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 and 10-23-18 10-28-19 and 10-28-2020
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