There is perhaps no one among us, particularly at this point in our nation’s history, who is not facing a crisis on some level. Maybe yours is of a financial nature. Maybe your home is in foreclosure or you are facing a short sale. Perhaps your marriage needs healing or you are newly bereaved. Maybe you lost your job and are unable to find meaningful employment. Whatever your suffering is on a physical, fiscal, mental, emotional or spiritual level, one thing is certain – your problem appears to be immoveable, impassable, and simply impossible to solve! Perhaps you even feel like giving up. In other words – you have become desperate!
Whatever challenges you are facing in life– know that there is a powerful Saint of the early Church who eagerly awaits your call for help. Even now, in our present age, he stands ready to robustly assist you in the seemingly impossible problems of life.
I speak of a Saint of which little is known. A Saint who was ordinary until Christ made him extraordinary. A Saint mentioned little in the Gospels – but who broke his silence to write a short, powerful letter which speaks to the challenges of our times. A Saint who bore the ultimate witness, dying a martyr’s death with a spirit steeped in courage.
St. Jude, by Anthonis van Dyck
I speak of Saint Jude – the Saint of the impossible! The inconsolable! The desperate! A Saint who has never been known to fail! Saint Jude is specifically invoked in despairing situations because his New Testament letter, The Letter of Saint Jude, stresses to us the importance of persevering despite harsh and difficult times. Therefore, he has been appointed as the Patron Saint of desperate cases. And I can tell you from experience, he takes his title very seriously! In our challenging times, would it not be wise to befriend such a faithful ally?
As one of the twelve apostles hand-picked by our Savior, this cousin of Jesus and brother of James has come to my assistance countless times over the years. One of the most extraordinary instances was when I was down to the wire in having to find a rental home quickly after selling my condo. Not having any luck in my search – and needing to find a home within two weeks, I was growing more desperate by the hour. I decided to take it to Saint Jude. On the advice of a friend, I wrote out a list of everything I was looking for in a home – a fireplace, wood flooring, two car garage, office space, desert landscaping, not to mention, something to fit my budget! I began my novena, praying to Saint Jude to intercede before the Most Holy Trinity. Throughout my novena, I also continued to thank Saint Jude for his assistance.
Time went on and I kept checking the MLS with no luck. However, late on the eighth night of the novena, I suddenly felt a strong urge to get up and check the latest MLS listings despite having checked them just a few hours before. On the top of the MLS list was a home that just posted. Viewing the photos, I could easily see it was just what I wanted! I was able to check off each item on my wish list, and noticed the home offered even more than I imagined. Due to the competitive market, I called my realtor immediately and we were able to file the necessary paperwork the next morning. I moved in less than a week later! Saint Jude had come through big time and I am remain eternally grateful!
This was not the first time Saint Jude so deftly answered my prayers. He again came to my rescue a few months ago when I found myself in the exact same situation. I again created my wish list for my next home and began my novena. Once more, this powerful Saint heard my pleas and answered them in a way that could only have come from above.
As an act of thanksgiving, I promised him I would write an article about his wondrous intercession, encouraging others to trust in his powerful intercession before the Most Holy Trinity. However, I don’t want to tout Saint Jude as a spiritual candy machine who answers prayers exactly as we want, when we want and how we want. As with all prayer, you must be willing to accept whatever answer comes, even if it is not exactly what you hoped for or expected. I know this from experience. There have been many prayers in my life answered with a resounding, “No!” Only later did I see the wisdom and providential protection of God in not answering some of my prayers. So do not despair if you do not receive an immediate answer following your novena. From our faith, we know God’s timing is perfect. So keep hope that Saint Jude is indeed working with God in answering your prayers in the best possible way for you! At the very least, you will experience the necessary peace and strength to carry on knowing that you are not going through your experience alone. Whatever you do, do not stop praying and do not give up hope!
Therefore, I highly encourage you to bring whatever is weighing heavily on your heart to Saint Jude, ideally through a nine-day novena. Don’t forget to also thank Saint Jude for what he is doing or has done for you. Part of my thanks to Saint Jude was writing an article on how he has powerfully assisted me in my own life. It is the very article you are reading now.
Let’s face it – we all need help from time to time and there is no shame in asking for it. So why not seek help from one of God’s most powerful intercessors who continuously goes before the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for his friends on earth. Won’t you consider making Saint Jude a part of your spiritual family to help you with the impossible? Give him a chance and experience firsthand the many ways this mighty champion of Christ will work in your life!
Novena to Saint Jude:
Saint 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 honors and invokes you universally as the patron of difficult and desperate cases. 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 was 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, tribulations and sufferings, particularly — (here make your request) — and that I may bless God with you and all the elect throughout all eternity.
I promise you, O blessed SAINT JUDE, to be ever mindful of this great favor, and I will never cease to honor you as my special and powerful patron and do all in my power to encourage devotion to you. Amen.
Saint Jude, pray for us and for all who honor you and invoke your aid.
(Say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father, 3 times.)
By Judy Keane
Judy Keane is a Catholic writer and a communications/marketing executive who resides in Phoenix, Arizona. She holds an MBA in International Business and is currently working on her first book.
