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 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




10-28-14
10-28-15 and 10-23-18