The Prayer to St. Jude
O Holy St. Jude, Apostle and martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart, and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked.
Say three Our Fathers, three Hail Marys, and three Glory Bes.
St. Jude, pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen.
Traditional public-domain prayer.
Pray the Prayer to St. Jude every day with a reminder.
Start praying with Rosary & MercyKey takeaways
- St. Jude (Thaddeus) was one of the twelve apostles.
- He is the patron of hopeless and desperate causes.
- His feast day is October 28, shared with St. Simon.
What is the Prayer to St. Jude?
St. Jude, also called Thaddeus, was one of the twelve apostles and traditionally the author of the Letter of Jude. Because his letter urges perseverance in hard times, Catholics have long asked his help in hopeless cases. Devotion to him grew greatly in the 20th century.
When to pray it
Catholics pray to St. Jude in times of serious need: illness, financial trouble, family conflict, or any situation that feels beyond hope. Many pray this prayer as a nine-day novena.
Questions people ask
Why is St. Jude the patron of hopeless causes?
His name was confused in the past with Judas Iscariot, so few people prayed to him. That left him as the saint of last resort, which became his title.
When is St. Jude's feast day?
October 28, together with St. Simon.
Is there a St. Jude novena?
Yes. See the St. Jude Novena on this site.
Related prayers
Pray through what you are reading, every day, with a gentle reminder.
Start praying with Rosary & MercySources: Jude 1:1-25 · Luke 6:16 · Catechism of the Catholic Church 2683-2684 · USCCB