Quote of the Day – 28 October – Patron of Impossible Causes

Quote of the Day – 28 October – Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

“The Patron Saint of the Impossible:”
This practice is thought to stem from the belief that few Christians invoked St Jude in prayer, due to their misplaced fear of praying to Christ’s betrayer, Judas Iscariot, the two names being so similar.
Being so seldom invoked and reverenced, St Jude was and is, ready and waiting to hear the prayers of those who call upon him.   Ironically, he is probably the Apostle who is the most frequently invoked in prayer and the most memorialised in Churches, with Statues and stained glass windows or other artworks. The ignored St Jude, thus became more eager to assist anyone who sought his intercession and aid, to the point of interceding in the most dire of circumstances.
And so, the Title, “The Saint of Impossible Causes, for the Hopeless and the Desperate,” remains, to our benefit with the glorious Saint Jude.
St Bernard and St Bridget too, both had visions from God, asking each to accept St Jude as “The Patron Saint of the Impossible.”
Today, more than ever before, the merits of the beloved Saint Jude Thaddeus is being revived in people’s minds and hearts.
In return, he is proving himself to be more than an ordinary advocate, taking special delight in coming to the aid of persons in desperate need.

Prayer to St Jude
Patron of Impossible Causes

It is a beautiful tradition,
associated with prayer to St Jude,
to leave a copy of the prayer in a Church
or before his Statue, Image or Shrine,
for someone else, who is in great need, to find.

Most holy Apostle, St Jude,
faithful servant and friend of Jesus,
the Church honours and invokes you universally,
as the patron of hopeless causes,
of things almost despaired of.
Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone.
Help me, I implore you,
by that particular privilege given to you,
to bring visible and speedy help
where help is almost despaired of.
Come to my assistance in this great need,
that I may receive the consolation
and help of Heaven in all my necessities,
tribulation and sufferings,
particularly ………………… (state request)
and that I may praise God with you
and all the elect forever.
I promise, O blessed St Jude,
to be ever mindful of this great favour,
to always honour you as my special and powerful patron
and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.
Amen