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Prayers for Impossible Causes

St. Rita is popularly invoked as the Saint of the Impossible; St. Jude, of hopeless causes. The Church canonized specialists in lost causes on the strength of Gabriel's line to Mary: no word shall be impossible with God.

Traditional prayers

Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;
to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
History, Latin text & meaning →

From Scripture

37Because no word shall be impossible with God.

— Luke 1, vv. 37, Douay-Rheims · read the full chapter

27And Jesus looking on them, saith with men it is impossible; but not with God. For all things are possible with God.

— Mark 10, vv. 27, Douay-Rheims · read the full chapter

26And Jesus beholding, said to them: With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible.

— Matthew 19, vv. 26, Douay-Rheims · read the full chapter

Pray a novena

Patron saints for this intention

How to use these prayers

Traditional practice with St. Jude: pray the novena, and if your prayer is answered, thank him publicly — the newspaper classifieds full of 'Thank you St. Jude' notices were this custom.