Sunday, August 03, 2014


St. Jude (Thaddeus)

The flame appearing at the top of his head is considered that of the Holy Spirit which all the apostles received.
 
'The Saint for the Hopeless and the Despaired'. St. Bridget of Sweden & St. Bernard had visions from God asking each to accept St. Jude as 'The Patron Saint of the Impossible'

Named himself as brother of James in his own writings. The names Thaddeus or Lebbeus in definition also indicates the brother of James. St. Jude was known by all those names. He was a full brother to James the Lesser who was stated to be a full cousin to Jesus, hence, St. Jude was not only one of the twelve he was also a full cousin of Jesus.

The 14th-century writer Nicephorus Callistus makes Jude the bridegroom at the wedding at Cana. A legend reports that St. Jude was born into a Jewish family in Paneas, a town in Galilee later rebuilt by the Romans and renamed Caesarea Philippi.


In all probability Jude spoke both Greek and Aramaic, like almost all of his contemporaries in that area, and was a farmer by trade. According to the legend, St. Jude was a son of Clopas and his mother Mary, a cousin of the Virgin Mary. Tradition has it that Jude's father, Clopas, was martyred because of his forthright and outspoken devotion to the risen Christ.

St. Jude asked the question of Jesus, after the Last Supper, why he would not manifest himself to the entire world and not just those that heard him. Jesus replied to Jude, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will keep and make our abode with him." (John 14:22-23) It indicated merit to the miracle and devotion to the Father and Son.

Jude was believed to have practiced his teaching in Mesopotamia and then joined Simon (Not Simon Peter) in Persia. It was there in they both were martyred for their teachings. Jude is known as the patron saint of "desperate causes."

There is mention two grandson of St. Jude by Eusebias. They were questioned by Emperor Domitian as they were of the royal house of David. Because they were poor men and sought a kingdom not of this world, Domitian did not consider them a threat and set them free.