Novena to St. Jude Thaddeus

Hopeless cases, desperate situations, lost causes

Tradition: Promoted in modern times by the Claretian Missionaries, custodians of the National Shrine of St. Jude in Chicago (founded 1929)

Associated feast: Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles (October 28)

When to pray: Any nine consecutive days. Often prayed in the nine days leading up to October 28 (the feast). May also be prayed on the 28th of any month, which the Claretians observe as a 'Solemn Novena' day at the National Shrine.

About this devotion

St. Jude Thaddeus, one of the Twelve Apostles, is venerated in the Roman Calendar together with St. Simon the Zealot on October 28. For most of Christian history St. Jude was rarely invoked, in part because his name was so similar to that of the traitor Judas Iscariot. The faithful turned to him as a 'forgotten' apostle — and he became, by a kind of holy irony, the patron of forgotten and impossible causes.

The modern public devotion to St. Jude in the United States dates to 1929, when the Claretian Missionary Fathers established the National Shrine of St. Jude in Chicago. The novena is the principal devotion practised there. It does not have nine different traditional intentions: the same novena prayer is offered each of the nine days, with a personal petition added.

The Nine Days

1. Day 1: St. Jude the Apostle — chosen by Christ

   Scripture: Luke 6:13-16

2. Day 2: St. Jude at the Last Supper

   Scripture: John 14:22-23

3. Day 3: St. Jude at Pentecost

   Scripture: Acts 1:13-14

4. Day 4: The Apostle of Mesopotamia and Persia

   Scripture: Romans 10:14-15

5. Day 5: The Letter of Jude

   Scripture: Jude 1:20-21

6. Day 6: Martyrdom and confession of faith

   Scripture: Revelation 2:10

7. Day 7: Patron of impossible causes

   Scripture: Luke 1:37

8. Day 8: Hope for the despairing

   Scripture: Romans 5:5

9. Day 9: Thanksgiving and trust

   Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Daily Novena Prayer

Daily Novena Prayer to St. Jude

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of. 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 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.

This is the standard novena prayer used at the National Shrine of St. Jude (Claretian Missionaries, Chicago). It is recited each of the nine days. Pray Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be at the conclusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read about the life of St. Jude Thaddeus, Apostle →