St Jude [Thaddaeus] was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. He was a brother of St James the less, who was also an apostle. They were the sons of Alphaeus, also sometimes called Cleophas who was a brother of Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. His mother Mary of Alphaeus, sometimes called Mary Cleophas was a cousin of The Blessed Virgin Mary, and one of the holy women who stood at the foot of the cross with the Blessed Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist.
Jesus inspired St Bridget of Sweden to turn to St Jude with great faith and confidence. Jesus told her that, in accordance with Jude's surname, Thaddeus [which means generous, courageous, and kind], "He will show himself to be the most willing to give you help". St Bernard of Clairvaux [died 1153] declared Doctor of the Church in 1830 was a renowned devotee of St Jude.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus, St Jude with St Simon, also an apostle, travelled throughout Mesopotamia [present -day Iraq] Libya, Turkey and Persia preaching and converting many people to Christianity.
Around the year 60 A.D. St Jude wrote a letter or epistle known as the letter of St Jude in the New Testament. In it he urges the faithful to "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.
For certain men are secretly entered in ............ungodly men, turning the grace of Our Lord
God into riotousness, and denying the only sovereign ruler and Our Lord Jesus Christ.".
St Jude it is believed was martyred along with St Simon in Persia around 65 A.D.
St Jude is a real hero of a saint as far as I'm concerned, he truly is the saint of the impossible. He has got so many favours and graces from the Lord for me. For example work when all seemed lost, a little home when money was very tight. Go to dear St Jude he will not let you down. God bless you always love from Glory.
PRAYER TO ST JUDE
St Jude, glorious Apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus!
the name of the traitor has caused you to be forgotten by many,
but the Church honours and invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases-
of matters despaired of. Pray for me who am so miserable; make use, I implore you,
of that particular privilege accorded 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
consolations and succour of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, particularly
.....................[here make your request]............and that I may bless God with you and all the elect
throughout eternity.
I promise you, O blessed Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favour, and I will never cease to
honour you as my special and powerful patron, and do all in my power to encourage devotion to you Amen.