Catholic
Devotion emphasizes St. Jude’s intercession in difficult circumstances, including novenas and prayer at the National Shrine.
Explore Catholic devotion ↗Turn to St. Jude Thaddeus
Patron Saint
of Hope
and Impossible Causes.
When life feels overwhelming, turn to St. Jude in prayer. Ask for his intercession, find courage for today, and take your next step in hope.
Apostle · Witness · Companion in hope
Meet the saint
behind the devotion.
Across Christian traditions, St. Jude Thaddeus is recognized as one of Jesus’ Twelve Apostles. Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians venerate him as a saint, while Anglican and some Lutheran churches commemorate his apostolic witness.
In Catholicism, St. Jude is especially loved as the patron saint of hope and difficult or seemingly impossible causes. Devotion includes asking for his intercession, praying novenas, and seeking encouragement through his example of faith. His feast day is October 28 (with St. Simon).
Explore the altar above his relics at St. Peter’s ↗
Asking for his intercession means asking him to pray to God for you. You do not need perfect words, a required gift, or a special status to begin. Bring what is on your heart.
Begin with a simple prayer ↓Explore St. Jude across Christian traditions
These official resources show how different churches remember the apostle. This site’s guided prayers draw on Catholic devotion.
Eastern Orthodox
St. Jude is venerated as an apostle and saint, with a commemoration on June 19 in the church calendar; the civil date varies by calendar used.
Greek Orthodox account ↗Anglican
The Church of England celebrates Simon and Jude, Apostles, on October 28. Personal devotional practices vary within Anglicanism.
See the Church of England festival ↗Lutheran
Some Lutheran churches commemorate Simon and Jude on October 28, remembering their apostolic witness.
See a Lutheran commemoration ↗- In the New Testament
Called to follow Jesus.
Luke names Judas son of James among the Twelve. Christian tradition identifies him with Thaddaeus in Matthew and Mark. He is sometimes confused with Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. St. Jude was a faithful apostle of Jesus.
Read Luke 6:13–16 ↗ - A shared mission
Sent to bring good news.
Matthew includes Thaddaeus among the apostles sent to proclaim God’s kingdom and heal the sick. This is their shared commission, not a separate record of a particular healing by Jude.
Read Matthew 10:1–8 ↗ - At the Last Supper
His question to Jesus.
Christian tradition associates Jude Thaddaeus with the disciple in John 14:22 who asks why Jesus will reveal himself to his followers rather than the world. Jesus responds by speaking of love, keeping his word, and God dwelling with believers. The identification of this disciple is debated by biblical scholars.
Read Benedict XVI’s reflection ↗ · Read John 14 and its study notes ↗
- The early community
Gathered in prayer.
After Jesus’ Ascension, Acts names Judas son of James with the apostles in Jerusalem, praying together with Mary and the other believers.
Read Acts 1:13–14 ↗
Later journeys, martyrdom, and the Letter of Jude
Later Christian traditions describe Jude preaching in Mesopotamia and Persia, sometimes with St. Simon, and dying as a martyr. The exact routes, dates, and circumstances are not securely established. Accounts of King Abgar and other miracles belong to that later traditional story.
The Letter of Jude is traditionally associated with the apostle, but its authorship and the relationship between the different New Testament figures named Jude remain disputed.
Prayer that shapes a life
Devotion is also an invitation to live with courage, patience, and compassion. We ask for St. Jude’s prayers and seek to follow his example of faith and service.
Read Fr. John M. Lozano’s devotional account at the National Shrine ↗This account combines Scripture, reflection, and later traditions; it is not an exact historical biography.Discover · Understand · Explore
Ask about St. Jude.
Curious about his life, intercession, or where to begin? Explore a question from our reviewed guide.
Choose a question above, or search our prepared answers.
Explore prepared answers with links to their sources.
You can begin right here
St. Jude,
pray for us.
Hold a person or situation in your heart. Choose a starting point below, or bring your own intention silently.
Choose a starting point to open a prayer and a petition template you can make your own.
A prayer for courage
St. Jude, faithful apostle of Jesus, pray for me in this difficult time. Ask God to steady my heart, give me courage for today, and help me recognize the support around me. Walk with me as I take the next small step in hope. Amen.
Original devotional prayers written for Turn to St. Jude.
Continue in prayer ↓Let prayer become a practice
One small step at a time.
A few quiet minutes are enough to begin. Bring your intention, make space for God, and remember others in prayer.
- Bring your petition.
Tell God what is weighing on you. Ask St. Jude to pray for you, using your own words or a starting point below.
Choose a petition starting point ↑ - Make space for prayer.
Pause with your intention. Speak honestly, or begin in silence. Return whenever you need to.
- Remember others.
Include the needs of Turn to St. Jude friends alongside your own. You do not need to know someone’s story to pray for them.
Join our communal prayer ↓ - Try a novena.
A novena is a practice of prayer over nine days—a rhythm for returning to God in hope.
Read the Shrine’s official novena booklet ↗
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Turn to St. Jude friends · Together in prayer
Your petition.
Our shared prayer.
Our purpose is simple: to pray for one another. Each of us brings a different need; together, we ask St. Jude to intercede for all the petitions held in the hearts of our friends.
Join us in praying for every intention entrusted to our prayer book. Bring your intention to mind, then include the needs of others alongside your own.
A prayer for our collective petitions
St. Jude, faithful apostle and companion in hope, pray for all the friends of Turn to St. Jude. Bring before God the petitions we speak and those we carry in silence. Remember those who are ill, grieving, anxious, or seeking a way forward. Ask God to strengthen us in faith, surround us with care, and guide us to help one another. May we meet each day with courage, compassion, and trust in God’s love. Amen.
Original devotional prayer for this community. No donation, registration, or public disclosure is needed to pray with us.About our private petition book
Entrust your intention to our prayer book, and join Turn to St. Jude friends in praying for one another. No account or donation is required.
Remove a petition using your confirmation reference and code.
At St. Peter’s Basilica · Vatican City
The altar above
St. Jude’s relics.
A Vatican guide identifies the relics of Saints Simon and Jude beneath the Altar of St. Joseph the Worker in the basilica’s left transept.
View full photograph ↗The altar above the relics
This photograph shows the altar and its mosaic of St. Joseph. It is the place of veneration associated with Saints Simon and Jude, rather than a view of their remains.
Photo: Karelj, April 2011 · Wikimedia Commons source · Released into the public domain by the photographer.
View full photograph ↗The setting within St. Peter’s
A wider view helps place the altar within the basilica. These photographs were taken in 2011 and 2016; furnishings and visitor access may change.
Photo: John Samuel, October 9, 2016 · Wikimedia Commons source · CC BY-SA 4.0.
Pause in remembrance
St. Jude, faithful apostle, pray that we may follow Christ with courage and bring kindness to those who need hope.
Return to guided prayer ↓Sources, photographs & optional video
Vatican guide: the location of Saints Simon and Jude’s relics (PDF) ↗
Watch the EWTN video feature on YouTube ↗
Photographs are loaded from Wikimedia’s image servers. If they do not load, the source links above provide access to the originals and their license details.
St. Jude in action · Devotion inspiring service
Hope that reaches
into the world.
Prayer can inspire compassion, perseverance, and service. These two independent stories show different ways devotion to St. Jude has shaped lives and work.
SPREADING DEVOTION & AWARENESS
The Claretians &
National Shrine of St. Jude
Through the National Shrine and St. Jude League, the Claretian Missionaries share devotion to St. Jude, invite people into prayer, and keep his story present for those seeking hope.
Claretian Fr. James Tort established the Shrine at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Chicago in 1929. The Shrine and St. Jude League are a Claretian ministry.
Discover the official Shrine ↗A PROMISE THAT BECAME A HOSPITAL
St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital
Danny Thomas’s lifelong devotion to St. Jude inspired prayer, service, and a promise that became St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Opened in Memphis on February 4, 1962, it advances research and treatment for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases—a tangible example of hope expressed through service.
Read the hospital’s own story ↗A historical connection: Claretian-published U.S. Catholic records that Danny Thomas also worked with the missionaries to encourage devotion and support their missions.
Learn more · Around the world
A devotion that
crosses borders.
Discover places of prayer and stories of service through their own official resources. Explore each institution’s own history, ministry, and work.
Six inhabited continents represented: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Australia/Oceania.
EXPLORE THE WORLD OF ST. JUDEBrowse the places ↓
Prayer, remembrance, ministry & serviceWorldwide & regional resources listed below
A growing selection, not a complete directory. Simplified world illustration; pins show approximate city locations, with some offsets for clarity—not directions or political boundaries.
Keep exploring
Learn more.
Find your next step.
Follow the stories that speak to you. These links lead to official organizations, where you can explore their prayer resources, history, and work.
Learn more about the Chicago Shrine & Claretian devotion ↗
A Catholic ministry sharing awareness of St. Jude and inviting people into prayer.
Learn more about the Claretian Missionaries ↗
Explore their story and service to communities.
Learn more about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ↗
Inspired by Danny Thomas’s devotion to St. Jude, the hospital advances research and care for children.
Official sources & resource review
Archdiocese of Southwark: Faversham Shrine and Carmelite identity ↗Claretian Missionaries in Mexico: San Hipólito and devotion to San Judas ↗Society of the Divine Word: Manila parish and shrine listing ↗Official Manila Shrine website ↗Official St. Jude Global Alliance ↗Official Shrine: intercession and novena prayers ↗Greek Orthodox Archdiocese: Apostle Jude ↗Church of England: Simon and Jude ↗LCMS Southern District: Simon and Jude ↗
Sources reviewed November 1, 2026. Explore the institutions’ own resources for their history, prayer materials, and work.
Hospital history: opening date, founder, and inspiration ↗Hospital FAQ: religious independence ↗Hospital history: ALSAC’s role ↗Official Shrine novena program: Fr. Tort and 1929 ↗Official Shrine: Claretian ministry and devotional resources ↗U.S. Catholic: Danny Thomas’s personal Claretian connection ↗About this site & image credits
Turn to St. Jude is operated by Veridian Nexum. Privacy & Terms · Contact us.
The St. Jude portrait is original AI-generated devotional art. Altar photographs are credited beside each image with links to their sources and reuse terms. Original devotional prayers were written for this community. Organization names and external resources identify the subjects discussed.