The novena to Saint Jude Thaddeus ranks among the most widely prayed devotions in the entire Catholic world, especially for those facing situations that feel truly hopeless. Believers have turned to him for centuries whenever ordinary solutions seem to run out. Because his own name once caused people to overlook him, his rise to become one of the Church’s most beloved intercessors carries a powerful lesson about persistence and faith. Let us discuss the history behind his devotion, followed by an original nine-day novena you can pray in his honour.
Saint Jude Thaddeus’s Feast Day Falls on October 28
The Western Church celebrates Saint Jude Thaddeus every year on October 28, a date Pope Paul III honored in 1543 by granting a special indulgence to anyone visiting his tomb. Eastern Christians instead commemorate him on June 19 and August 21. Many devotees also pray this novena to Saint Jude Thaddeus throughout the year, particularly whenever a difficult or seemingly impossible situation arises.
One of the Twelve Apostles, Often Overlooked
Saint Jude was one of Jesus’s original twelve apostles, known in Scripture as the brother of James the Less and possibly a cousin of Jesus himself. He is widely credited as the author of the Letter of Jude, a short New Testament epistle urging believers to remain strong in their faith despite hardship. Because his given name, Judas, so closely resembled that of Judas Iscariot, early Christians largely avoided invoking him, and his memory faded into relative obscurity for centuries.
From Persia to Armenia: A Missionary’s Final Years
After the Ascension, Jude traveled extensively to preach the Gospel, eventually reaching Persia and Armenia alongside fellow apostle Simon the Zealot. Tradition holds that he once cured a king of leprosy using a cloth bearing the miraculous image of Christ’s face, a story still reflected in the way artists depict him today. According to long-standing accounts, Jude and Simon were ultimately martyred together in Persia after refusing to renounce their faith before hostile priests. Armenia later became the first nation in history to adopt Christianity as its state religion, a legacy closely tied to Jude’s missionary work there.
How Saint Jude Became Patron of Hopeless Causes
Devotion to Saint Jude Thaddeus experienced a dramatic revival during the Middle Ages, when both Saint Bridget of Sweden and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux reported visions urging Christians to seek his intercession. According to Bridget’s account, Christ himself explained that Jude’s name meant “loving,” and that he would prove especially eager to help those who called on him. Devotion later spread through Italy and Spain before reaching the United States, where the Claretian order established the National Shrine of Saint Jude in Chicago in 1929, drawing thousands of pilgrims seeking his help ever since.
Praying the Novena to Saint Jude Thaddeus
Pray this nine-day novena for nine consecutive days, whenever a need feels especially urgent or overwhelming. Each day opens with the Sign of the Cross and an invocation of the Holy Spirit, followed by a full prayer for that day.
Day One: Faithful, Despite a Misunderstood Name
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and we shall be renewed, and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Saint Jude, for centuries your very name kept people from turning to you, since it echoed the name of the one who betrayed our Lord. Yet you remained who you always were: a faithful apostle, loved by Christ, entrusted with his Gospel. Teach me not to fear being misunderstood or overlooked by others. Help me trust that God knows my heart fully, even when the world around me forms its judgments too quickly. As I begin this novena, walk with me through whatever misunderstanding or isolation I may be carrying, and remind me that faithfulness matters more than recognition. Amen.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your 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, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among Women and blessed is the fruit of your |Womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. (Three Times)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, it’s now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day Two: Courage to Go Where God Sends You
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and we shall be renewed, and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Saint Jude, after Christ’s Ascension you left everything familiar behind to carry the Gospel into distant, unfamiliar lands. You did not wait for comfort or certainty before answering God’s call. Give me that same courage today, especially when my own path feels uncertain or frightening. Help me take the next faithful step, even without knowing exactly where it leads. Where fear holds me back from following God’s will, replace that fear with quiet, steady trust. Accompany me through whatever unknown territory I am facing right now, just as you once journeyed faithfully into lands far from home. Amen.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your 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, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among Women and blessed is the fruit of your |Womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. (Three Times)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, it’s now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day Three: Strength Drawn From Scripture
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and we shall be renewed, and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Saint Jude, your letter in Scripture urged believers to build themselves up in their most holy faith and to keep themselves in the love of God. Those words were written for hard times, and I bring you my own hard time today. Strengthen my faith when circumstances tempt me toward despair. Help me hold on to hope even when I cannot yet see a way forward. Remind me that waiting on the Lord’s mercy is not wasted time, but part of how faith deepens. Intercede for me now, that I may remain firm no matter how long this trial continues. Amen.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your 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, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among Women and blessed is the fruit of your |Womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. (Three Times)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, it’s now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day Four: Carrying Christ to a Suffering World
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and we shall be renewed, and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Saint Jude, tradition remembers you carrying the very image of Christ’s face to bring healing to a suffering king. You became a bridge between Christ’s presence and someone else’s deepest need. Help me carry hope to the people around me, even while I am still waiting for my own prayers to be answered. Teach me that comforting others does not require having all the answers myself. Let my own trials make me more compassionate rather than more closed off. Saint Jude, help me become, in some small way, a carrier of Christ’s presence to those who need it most today. Amen.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your 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, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among Women and blessed is the fruit of your |Womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. (Three Times)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, it’s now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day Five: Bringing My Hopeless Cause to You
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and we shall be renewed, and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Saint Jude, the whole world knows you as patron of hopeless and desperate causes, and countless believers before me have brought you their most impossible requests. Today, I bring you mine as well. (Pause here and name your intention.) I do not ask lightly, and I do not ask without faith. I trust that you stand close to God, ready to intercede for those who feel they have nowhere else to turn. Please carry this need before the Lord, and help me trust his timing and his mercy, whatever the outcome may be. Amen.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your 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, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among Women and blessed is the fruit of your |Womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. (Three Times)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, it’s now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day Six: Patience in the Face of Hostility
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and we shall be renewed, and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Saint Jude, you faced rejection and open hostility as you preached the Gospel, yet you did not let it break your spirit. Where I have faced opposition, misunderstanding, or unkindness, help me respond the way you did: with patience rather than bitterness. Teach me that setbacks are not proof that God has abandoned a situation, but often simply part of the path toward something greater. Give me strength for whatever resistance I am currently facing, whether from others or from my own doubts. Help me remain steady, trusting that God is still present even in difficulty. Amen.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your 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, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among Women and blessed is the fruit of your |Womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. (Three Times)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, it’s now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day Seven: Loyalty That Did Not Waver
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and we shall be renewed, and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Saint Jude, you remained loyal to Christ until the very end of your life, even when that loyalty ultimately cost you everything. Teach me that same steadiness in my relationship with God, especially when answers to prayer are slow to arrive. Help me resist the temptation to give up simply because a solution has not yet appeared. Strengthen my resolve to keep praying, keep trusting, and keep hoping, no matter how long this particular trial continues. Saint Jude, intercede for me, that my own loyalty to God may deepen through this season rather than weaken because of it. Amen.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your 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, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among Women and blessed is the fruit of your |Womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. (Three Times)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, it’s now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day Eight: Joined With the Prayers of Others
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and we shall be renewed, and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Saint Jude, countless believers across centuries have found comfort through your intercession, and I know I do not pray to you alone today. Join my prayer with the prayers of everyone else currently seeking your help in their own hopeless situations. Remind me that I am part of a much larger communion of faith, even when my own struggle feels isolating. Help me support others who are struggling as I continue waiting for my own answer. Saint Jude, present all of our petitions together before God’s mercy, trusting that no sincere prayer ever goes unheard. Amen.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your 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, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among Women and blessed is the fruit of your |Womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. (Three Times)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, it’s now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day Nine: A Light for Those Who Once Overlooked You
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and we shall be renewed, and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Saint Jude, for so long you were overlooked, yet today millions turn to you as a powerful source of hope. Your story reminds me that God can transform even what seems hidden or forgotten into something that blesses countless lives. As I close this novena, thank you for walking with me these nine days, and for whatever grace you have already obtained for me through your intercession. Help me trust fully in God’s perfect timing, even if the answer I hoped for looks different from what I expected. Saint Jude, patron of the impossible, continue to pray for me long after this novena ends. Amen.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your 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, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among Women and blessed is the fruit of your |Womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. (Three Times)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, it’s now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Continue Your Devotion to Saint Jude Thaddeus
Readers exploring other beloved intercessors may also appreciate our Novena to Saint Anthony of Padua, another widely prayed devotion rooted in centuries of Catholic tradition. For more on the history behind this devotion, the National Shrine of St. Jude offers additional background reading. You can also browse our full Novena Prayers directory to find a prayer suited to any need.
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