflictions of the soul which are far more difficult to cure than any bodily ailment. St. Jude comes quickly and speedily to the aid of those tormented by impure thoughts and enslaved by impure habits. Our holy apostle obtains help in anguish, distress, calumny, poverty, misery, yea, even in despair and in circumstances where aid seems utterly impossible. In return, he demands our confidence, love and gratitude; if our requests are not immediately granted precisely according to our own ideas and wishes, they surely will be sooner or later according to the designs of God.

A shining example of veneration of this holy apostle is given us by St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who during his whole life highly honored a relic of St. Jude, and asked that in death the relic be placed upon his breast and buried with him, that, as he said, he would not be entirely without him whom in life he had found to be a powerful protector of his purity, and a potent helper in every circumstance.

Let all who are in tribulation be animated with confidence in the intercession of St. Jude, for the miraculous virtue of our prayers proceeds from confidence, says the servant of God, Ven. Anna Catherine Emmerich. Let not this holy apostle be justified in complaining that we do not avail ourselves of his merits and powerful protection. He is the helper, the consoler of all oppressed with heavy trials. Let us say with confidence: 

St. Jude, pray for us. And for all who invoke thy aid.

Prayer in Grievous Affliction

O St. Jude Thaddeus, thou relative of Jesus Christ, thou glorious apostle and martyr, renowned for thy virtues and miracles, faithful and prompt intercessor of all who honor thee and trust in thee! Thou art a powerful patron and helper in grievous afflictions. I come to thee and entreat thee from the depths of my heart, come to my aid with thy powerful intercession, for thou hast received from God the privilege to assist with thy manifest help, those who almost despair of all hope. Look down upon me; my life is a life of crosses, my days are days of tribulation, and my heart is an ocean of bitterness. All my paths are strewn with thorns and scarcely one moment passes but is witness of my tears and sighs. And withal, my soul is enveloped in darkness; disquietude, discouragement, mistrust, yes, sometimes even a kind of despair preys upon my soul. Divine Providence seems lost to my sight, and faith seems to falter in my heart. Overwhelmed by these thoughts I see myself surrounded by a dark cloud. Thou canst not forsake me in this sad plight. I will not depart from thee until thou hast heard me. Oh! hasten to my aid. I will be grateful to thee all my life. I will honor thee as my special patron, I will thank God for the graces bestowed upon thee, and will propagate thy honor according to my power. Amen.

Praise and Thanksgiving

(It was revealed to St. Gertrude that it is a source of great joy to the saints when we praise and thank God for the graces and privileges He has bestowed upon them. Clients of St. Jude should recite the following act of thanksgiving frequently.)

O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, in union with the unutterable heavenly praise with which the Most Holy Trinity extols Itself and which thence flows upon Thy Sacred Humanity, upon Mary, upon all the angels and saints, I praise, glorify and bless Thee for all the graces and privileges Thou hast bestowed upon Thy chosen apostle and intimate friend, Jude Thaddeus. I pray Thee for the sake of his merits, grant me Thy grace, and through his intercession come to my aid in all my needs, but especially at the hour of my death deign to strengthen me against the rage of my enemies. Amen. 

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc., three times.

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Helper in Desparate Cases

Novena

0 glorious apostle, St. Jude Thaddeus,

true relative of Jesus and Mary, I salute thee through the most Sacred Heart of Jesus! Through this Heart I praise and

thank God for all the graces He has

bestowed upon thee. Humbly prostrate before thee, I implore thee through this Heart to look down upon me with compassion. Oh, despise not my poor prayer;

let not my trust be confounded! To thee God has granted the privilege of aiding

mankind in the most desperate cases. Oh, come to my aid, that I may praise the mercies of God! All my life I will be

grateful to thee and will be thy faithful

client until I can thank thee in heaven. Amen.