St. Jude Thaddeus

Helper in Desperate Cases

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• Publisher: TAN Books
• Year: 1999
• Print ISBN: 9780895556486
• eBook ISBN: 9781505107333
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Denominations

In desperate circumstances, the Faithful have always turned to the sure help of St. Jude Thaddeus-Apostle, cousin of Our Lord, and martyr for the Catholic Faith. This powerful Saint is invoked in cases of extreme need, grievous illness, poverty, and when circumstances seem hopeless. Plus, he is a special defender of (and helper in regaining) purity. St. Jude has obtained remedies and comfort for countless people who have turned to him in prayer. It explains his relationship to Our Lord and describes his preaching of the Gospel in Persia. There, along with St. Simon, he performed many miracles, defeated two magicians, converted thousands-including kings-and was martyred. Besides many interesting traditions about St. Jude, this booklet also contains the entire text of the Epistle of St. Jude with an explanation of this little-known New Testament book. Also includes famous, powerful prayers and novenas.

Prayers and Novenas

Any of the following prayers may be used for a novena—that is, prayed every day for nine consecutive days—according to one’s needs.

Prayer for a Special Favor

O GLORIOUS APOSTLE Saint Jude Thaddeus, true lover of Jesus and Mary, I greet thee through the 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. Despise not my poor prayers; let not my trust be confounded; to thee God has granted the privilege of aiding mankind in the most desperate cases. O 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.

Prayer for Spiritual Help

O GLORIOUS martyr and APOSTLE, servant of Jesus, St. Jude Thaddeus, thou didst spread the True Faith among the most barbarous and distant nations and didst win to the obedience of Jesus Christ many tribes and peoples by the power of His holy word. Grant, I beg thee, that from this day I may renounce every sinful habit, that I may be preserved from all evil thoughts, that I may always obtain thine assistance, particularly in danger and difficulty, and that I may reach the heavenly country, with thee to adore the Most Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for Help in Trials

This and the following prayer may be said in great affliction, or when one seems to be deprived of all visible help, and for cases almost despaired of.

O GLORIOUS APOSTLE St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor who delivered thy beloved Master into the hands of His enemies has caused thee to be forgotten by many, but the Church honors and invokes thee universally as the Patron of Hopeless Cases—of things almost despaired of. Pray for me who am so helpless and alone. Make use, I implore thee, of that particular privilege granted to thee to bring visible and speedy help where help was almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need, that I may receive the consolation and succor of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, but in particular, that . . . (Here make your intention) and that I may praise God with thee and with all the Saints forever.

I promise thee, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor and never cease to honor thee as my special and powerful patron, and to do all in my power gratefully to encourage devotion to thee. Amen.

Prayer in Grievous Affliction

ST. JUDE THADDEUS, relative of Jesus and Mary, glorious Apostle and martyr, renowned for thy virtues and miracles, faithful and prompt intercessor for all who honor thee and trust in thee, powerful patron and helper in grievous affliction, I come to thee and entreat thee with all my heart to come to my aid, for thou hast received from God the privilege of assisting with manifest help those who almost despair! Look down upon me: my life is a life of crosses, my days are full of tribulation, and my paths are strewn with thorns—and scarcely one moment passes but is witness of my tears and sighs. My soul is enveloped in darkness, disquietude, discouragement, mistrust—yes, sometimes even a kind of despair preys upon me. 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 thank God for the graces bestowed upon thee, and will propagate thine honor according to my power. Amen.

Prayer of 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 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, St. Jude Thaddeus. I implore Thee, for the sake of his merits, to grant me Thy grace, ...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• ST. JUDE—HELPER IN GREAT NEED
• THE CATHOLIC EPISTLE OF ST. JUDE THE APOSTLE
• MASS IN HONOR OF ST. JUDE
• PRAYERS AND NOVENAS