Saint Jude, known as Thaddeus, was the nephew of Mary and Joseph, and a cousin of our Lord. He was the brother of the apostle James the Less. His father was Cleophas, who died a martyr, and his mother’s name was Mary. She stood beneath the cross when Jesus died and later anointed His body for burial. As a young man, Jude knew Jesus well, and left everything to follow Him.
Saint Jude is often depicted wearing an image of Jesus because he cured the King of Edessa from leprosy in His name. God gave Jude a special power. When he ordered the evil spirits to leave pagan idols, the images fell to the ground and shattered.
Saint Jude and his fellow apostle Saint Simon labored as missionaries in Persian Armenia, where they suffered martyrdom. Jude was beaten to death with a club, and his head cut off with an ax.
Today, Saint Jude is honored as the Patron Saint of hopeless cases. His Feast day, which he shares with Saint Simon, is October 28th, and his relics are enshrined in Saint Peter’s basilica in Rome.
To the one who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished and exultant, in the presence of his glory, to the only God, our savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord be glory, majesty, power, and authority from ages past, now, and for ages to come. Amen.
JUDE 24-25