For the Love of Us All

SAINT JUDE---PATRON SAINT OF HOPELESS CASES

Do you ever feel hopeless

I know that I do

Well I have some good news for you

In addition to Jesus

There is a Saint that we can pray to

Or at least ask to intercede for us

On our behalf

His name is Jude---Also known as Thaddeus

Jude was the ½ brother of James the lesser

Both original Apostles

And ½ brothers of Jesus

There was little devotion

To Saint Jude

Because his name was so close to that of Judas

The traitor

That devotion to him became discouraged

But devotion

Began to pick up in the 14^th century

When our Lord himself

Directed Saint Bridget of Sweden

To turn to Saint Jude in faith and confidence

Our Lord told Saint Bridget

That the name of Thaddeus means

“Amiable and loving---and---

He will show himself most willing to help”

Saint Jude’s father’s name was Cleophas

And he was murdered

Because of his outspoken devotion

To the Risen Christ

Mary Cleophas---the Mother of Saint Jude

Was present at Christ’s crucifixion

And after her death

Many miracles were attributed

To her intercession

Jude---like his brother James

Did not believe that Jesus

Was the Son of God

Until after the Resurrection

After the Resurrection

Jude---along with his companion Simon

Preached and taught in Mesopotamia

For ten years

Converting many to Christianity

His teachings

Were primarily against Gnosticism---

The teaching that the sins of the body

Does not affect the sins of the soul

And against the people of his day---

Bearing false witness---about Jesus

And our Christian walk

He taught that Christians

Need to be aware of false teachers

Infiltrating the church

Certainly---at least in my mind

As true today---as it was back then

Maybe more so---just turn on your television set

But maybe---in my mind

His most important teaching

Was that believers

Should be merciful to unbelievers

He and Simon

Made more converts in Persia

Where he was clubbed to death

We all face hopeless situations

In today’s world

Maybe more so than ever

We may lose hope

Because of our health diagnosis

The loss of a loved one

Our finances

A broken relationship within the family

Or for many other reasons

“And we rejoice

In the hope of the glory of God

Not only so

But we also rejoice in our suffering

Because we know that suffering

Produces perseverance; perseverance---character

And character---HOPE

And hope does not disappoint us

Because God has poured out his love

Into our hearts by the Holy Spirit

Whom he has given us”                                           Romans 5:3-5

So when we are feeling hopeless

And like our Lord told Saint Bridget about Saint Jude

We can be confident that:

“HE WILL SHOW HIMSELF MOST WILLING TO HELP”

Robert P. Wallman

10-22-11

Ps        Today---October 28^th---is his feast day---my sister Terri---her middle name Judith

            Is after our Saint Jude---THE PATRON SAINT OF THE IMPOSSIBLE