Blog ya Watanzania : Novena to St. Jude

St. Jude Thaddaeus was one of the twelve apostles of Christ. He is often referred to as the "Forgotten Saint" due to being confused with Judas Iscariot, another apostle who later went on to betray Jesus. As a result, devotion to St. Jude was generally avoided and only those in the most desperate circumstances would call upon his assistance. This resulted in him being referred to as the "Patron saint of desperate cases". St. Jude also stressed in his New Testament letter of the need to persevere in harsh and difficult circumstances.

Devotion to St. Jude began in earnest in the 1800s and has now spread to all parts of the world with Christian infulence. The Novena to St. Jude as it has come to be said in modern days is a powerful prayer which when said devoutly and with great faith will result in graces being granted but in some cases individuals may find great peace and strength to overcome adversity and misfortune.

So if you are facing difficulties, be they financial, emotional, pertaining to relationships, addictions etc. and find yourself growing increasingly despondent and losing hope, devotion to St. Jude and his powerful novena can give you new hope and even deliver you from your predicament.

"Holy Saint Jude, Apostle and Martyr,
great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ,
faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need.
To you I have recourse from the depths of my heart

and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance.
Help me in my present and urgent petition,

in return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked.
Saint Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen."

Follow this with 3 Our Father's, 3 Hail Mary's and 3 Glory Be's

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 death.
Amen.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.