BIOGRAPHY OF SAINT JUDE THADDEUS

                    Saint Jude Thaddeus

Also known as

• Jude of James
• Judas Thaddaeus
• Lebbaeus
• Jude, brother of Jesus
• Lebai Sleeha

Memorial

• 28 October (Roman Church)
• 19 June (Eastern Church)

Profile

Son of Cleophas, who died a martyr, and Mary who stood at the foot of the Cross, and who annointed Christ’s body after death. Brother of Saint James the Lesser. Nephew of Maryand Joseph; blood relative of Jesus Christ, and reported to look a lot like him. May have been a fisherman. Apostle.

Wrote the canonical Epistle named for him. Preached in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persiawith Saint Simon. Healer. Exorcist. Could exorcise pagan idols, which caused the demons to flee and the statues to crumble.

His patronage of lost or impossible causes traditionally derives from confusion by many early Christians between Jude and the traitor Judas Iscariot; not understanding the difference between the names, they never prayed for Jude’s help, and devotion to him became something of a lost cause.

Died

• beaten to death with a club, then beheaded post-mortem in 1st century Persia
• relics at Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Italy, at Rheims, France, and at Toulouse, France

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Name Meaning

• sweetness or gentleness of character (Thaddeus)

Patronage

• desperate situations
• forgotten causes
• hospital workers
• hospitals
• impossible causes
• lost causes
• Saint Petersburg, Florida, diocese of

Readings

Saint Jude, pray for us, and for all who invoke thy aid.