Saint Jude was one of the Twelve Apostles appointed by Jesus to lead his Church.

In the list of the Apostles given in the Gospel accounts he is generally identified
with "Thaddeus", and is variously known as Jude Thaddaeus, Judas Thaddaeus,
Jude (brother or son) of James (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13), or Lebbaeus.
St. Jude is known as the Patron Saint of lost causes amongst Roman Catholics.
This is due to the tradition that, because his name was similar to the traitor Judas
Iscariot, few, if any faithful Christians prayed for his intervention, out of the
mistaken belief that they would be praying to Judas Iscariot. As a result, St. Jude
was little used, and so became eager to assist any who asked him, to the point of
intervening in the most dire of circumstances. The Church also wanted to
encourage veneration of this "forgotten" disciple. Therefore the Church maintained
that St. Jude would intervene in any lost cause to prove his saintliness and zeal for
Christ, and thus St. Jude became the patron of lost causes.

He is believed to have written the book of Jude. Religious scholars say it contains some of the
nest expressions of praise to God in the Bible's New Testament.
Jude became associated with desperate situations because of a letter he wrote to the
Churches of the East. In it he says that the faithful must keep going even in harsh or difcult
circumstances.

According to tradition, Saint Jude suffered martyrdom about 65 AD in Beirut, in the

Roman province of Syria, together with the apostle Simon the Zealot, with whom he
is usually connected. The axe that he is often shown holding in pictures symbolizes
the way in which he was killed.Their acts and martyrdom were recorded in an Acts
of Simon and Jude that was among the collection of passions and legends
traditionally associated with the legendary Abdias, bishop of Babylon, and said to
have been translated into Latin by his disciple Tropaeus Africanus, according to the
Golden Legend account of the saints.[20]
Sometime after his death, Saint Jude's body was brought from Beirut to Rome and
placed in a crypt in St. Peter's Basilicawhich was visited by many devotees. Now his
bones are in the left transept of St. Peter's Basilica under the main altar of St.
Joseph in one tomb with the remains of the apostle Simon the Zealot. According to
another popular tradition, the remains of St. Jude were preserved in an Armenian
monastery on an island in the northern part of Issyk-Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan at least
until the mid-15th century. Later legends either deny that the remains are preserved
there or claim that they were moved to a yet more desolate stronghold in the Pamir
Mountains.
What is a novena?
A novena is the reciting of powerful prayers and devotions for a special request
over nine consecutive days. Traditionally, a novena included praying, fasting,
and meditating
*Do I have to be Catholic to make the novena? Do I have to be
religious?
No! You only have to be someone having a difficult time coping with one (or
more) difficult problems in your life that do not seem resolvable on your own.
You're human! It's alright to be overwhelmed sometimes.
*How often and for how long should the novena be said?
Traditionally, the novena prayer is said for 9 days. The 9 days signifies the 9
days the early Apostles prayed together during the time between the
Ascension of Jesus, and Pentecost, when they experienced the powerful
presence of the Holy Spirit. However, there is no hard and fast "rule" for
praying; it is best if you adopt a series of prayers and a rhythm for saying
them that is comfortable for you and allows you to open a dialogue with God.

The Novena to St. Jude

The Novena Prayer, all 4 parts, must be said 6 times each day for 9 consecutive days,
leaving 9 copies in Church each day. Prayer will be answered on or before the 9th day
and has never been known to fail.
Make 81 copies and leave 9 copies in Church for 9 consecutive days. You will receive
your intention before the 9 days are over, no matter how impossible it may seem.
Prayer to St. Jude
To be said when problems arise or when one seems to be deprived of all visible help,
or for cases almost despaired of.
Most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors
and invokes you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost
despaired of. Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Make use I implore you, of that
particular privilege given 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
consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings,
particularly ( here make your request ) and that I may praise God with you and all the
elect forever. I promise, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to
always honor you as my special and powerful Patron, and to gratefully encourage
devotion to you. Amen.
Novena Prayer
May the most sacred heart of Jesus be adored, loved in all Tabernacles until the end
of time. AMEN.
May the most sacred heart of Jesus be praised and glorified now & forever. AMEN.
St. Jude pray for us and hear our prayers. AMEN.
Blessed be the sacred heart of Jesus
Blessed be the immaculate heart of Mary.
Blessed be St. Jude Thaddeus, in all the world and for all eternity. AMEN.
Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will
be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us
our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us
sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.