Saint Jude=PATRON SAINT OF HOPELESS CASES

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 14th 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 28th---is his feast day---my sister Terri---her middle name Judith Is after our Saint Jude---THE PATRON SAINT OF THE IMPOSSIBLE 10-28-14 10-28-15